MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class 2016 R172 Owner's Manual

Load index
In addition to the load-bearing index, the load
index may also be imprinted on the sidewall of
the tire. This specifies the load-bearing capa-
city more precisely.
Curb weight
The weight of a vehicle with standard equip-
ment including the maximum capacity of fuel,
oil and coolant. It also includes the air-condi-
tioning system and optional equipment if
these are installed in the vehicle, but does not
include passengers or luggage.
Maximum load rating
The maximum tire load is the maximum per-
missible weight in kilograms or lbs for which a
tire is approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure
Maximum permissible tire pressure for one
tire.
Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle
by two.
PSI (pounds per square inch)
A standard unit of measure for tire pressure.
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:
Rif the vehicle has been parked without
direct sunlight on the tires for at least three
hours and
Rif the vehicle has been driven for less than
1 mile (1.6 km).
Tread
Th epart of th etire t
h at 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-perform-
ance brakes, level control, a roof rack or a
high-performance battery, are not included in
the curb weight and the weight of the acces-
sories.
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.
All about wheels and tires329
Wheels and tires
Z

Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are dis-
tributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread is
level with the bars, the wear limit ofáin
(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 num-
ber of seats in the vehicle.
Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(
Ypage 291) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. Information on driving with MOExtended tires in the event of
a flat tire can be found under "MOExtended
tires (tires with run-flat characteristics"
(
Ypage 291).
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
!On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel. Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec-
tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes when changing a wheel
(
Ypage 331).
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.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels
according to the intervals in the tire manu-
facturer's warranty book in your vehicle docu-
ments. If no warranty book is available, the
tires should be rotated every 3,
000 to
6,000 miles (5,000 to 10,000 km). Depending on tire wear, this may be required earlier. Do
not change the direction of wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated. Check the tire pressure and, if nec-
essary, 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. These advantages can only
be gained if the tires are installed correspond-
ing to the direction of rotation.
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.
330Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires

Mounting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle
XStop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
XApply the electric parking brake manually.
XBring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XVehicles without KEYLESS-GO:remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics now have status
0. This is the same as the SmartKey having been removed.
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(
Ypage 140).
XIf included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tire-change tool kit from the
vehicle.
XSafeguard the vehicle against rolling away.
iDue 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 author- ized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Necessary tire-changing tools can include,
for example:
RJack
RWheel chock
RLug 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
(
Ypage 290).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
securing measure to prevent the vehicle from rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel.
XFold both plates upwards :.
XFold out lower plate;.
XGuide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate =.
Securing the vehicle on level ground
XOn 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.
Changing a wheel331
Wheels and tires
Z

Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
XOn light downhill gradients:place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle
GWARNING
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 jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
!The jack is designed exclusively for jack-
ing up the vehicle at the jacking points.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
Observe the following when raising the vehi-
cle:
RTo raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If used incor-
rectly, the jack could tip over with the vehi- cle raised.
RThe 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 per-
forming maintenance work under the vehi-
cle.
RAvoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes.
RBefore raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and inserting wheel chocks. Never disen-
gage the parking brake while the vehicle is
raised.
RThe jack must be placed on a firm, flat and
non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a
large, flat, load-bearing underlay must be
used. On a slippery surface, a non-slip
und erla
y must be used, e.g. rubber mats.
RDo not use wooden blocks or similar
objects as a jack underlay. Otherwise, the
jack will not be able to achieve its load-
bearing capacity due to the restricted
height.
RMake sure that the distance between the
underside of the tires and the ground does
not exceed 1.2 in (3 cm).
RNever place your hands and feet under the
raised vehicle.
RDo not lie under the vehicle.
RDo not start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
RDo not open or close a door or the trunk lid
when the vehicle is raised.
RMake sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised.
XUsing lug wrench :, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts com-
pletely.
332Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires

The jacking points are located just behind the
front wheel housings and just in front of the
rear wheel housings (arrows).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles and vehicles
with AMG equipment:to protect the vehicle
body, the vehicle has covers installed next to
the jacking points on the outer sills.
XMercedes-AMG vehicles and vehicles
with AMG equipment: fold cover;
upwards.
=Jacking point
?Jack
ARatchet wrench
XPosition jack ?at jacking point =.
XMake sure the foot of the jack is directly
beneath the jacking point.
XTurn crankAclockwise until jack ?sits
completely on jacking point =. The base of
the jack must lie evenly on the ground.
XTurn crank Auntil the tire is raised a max-
imum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the ground.
Removing a wheel
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bolt and wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when
you screw them in.
XUnscrew the uppermost wheel bolt com-
pletely.
XScrew alignment bolt :into the thread
instead of the wheel bolt.
XUnscrew the remaining wheel bolts fully.
XRemove the wheel.
Changing a wheel333
Wheels and tires
Z

