Mercedes-Benz 280 CE 1979, Owner'S Manual

Page: 57 / 83

Wheels Tires Changing Wheels
Wheels, Tires
In case of replacement we recom­
mend you use tires of identical
design, version and brand.
See any MERCEDES-BENZ service
station for information on tested
and recommended wheels and tires
for summer and winter operation.
They will also offer more advice
concerning tire service and pur­
chase.
Mount newly acquired single tires
on the front axle. It is advisable to
break in new tires over a mileage of
approximately 60 miles (100 km)
at moderate speeds.
To prevent damage to the valves,
vehicles equipped with steel rims
must only be driven with the hub
caps installed.
For tire specifications, refer to
“ Technical Data” .
Rotating wheels:
The wheels can be rotated accord­
ing to the degree of tire wear
while retaining the same sense of
rotation. Rotating, however, should
be carried out before the charac­
teristic tire wear pattern (shoulder
wear on front wheels and tread
center wear on rear wheels) be­
comes visible at a mileage of 3,000
- 6,000 miles (5 ,0 0 0 - 10,000 km)
as otherwise the driving properties
deteriorate.
Slowly leaking air (e. g. due to a
nail in the tire) may cause damage
to the tire such as tread separation.
Regular tire pressure checks at
intervals of no more than 14 days
are therefore essential. For the tire
pressure checks, keep in mind that
hot tires show higher pressure than
cold tires. See tire pressure chart
on last page.
Should the tire pressure decrease
constantly, check whether foreign
objects have penetrated the tire
or if rim or valve allow the air to
leak.
Caution: Use longer wheel bolts
for light alloy rims than those re­
quired for steel rims (see illustra­
tion on page 57).
Thoroughly clean the inner side of
the wheels any time you rotate the
wheels or wash vehicle underside.
Dented, bent or corroded rims
cause tire pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads. For this
reason, check rims for damage at
regular intervals. Derust steel rims
and spot paint, if required.
Check rim flanges of light alloy
rims for wear prior to mounting a
tire. If necessary, remove burrs.