MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class 2013 R172 Owner's Manual

Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and tire
width in percent.
Tire pressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an
outward force to each square inch of the tire's
surface .The tire pressure is specified in
pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal
(kPa) or in bar. The tire pressure should only
be corrected when the tires are cold.
Cold tire pressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked without
direct sunlight on the tires for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has been driven for less than
1 mile (1.6 km).
Tread
The part of the tire that comes into contact
with the road.
Bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kilograms (5 lbs).
These optional extras, such as high-
performance brakes, level control, a roof rack
or a high-performance battery, are not
included in the curb weight and the weight of
the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This is a unique identifier which can be used
by a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example for a product recall, and thus identify the purchasers. The TIN is made up of the
manufacturer's identity code, tire size, tire
type code and the manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are
distributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread
is level with the bars, the wear limit of
0009in
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the
number of seats in the vehicle. Changing
awheel Flat tire
Information on the procedure in the event of
a fla ttire (Y page 291). Instructions for driving
with MOExtended tires in the event of a flat
tire are also provided there. Interchanging the wheels
G
WARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the drivin gcharacteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions.
The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of
accident. Changing
awheel
329Wheels and tires
Z

Rotate fron
tand rea rwheels only if the wheels
and tires are of the same dimensions.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are
located in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the
electronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are
located in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the
electronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes when changing a wheel
(Y page 330).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires
in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you
can rotate the wheels according to the
intervals in the tire manufacturer's warranty
book in your vehicle documents. If this is not
available, the tires should then be replaced
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if the tire wear requires
this. Do not change the direction of wheel
rotation.
Cleant he contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tire pressure and,
if necessary, restart the tire pressure loss
warning system or the tire pressure monitor. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. You will only gain these
benefits if the correct direction of rotation is
maintained.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. Cleaning the wheels
G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components.
Components damaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced
immediately. Mounting
awheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Park the vehicle on firm, non-slippery and
level ground.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to first gear or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
move the selector leve rtoP.
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock. 330
Changing
awheelWheels and tires

X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: openthe
driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 136).
X If included in the vehicle equipment, take
the tire-change tool kit out of the vehicle.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
i Due to differences in vehicle equipment,
not all vehicles are equipped with a tire-
change tool kit. For information on which
tools are required to perform a wheel
change on your vehicle, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Necessary wheel-changing tools can
include, for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Lug wrench
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock,
it can be found in the tire-change tool kit
(Y page 291).
The folding wheel choc kis an additional
securing measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel. X
Fold both plates upwards 0003.
X Fold out lower plate 0004.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate 0024. Securing the vehicle on level ground
X
On level ground: place chocks or other
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change. Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
X
On light downhill gradients: place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the
appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate
jacking point of the vehicle. The base of the Changing
awheel
331Wheels and tires
Z

jack must be positioned vertically, directly
under the jacking point of the vehicle.
! The jack is designed exclusively for
jacking up the vehicle at the jacking points.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
The following must be observed when raising
the vehicle:
R to raise the vehicle, onl yuse the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.Ifu sed
incorrectly, the jack could tip over with the
vehicle raised.
R the jack is designed only to raise and hold
the vehicle for a short time while a wheel
is being changed. It is not suited for
performing maintenance work under the
vehicle.
R avoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes.
R before raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and inserting wheel chocks. Never
disengage the parking brake while the
vehicle is raised.
R the jack must be placed on a firm, flat and
non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a
large, load-bearing underlay must be used.
On a slippery surface, a non-slip underlay
must be used, e.g. rubber mats.
R do not use wooden blocks or similar
objects as a jack underlay.O therwise, the
jack will not be able to achieve its load-
bearing capacity due to the restricted
height.
R make sure tha tthe distance between the
underside of the tires and the ground does
not exceed 1.2 in (3 cm).
R never place your hands and feet under the
raised vehicle.
R never lie under the raised vehicle.
R never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised. R
never open or close a door or the trunk lid
when the vehicle is raised.
R make sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised. X
Using lug wrench 0003, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts
completely. The jacking points are located just behind the
front wheel housings and just in front of the
rear wheel housings (arrows). Covers, front (example: vehicles with AMG
equipment)332
Changing
awheelWheels and tires

AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment:
to protect the vehicle body, the
vehicle has covers next to the jacking points
on the outer sills.
X AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment: fold cover0004upwards. X
Position jack 0023at jacking point 0024. Example
X
Make sure the foot of the jack is directly
beneath the jacking point.
X Turn crank 0021clockwise until jack 0023sits
completely on jacking point 0024and the
base of the jac klies evenly on the ground.
X Turn crank 0021until the tire is raised a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) off the ground.
Removing awheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bol tand wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when
you screw them in. X
Unscrew the uppermost wheel bolt
completely.
X Screw alignment bolt 0003into the thread
instead of the wheel bolt.
X Unscrew the remaining whee lbolts fully.
X Remove the wheel.
Mounting anew wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel
bolts to come loose .As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event
of damage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately.H ave the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do no tcontinue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 329).
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety
reasons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you only use wheel bolts which have been Changing
awheel
333Wheels and tires Z

