AdChoices
Mercedes-Benz Wheel and Tire Protection Plus
First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus helps cover qualifying tire and wheel replacement costs when covered road hazards damage your Mercedes-Benz. It also includes limited cosmetic wheel repair coverage for eligible scrapes, scratches, and other repairable cosmetic damage. Without this protection, a pothole strike, nail, piece of glass, or other road debris can create an unexpected out-of-pocket expense. Talk to our team at Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa, and we will walk you through the available plan terms for your vehicle.
What First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus Includes
First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus is an optional vehicle protection product marketed through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. It is not insurance, and all coverage is governed by the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions in the applicable product agreement.
The plan covers replacement of a tire when it is structurally damaged by a covered road hazard such as a pothole, nail, glass, rock, debris, or similar hazard encountered during normal driving.
Wheel replacement may also be covered when road-hazard damage prevents the tire from sealing to the wheel or maintaining the tire manufacturer’s air-pressure specifications.
Published Plan Benefits May Include
Tire Replacement
Replacement of a tire that is structurally damaged by a covered road hazard, including certain damage from potholes, nails, glass, rocks, debris, or similar hazards.
Wheel Replacement
Wheel replacement may be covered when covered damage prevents the tire from sealing or maintaining the required air pressure.
Related Replacement Costs
Approved taxes, labor, mounting and balancing, valve stems, and environmental or disposal fees associated with a covered replacement may be included.
Cosmetic Wheel Repair
Eligible scrapes, scratches, and other repairable cosmetic damage to an alloy wheel may qualify for cosmetic wheel repair coverage.
Towing Reimbursement
Towing reimbursement of up to $100 per occurrence may apply when towing is required because of covered road-hazard damage.
Rental-Car Reimbursement
Rental-car reimbursement may be available for up to two days at $50 per day, with a maximum benefit of $100, when qualifying inspection or wheel-shipping conditions apply.
A $50 deductible per replaced tire and a $100 deductible per replaced wheel may apply. There is no deductible for eligible cosmetic wheel repairs. Aggregate claim limits may also apply depending on the term of the agreement, and prior authorization is required before covered work is performed.
Cosmetic wheel repair is limited to qualifying sanding, painting, or refinishing that does not require additional material or wheel bending or straightening. It applies only to eligible factory-brushed or painted wheel surfaces.
Our advisors at Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa will review the agreement terms, applicable deductibles, exclusions, and available coverage with you before purchase.
Why Road Hazard Protection Can Matter on an Electric Vehicle
First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus is available for eligible Mercedes-Benz vehicles broadly and is not limited to electric vehicles. However, road-hazard coverage can be especially valuable for drivers whose Mercedes-Benz is equipped with larger wheels, lower-profile tires, run-flat technology, or specialized manufacturer-specified tire fitments.
Electric Mercedes-Benz models may use tire sizes and specifications selected for the vehicle’s weight, performance, ride characteristics, and efficiency targets. A replacement tire must therefore meet the applicable manufacturer size and fitment requirements. Depending on the model and tire specification, replacement costs and local availability may vary.
Road-hazard protection can help reduce the financial impact when an eligible pothole, nail, rock, piece of glass, or other covered debris structurally damages a tire or causes qualifying wheel damage.
Signs You May Need to Use Your Coverage and When to Ask About It
First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus is available at the time of an eligible vehicle sale or lease only. The current product information does not provide for enrollment after the vehicle has already been purchased or leased. Availability may vary by state and vehicle model.
If you are considering a new, Certified Pre-Owned, or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz vehicle or van, ask about the plan before completing the sale or lease. Coverage cannot be added after a tire or wheel has already been damaged.
Signs that a tire or wheel concern may require inspection include:
- Visible sidewall bulging, cutting, or cracking after a road impact
- A persistent loss of tire pressure
- Vibration that begins after striking a pothole or road hazard
- Visible wheel cracking or deformation
- A tire that no longer seals correctly against the wheel
- A tire that cannot maintain the manufacturer’s specified air pressure
- Eligible cosmetic scrapes or scratches on an alloy wheel
If you are enrolled and notice one of these conditions, schedule an inspection before authorizing repairs or replacements elsewhere. Prior claim authorization is required. Our team can inspect the damage, review the applicable agreement terms, and help determine the next steps in the authorization process.
Why Have Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa Handle Your Wheel and Tire Service
Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa is a factory-authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. That matters when your vehicle requires tire or wheel inspection, replacement, balancing, or related service.
Our Mercedes-Benz-trained technicians understand the wheel and tire specifications used throughout the Mercedes-Benz lineup, including all-electric models. When replacement is required, our team can identify components that meet the applicable manufacturer size and fitment requirements for your specific vehicle.
Correct sizing and installation are important for tire-pressure monitoring, braking, handling, ride quality, and overall vehicle performance. Our technicians can also inspect the surrounding tire, wheel, valve stem, and tire-pressure monitoring components for related damage.
Prior Authorization and Claim Support
Plan Review
Our service advisors can review your plan information and explain the authorization and claim process that applies to your visit.
Damage Documentation
Our team can document the condition of the tire or wheel and help determine whether the damage appears consistent with a covered road hazard.