Mounting a new wheel
GWARNING
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. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving.
GWARNING
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" sec-
tion (
Ypage 330).
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel.
!To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt.
XClean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
XSlide the wheel to be mounted onto the
alignment bolt and push it on.
XTighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
XUnscrew the alignment bolt.
XTighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
XVehicles with a collapsible spare wheel:
inflate the collapsible spare wheel
(
Ypage 340). Only then lower the vehicle.
Lowering the vehicle
GWARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts and bolts are not tightened to 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.
XTurn the crank of the jack counter-clock-
wise until the vehicle is once again standing
firmly on the ground.
XPlace the jack to one side.
XTighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated ( :
to A). The specified tightening torque is
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
XTurn the jack back to its initial position.
XStow the jack and the rest of the vehicle
tools in the trunk again.
334Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires

XMercedes-AMG vehicles and vehicles
with AMG equipment:insert the cover
into the outer sill.
XCheck the tire pressure of the newly moun-
ted wheel and adjust it if necessary.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
(
Ypage 311).
iWhen you are driving with the collapsible
spare wheel mounted, the tire pressure
loss warning system or the tire pressure
monitor cannot function reliably. Only
restart the tire pressure loss warning sys-
tem or tire pressure monitor when the
defective wheel has been replaced with a
new wheel.
Vehicles with a tire pressure control
system: all installed wheels must be equip-
ped with functioning sensors.
Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
!
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tires and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehi-
cle.
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP
®, and are marked as follows:
RMO = Mercedes-Benz Original
RMOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
RMO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only cer-
tain 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 tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer-
tain characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle
noise emissions or fuel consumption, may
otherwise be adversely affected. In addi-
tion, when driving with a load, tire dimen- sion variations could cause the tires to
come into contact with the bodywork and
axle components. This could result in dam-
age 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 tes-
ted and approved.
Information on tires, wheels and approved
combinations can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop.
!Retreaded tires are neither tested nor rec-
ommended by Mercedes-Benz, since pre-
vious 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 used in the follow-
ing tire tables:
RBA: both axles
RFA: front axle
RRA: rear axle
The recommended pressures for various
operating conditions can be found:
Ron the Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures on
the B-pillar on the dri
ver's side
Rin the tire pressure table on the inside of the
fuel filler flap
Observe the notes on recommended tire
pressures under various operating conditions
(
Ypage 311).
Check tire pressures regularly, and only when
the tires are cold. Comply with the mainte-
nance recommendations of the tire manufac-
turer in the vehicle document wallet.
Notes on the vehicle equipment – always
equip the vehicle with:
Rwith tires of the same size on a given axle
(left and right)
Rthe same type of tires at a given time (sum-
mer tires, winter tires, MOExtended tires)
Wheel and tire combinations335
Wheels and tires
Z

Exception: it is permissible to install a dif-
ferent type or make in the event of a flat
tire. Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics" section
(
Ypage 291).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if
you mount tires that do not feature run-flat
properties, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit may
be obtained from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
iNot all wheel and tire combinations are
available at the factory for all countries.
iThe following pages contain information
on approved wheel rims and tire sizes for
equipping your vehicle with winter tires.
Winter tires are not available at the factory
as standard equipment or optional extras.
If you want to equip your vehicle with
approved winter tires, it may be necessary
to obtain wheel rims in the corresponding
size. The size of the approved winter tires
may differ from the standard tires. This is
dependent on the model and the equip-
ment installed at the factory.
The tire
s and wheel rims, as well as further
information, can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop.
336Wheel and tire combinations
Wheels and tires

Tires
SLK 300
Summer tires
R17
TiresAlloy wheels
FA: 225/45 R1791 W2
RA: 245/40 R17 91 W2, 3
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
TiresAlloy wheels
FA: 225/40 R18 92 Y XL
RA: 245/35 R18 92 Y XL
3
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)
FA: 225/40 R18 92 Y XL4
RA: 245/35 R18 92 Y XL3, 4
FA: 8.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
RA: 9.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
Winter tires
R17
TiresAlloy wheels
BA: 225/45 R17 91 H M+S i2BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
2Available as MOExtended tires.3Use of snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.4USA only.
Wheel and tire combinations337
Wheels and tires
Z

SLK 350
Summer tires
R17
TiresAlloy wheels
FA: 225/45 R17 91 W2
RA: 245/40 R17 91 W2, 3
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
TiresAlloy wheels
FA: 225/40 R18 92 Y XL
RA: 245/35 R18 92 Y XL
3
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)
FA: 225/40 R18 92 Y XL4
RA: 245/35 R18 92 Y XL3, 4
FA: 8.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
RA: 9.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
Winter tires
R17
TiresAlloy wheels
BA: 225/45 R17 91 H M+Si2BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 1.65 in (42 mm)
2Available as MOExtended tires.3Use of snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.4USA only.
338Wheel and tire combinations
Wheels and tires