approved for Mercedes-Ben
zvehicles and the
respective wheel.
! To preven tdamage to th epaintwork, hold
the wheel securely against th ewheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt. X
Cleant he wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Slide the wheel to be mounted onto the
alignment bolt and push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are
finger-tight.
X Unscrew the alignment bolt.
X Tighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
X Vehicles with acollapsible spare
wheel: inflate the collapsible spare wheel
(Y page 341). Only then lower the vehicle.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts
and bolts are not tightene dto the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. X
Turn the crank of the jack counter-
clockwise until the vehicle is once again
standing firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a
crosswise pattern in the sequence
indicated (0003 to0021). The specified
tightening torque is 96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
X Turn the jack back to its initial position.
X Stow the jack and the rest of the vehicle
tools in the trunk again.
X AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment: insert the cover into the outer
sill.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly
installed wheel and adjust it if necessary.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
(Y page 311).
i Vehicles with tire pressure loss warning
system: as long as you are driving with an
emergency spare wheel, the tire pressure
loss warning system cannot function
reliably .Only restart the tire pressure loss
warning system when the defective wheel
has been replaced with a new wheel.
i Vehicles with tire pressure monitor: all
wheels mounted must be equipped with
functioning sensors. 334
Changing
awheelWheels and tires

Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use tires and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your
vehicle.
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO =Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE =Mercedes-BenzO riginal Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 =Mercedes-BenzO riginal (only
certain AMG tires)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tires
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Certain characteristics, e.g. handling,
vehicle noise emissions or fuel
consumption, may otherwise be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a
load, tire dimension variations could cause
the tires to come into contact with the
bodywork and axle components. This could
result in damage to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires,
wheels or accessories other than those
tested and approved.
Information on tires, wheels and approved
combinations can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop.
! Retreaded tires are neither tested nor
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be
detected on retreaded tires. As a result,
Mercedes-Benz cannot guarantee vehicle
safety if retreaded tires are mounted. Do
not mount used tires if you have no
information about their previous usage. Overview of abbreviations usedint
he
following tire tables:
R BA: both axles
R FA: front axle
R RA: rear axle
The recommended pressures for various
operating conditions can be found:
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures on
the B-pillar on the driver's side
R in the tire pressure table on the inside of
the fuel filler flap
Observe the notes on recommended tire
pressures under various operating conditions
(Y page 311).
Check tire pressures regularly, and only when
the tires are cold. Comply with the
maintenance recommendations of the tire
manufacturer in the vehicle document wallet.
Notes on the vehicle equipment –always
equip the vehicle with:
R tires of the same size on a given axle (left/
right)
R the same type of tires at a given time
(summer tires, winter tires, MOExtended
tires)
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you
additionally equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT
kit if you moun ttires that do not feature run-
flat properties, e.g. winter tires. ATIREFIT kit
may be obtained from a qualified specialist
workshop.
i Not all wheel and tire combinations are
available at the factory for all countries.
i On the following pages, you can find
information on approved wheelr ims and
tire sizes for equipping your vehicle with
winter tires. Winter tires are not available
at the factory as standard equipmen tor
optional extras.
If you would like to equip your vehicle with
approved winter tires, you may also, in Wheel and tire combinations
335Wheels and tires Z

certain circumstances, require rims of the
appropriate size
.The sizes of the approved
winter tires may deviate from that of the
standard tires. This is dependent on the
model and the equipment installed at the
factory.
The tires and wheel rims, as well as further
information, can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop. 336
Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and tires

Tires
SLK 250 Summer tires
R17
Tires Allo
ywheels FA: 225/45 R17 91 W
FA: 245/40 R17 91 W
4 FA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
RA: 8.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.42in (36 mm)
FA: 225/45 R17 91 W MOExtended
5
RA: 245/40 R17 91 W MOExtended 4, 5 FA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
RA: 8.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.42 in (36 mm)
R18
Tires Alloy wheels
FA: 225/40 R18 92 Y XL
RA: 245/35 R18 92 Y XL
4 FA: 7.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
RA: 8.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.42 in (36 mm)
Winter tires
R17
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 225/45 R17 91 H M+S
0004 BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
BA: 225/45 R17 91 H M+S
0004MOExtended5 BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
4
Use of snow chains is not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.
5 MOExtended tires (tires with run-fla tcharacteristics) only in conjunction with an activated tire pressure loss
warning system. Wheel and tire combinations
337Wheels and tires Z

SLK 350
Summer tires
R17
Tires Alloyw
heels FA: 225/45 R17 91 W
RA: 245/40 R17 91 W
4 FA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
RA: 8.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.42in (36 mm)
FA: 225/45 R17 91 W MOExtended
5
RA: 245/40 R17 91 W MOExtended 4, 5 FA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
RA: 8.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.42 in (36 mm)
R18
Tires Alloy wheels
FA: 225/40 R18 92 Y XL
RA: 245/35 R18 92 Y XL
4 FA: 7.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
RA: 8.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.42 in (36 mm)
Winter tires
R17 Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 225/45 R17 91 H M+S
0004 BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
BA: 225/45 R17 91 H M+S
0004MOExtended5 BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
4
Use of snow chains is not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.
5 MOExtended tires (tires with run-fla tcharacteristics) only in conjunction with an activated tire pressure loss
warning system. 338
Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and tires