Regional Road Conditions
Our facility in Tuscaloosa serves Mercedes-Benz owners throughout the region, and our team is familiar with potholes, debris, and other road conditions that can lead to unexpected tire and wheel damage.
What to Expect When You Visit
Scheduling at Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa is straightforward. You can book online or call our service department to speak with an advisor directly.
When you arrive, a service advisor will review your vehicle and confirm whether you have an active First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus agreement. Our technicians will then inspect the tire or wheel and determine whether the damage appears consistent with a covered road hazard.
Before covered work begins, the required authorization must be obtained. Coverage decisions are governed by the applicable product agreement and are not determined solely by the dealership.
If tire replacement is authorized, the replacement tire must meet the manufacturer’s size specifications. If wheel replacement is authorized, the replacement wheel must also meet the manufacturer’s size specifications.
Towing and Rental-Car Reimbursement
Towing reimbursement may be available up to $100 per occurrence when towing is required because of covered road-hazard damage. Rental-car reimbursement may also be available for up to two days at $50 per day, with a maximum benefit of $100, when an inspection is required or a covered repair requires damaged wheels to be shipped. These benefits are subject to the terms of the agreement and should not be interpreted as a general loaner-vehicle benefit.
If you are purchasing or leasing an eligible Mercedes-Benz and have not yet completed the transaction, our team can connect you with the appropriate representative to discuss First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus before the sale or lease is finalized.
Book Your Appointment at Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa
First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus can provide valuable protection against qualifying road-hazard damage and eligible cosmetic wheel damage. Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa can inspect your vehicle, verify your coverage information, help obtain required authorization, and complete approved tire or wheel service using components that meet the applicable manufacturer specifications.
Coverage varies by agreement, state, term, and vehicle. Deductibles, aggregate claim limits, exclusions, and prior-authorization requirements may apply. Review the complete product agreement before purchasing coverage or authorizing service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus cover all types of tire damage?
No. The plan covers replacement when a tire is structurally damaged by an eligible road hazard, subject to the terms of the product agreement and prior authorization. It does not cover every type of tire damage.
Published exclusions include damage to tires with less than 3/32-inch tread depth at the lowest point at the time of damage, cosmetic tire damage, vandalism, normal wear and tear, improper wear, dry rot, and damage resulting from a failure to perform routine tire maintenance such as alignments, rotations, and balancing.
Does the plan cover tire puncture repairs?
The published product benefits provide for replacement of a tire when it is structurally damaged by a covered road hazard. They do not promise coverage for patching or repairing a puncture. The dealership and plan administrator must determine whether the tire qualifies for replacement under the agreement.
Can I enroll in First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus after purchasing my vehicle?
No. According to the current Mercedes-Benz product information, First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus is available at the time of an eligible vehicle sale or lease only. It cannot be purchased after a damage event has occurred. Availability may vary by state and vehicle model.
Is First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus specific to Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles?
No. The plan is available for eligible new, Certified Pre-Owned, and pre-owned Mercedes-Benz vehicles and vans. It may still be especially useful for vehicles equipped with larger wheels, lower-profile tires, run-flat technology, or specialized manufacturer-specified tire fitments.
Does cosmetic wheel coverage include bent or cracked wheels?
Cosmetic wheel coverage is limited to eligible scrapes, scratches, and other repairable cosmetic damage to an alloy wheel. Covered repairs are generally limited to sanding, painting, or refinishing without adding material or bending or straightening the wheel.
Road-hazard wheel replacement may be covered when qualifying damage prevents the tire from sealing to the wheel or maintaining the tire manufacturer’s required air pressure. All coverage remains subject to the agreement terms and prior authorization.
Is there a deductible?
A $50 deductible per replaced tire and a $100 deductible per replaced wheel may apply. There is no deductible for eligible cosmetic wheel repairs. Review the product agreement for the deductibles that apply to your coverage.
Do I need authorization before a tire or wheel is replaced?
Yes. Prior claim authorization is required. Do not have a tire or wheel repaired or replaced before the required authorization has been obtained, because unauthorized repairs and replacements may be excluded from coverage.
Will my replacement tire be the correct fitment for my Mercedes-Benz?
Covered replacement tires must meet the manufacturer’s size specifications. Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa can identify the appropriate tire size and applicable fitment specifications for your model.
Does the plan include towing or rental-car reimbursement?
Towing reimbursement is available up to $100 per occurrence when towing is required because of covered road-hazard damage.
Rental-car reimbursement may be available for up to two days at $50 per day, with a maximum benefit of $100, when a vehicle inspection is required or a covered repair requires damaged wheels to be shipped. Both benefits are subject to the applicable agreement terms.
Can the agreement be transferred to another owner?
The agreement may be transferable from one consumer to another in a private vehicle sale or through a lease transfer and assumption. A $40 transfer fee applies, subject to the terms of the agreement.
How long does a tire or wheel replacement typically take?
Service time depends on the extent of the damage, prior-authorization requirements, replacement-part availability, and whether the damaged wheel must be shipped. A Mercedes-Benz of Tuscaloosa service advisor can provide additional timing information after inspecting the vehicle and confirming the required replacement.