Just curious...why is the winter tire pressure different from the summer on my SDL? And why is it uneqaul (38 rear, 33 front)?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Tire pressures affect several things: fuel mileage, tire wear pattern, hydroplaning speed, ride, and handling. The factory tire pressures are what M-B decided (typically on the conservative side) would create the best and safest balance of those factors.

As far as the front/rear balance, it is usually either for carrying more load on one axle or to correct a dynamic imbalance in the car where one end tends to slide more quickly or wildly. Tire pressure changes front/rear can affect the car's tendancy to oversteer vs understeer.

Further, a different tire design often will need an adjustment in pressure. Winter tires are typically sloppier handling and ride softer, so a little higher tire pressure will offset that a little.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

So if I'm using all-season tires (i.e. not snow tires), I wonder if I should just go with the summer pressure?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Hmmm...didn't know that one was supposed to have a different pressure for winter and summer tyres

I know it says 28 front and 33 rear for my Benz, but I've always gone and used 31 and 33 cos I felt that 28 is just too low and actually scares me

Plus wouldn't such a low pressure affect mileage significantly?

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1987 300TD
1984 300D
755,000 KM and going strong
BC Canada

I run all four of mine 35psi year-round. Makes the 5k mile tire rotation that much simpler, and seems to work out well enough. And it's within the "bounds" of the factory recommendations.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I think in winter weather that you may lose quite a bit of traction with over inflated tires though so its best to find what works and is SAFE for you.