winter tires MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 User Guide

359 Operation
Tires and wheels
Load identification
1Load identificationIn addition to tire load rating, special load
information may be molded into the tire
sidewall following the letter designating
the tire speed rating1 (
page 355).
No specification given: absence of any text
(like in above example) indicates a
standard load (SL) tire.
XL or Extra Load: designates an extra load
(or reinforced) tire.
Light Load: designates a light load tire.
C, D, E: designates load range associated
with the maximum load a tire can carry at
a specified pressure.
iNot all M+S rated tires provide special
winter performance. Make sure the
tires you use show M+S and the moun-
tain/snowflake.marking on the
tire sidewall. These tires meet specific
snow traction performance require-
ments of the Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA) and the Rubber
Association of Canada (RAC) and have
been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions.
iFor illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from data shown in
above illustration.

369 Operation
Winter driving
Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. This
service includes:

Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.


Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“S” to a premixed windshield washer
solvent/antifreeze which is formulated
for below freezing temperatures
(page 500).


Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to make
sure that the engine can be started
even at low ambient temperatures.


Tire change. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the
winter season.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated
tires provide special winter performance.
Make sure the tires you use show the
mountain/snowflake.marking on the
tire sidewall. These tires meet specific
snow traction performance requirements
of the Rubber Manufacturers Association
(RMA) and The Rubber Association of Can-
ada (RAC) and have been designed specif-
ically for use in snow conditions. Use of
winter tires is the only way to achieve the
maximum effectiveness of the ABS, ESP
®
and SBC in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your
vehicle, you must place a notice to this
effect where it will be seen by the driver.
Such notices are available from your tire
dealer or from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
Winter tires with a tread depth under
1/6in
(4 mm) must be replaced. They are no long-
er suitable for winter operation.

370 OperationWinter driving
Block heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:


Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations.


Snow chains should only be used on
the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer’s mounting instructions.


Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
C e n t e r w i l l b e g l a d t o a d v i s e y o u o n t h i s
subject.


Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
®
(
page 97) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
!Even on vehicles with all-wheel-drive
use snow chains on rear tires only.
The use of snow chains is not permissi-
ble with the spare wheel.

406 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Tire pressure display

appears after driving
several minutes
The tire inflation pressure is being checked.

Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Tire pressure monitor
inoperative
The Advanced TPMS* is malfunctioning.

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Tire pres. monitor
inoperative
No wheel sensors
There are wheels without wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. winter tires).

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Have the wheel sensors install by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Tire pres. monitor
Wheel sensor missing
One or more sensors defect (e.g. battery in
one or more wheel sensor is empty).
One or more wheels without wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. spare tire).

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Have the wheel sensors install by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
The tire pressure for the respective tire is not shown
in the multifunction display.
Tire pres. monitor
temporarily
unavailable
The Advanced TPMS* is unable to monitor
the tire pressure due to

a nearby radio interference source.


excessive wheel sensor temperatures.

As soon as the causes of the malfunction have been
removed, the Advanced TPMS* automatically be-
comes active again after a few minutes driving.

488 Technical dataRims and tiresRims and tires
ML 350
ML 350*
ML 500
ML 350 (Sport Package*)
ML 500 (Sport Package*)
Rims (light alloy)
7.5 J x 17 H2
8J x18 H2
8J x19 H2
Wheel offset
2.20 in (56 mm)
2.36 in (60 mm)
2.36 in (60 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires
-
-
255/50 R19 103W
All-season tires
1
235/65 R17 104H M+S
255/55 R18 105H M+S
not available at time of
printing
3
Winter tires
1,23
2Not available as factory equipment.3Data not available at time of printing; please contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
235/65 R17 104H M+S.
255/55 R18 105H M+S
.
not available at time of
printing
3
All-terrain tires*
1,2
-
255/55 R18 105H M+S
-

532 IndexTime
Setting day 166
Setting hours 165
Setting minutes 166
Setting month 166
Setting year 167
TIN 367
Tire
Vehicle maximum load on 368
Tire and Loading Information 339
Tire and loading terminology 365
Tire care and maintenance 336
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 325, 345, 347
Tire inflation pressure see
the placard on the fuel filler flap
Tire inspection 336
Tire load rating 367
Tire ply composition and
material used 367Tire speed rating 303, 357, 367, 506
Tire terminology 365
Tire traction 303
Tires 487
Direction of rotation 338
Driving instructions 302
Low tire pressure telltale 391
Retreads 335
Rims and tires 487
Run Flat Indicator 348
Service life 336
Temperature 346, 364
TPMS malfunction telltale 391
Tread depth 337, 369
Wear pattern 368
Winter 369Tools 430
Tow-away alarm 102
Arming 102
Disarming 102
Disarming for transport 102
Towing
Trailer 314
Towing a trailer 317
Automatic transmission 191
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt 474
Stranded vehicle 476
Traction 367, 506
Trailer
Attaching 316
Loading 315
Towing 317

536 IndexWinter driving
Snow chains 370
Tires 369
Winter driving instructions 304
Winter tires 369
Wiper blades
Cleaning 378
Replacing 453
Wiper switch 55
Wiper/washer
Rear window 57
Wiping
And washing simultaneously 56
Intermittent 55, 56
Interval 55
With windshield washer fluid 56
Wiping and washing simultaneously 58X
Xenon headlamps*
Bi-Xenon* 501