338 Wheels And Tyres; Notes On Noise Or Unusual Handling Char- Acteristics; Notes On Regularly Inspecting Wheels And Tyres; Notes On Snow Chains - Mercedes-Benz A-Class Owner's Manual

338 Wheels and tyres

Notes on noise or unusual handling charac‐
teristics
While driving, pay attention to vibrations, noises
and unusual handling characteristics, e.g. pulling
to one side. This may indicate that the wheels or
tyres are damaged. If you suspect that a tyre is
defective, reduce your speed immediately. Stop
the vehicle as soon as possible to check the
wheels and tyres for damage. Hidden tyre dam‐
age could also be causing the unusual handling
characteristics. If you find no signs of damage,
have the tyres and wheels checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Notes on regularly inspecting wheels and
tyres
& WARNING Risk of accident from dam‐
aged tyres
Damaged tyres can cause tyre pressure loss.
As a result, you could lose control of your
vehicle.
Check the tyres regularly for signs of
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damage and replace any damaged tyres
immediately.
Carry out the following checks on all wheels reg‐
ularly, at least once a month or as required, e.g.
prior to a long journey or driving off-road:
Check the tyre pressure (
→
R
Visually inspect tyres and wheels for dam‐
R
age.
Check the valve caps.
R
The valves must be protected against mois‐
ture and dirt by the valve caps approved
especially for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Visual check of the tyre tread depth and the
R
tyre contact surface across the entire width.
The minimum tread depth for summer tyres
is 3 mm and for winter tyres 4 mm.

Notes on snow chains

& WARNING Risk of accident due to incor‐
rect snow chain fitting
If you fit snow chains to the rear wheels, the
snow chains may grind against the vehicle
body or chassis components.
page 339).
This could cause damage to the vehicle or
the tyres.
Never fit snow chains to the rear
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wheels.
Always fit snow chains to the front
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wheels in pairs.
* NOTE Damage to the wheel trim from fit‐
ted snow chains
If snow chains are fitted to steel wheels, the
wheel trims can be damaged.
Remove the wheel trims of steel wheels
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before fitting snow chains.