Mercedes-Benz C-Class Operator's Manual page 307

other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try
to do so slowly and at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
may be damaged.
Notes on high performance tires
G
WARNING
Due to the special tire tread in combination
with the optimized rubber compound, there is
an increased risk of hydroplaning and skid-
ding on a damp or wet road surface. Make
sure that ESP ® is activated for the corre-
sponding road surface conditions.
Tire grip is noticeably reduced at low outside
temperatures and low tire operating temper-
atures. This leads to an increased risk of skid-
ding and resulting vehicle instability. Use win-
ter tires when the outside temperature falls
below 10 †.
If others use the vehicle with the high per-
formance tires installed, you as the vehicle
owner must point out the safety guidelines
and/or limitations to these persons.
Different driving styles may lead to high
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tire wear and the tires may reach the min-
imum tire tread depth after only a short
time.
Regular checking of wheels and tires
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as
well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tire pressure. Pay particular attention to dam-
age such as:
cuts in the tires
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punctures
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tears in the tires
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bulges on tires
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deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
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Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width
of the tire ( page 305). If necessary, turn the
Y
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
mount anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
Do not use any other valve caps or systems,
e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure as necessary (
Y
The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
Driving style
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Tire pressure
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Distance covered
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Notes on tire tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
Operation
305
page 307).
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