I have been playing around with my tire pressures because I have to hall around 75 to 100 pounds of stuff in the trunk ever since my work vehicle died for the final time.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

I do that a lot... my SPRINGS are massively overloaded... tire wear on the rear tires is always smooth and even. even though they are at high load... with 36 ish psi on the tires.

the fronts always get odd wear patterns no matter how I set the pressure, or how I align the front end... I drive oddly, and the heavy loads in the rear throw off the alignment I guess...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

If you will look in the chassis manual on tire wear.... you will find that the wear pattern (pictures ) you are used to on American cars... is not what they consider normal on the MB....
So you may have it as good as it gets while worrying that it is not normal...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I have noticed the fronts with odd wear pattern also. It's like the weight in the rear completely throws off the front.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Sorry for the delay....Went outside and noticed oil under the 78...EEEKKKK....Guess the off roading I was doing, made the oil pan land on a rock....put a hole in it! Luckily it was on the other side of the oil pump so no damage to that but the dent was like 3in deep...

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Looks pretty old. You do know that Firestones were implicated in the Explorer mess a few years back...what model is that tire? Maybe it's not too late to join the class action.

That would be nice! Did put some dings in the car...Here's the only numbers I found...of course the camera strap got in the way...will go take another...

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What is the manufacture date on the sidewall of the tire? If that thing is still holding pressure deflate it immediately.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Things like this are exactly why I am so critical and obsessive about tires. They are the ONLY link between your car and the road, and what good is a car that has no traction? After hydroplaning briefly in a car once, I have been obsessed with maintaining my tires, keeping the best traction I can possibly have, and inspecting them regularly to be aware of any irregularities. You would not believe the outright SCARY tires situations customers would bring to me. Dry rot, bald tires, tires down to the steel belts, tires with huge bubbles in the side, tires with uneven bald patches due to worn shocks, chunks missing from the sidewall, push-in patches right on the edge of the sidewall, etc. It made me not want to drive home at night knowing they were right behind me going 45 mph. I absolutely will not go on the highway without inspecting all of the tires, their pressures, and all of my fluids. I don't care how late I run, I won't go without doing it.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

The real question is, what tire pressures were you running with on that tire???

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Checked the night before and they were all at 30PSI..not cold....I can go check the other ones to confirm....I am ready to be stoned now

Reading comments about the tires, these ones were also made in the same plant that produced the ones that made all those SUV's flip....Lots of comments about tread separation on this model.....I won't be running any more firestone tires....Once I get new tires, I will slash the sidewalls so no one attempts to resell them and kill a family....

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Okay these tires are Firestone FR480.....manufactured in 2008....Reading alot about others who experienced tread separation....seeing if there was a recall....anyone can help...would be great...now I am afraid of the others...as its not an age issue but manufacturing defect...lord....

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Whitewalls? That tire is so last century! By the time a tire is this old, you're just begging for trouble. Probably too old to qualify for recall, but here's the list of Firestone recalls for your amusement:

FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL NOTICES - LATEST RECALLS FOR FIRESTONE TIRES - ARFC

They are 7 years old. They should have already been replaced. It is recommended people replace tires at 6 years of age no matter the tread condition.

Tires Expire in Six Years - Tire Safety Group

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

Yeah I know....just sadly some of us just don't have the money for new tires every three years....I've ran tires in the past for long periods but never knew there was a self destruct date....I'm already on the corner with my tin can fighting for tire change

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