Wheels and tyres
653
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Visually inspect wheels and tyres for damage.
Check the valve caps.
Visual check of the tyre tread depth and the
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 noise or unusual handling characteris-
tics
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WARNING Risk of aquaplaning due to
insufficient tyre tread
Make sure there are no vibrations, noises or
unusual handling characteristics when the vehicle
is in motion. This may indicate that the wheels or
tyres are damaged. Hidden tyre damage could
also be causing the unusual handling characteris-
tics.
If you suspect that a tyre is defective, reduce your
speed immediately and have the tyres and wheels
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Insufficient tyre tread will result in reduced
tyre grip.
The risk of aquaplaning is increased on wet
roads, especially when the speed of the vehi-
cle is not adapted to suit the conditions.
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Thus, you should regularly check the
Notes on snow chains
tread depth and the condition of the
tread across the entire width of all tyres.
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WARNING Risk of accident due to incor-
rectly fitted snow chains
Minimum tread depth for:
If you have fitted snow chains to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components.
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Summer tyres: 3 mm
M+S tyres: 4 mm
Notes on regularly inspecting wheels and tyres
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WARNING Risk of injury due to damaged
tyres
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For safety reasons, replace the tyres
before the legally-prescribed limit for the
minimum tread depth is reached.
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Never fit snow chains to the front
wheels.
Damaged tyres can cause tyre pressure loss.
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Only fit snow chains on the rear wheels
in pairs.
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Check the tyres regularly for signs of
Carry out the following checks on all wheels regu-
larly, at least once a month or as required, for
example, prior to a long journey or driving off-
road:
damage and replace any damaged tyres
immediately.
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Check the tyre pressure (/ page 654).
F206 0105 02
