I'm currently running Michelin RainForce tires on my 1992 190E. The tires only have 5000 miles on them and I just rotated them last week. I moved the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front, while keeping them so that they rotate in the same direction. I've heard that this is an old way of rotating and that they don't have to be kept rotating in the same direction like they used to be. Most people told me that I should move the back tires to the front and then criss-cross the tires that I am putting on the back that came from the front. My manual says that the tires shouldn't reverse direction when they are rotated. Can anyone clear this up for me?

Also, how important is it to torque the lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs. per the recommendations of my manual? I don't have a torque wrench but have been thinking about purchasing one. Thanks for your help.

Yes, for a few years I have been seeing here and there that radials no longer have to rotate the same direction. Old habits die hard, however, and I think that rotating front to rear is still a good practice and will accomplish even tire wear.

There are two important things about "torquing" lug bolts. One is that you want to make sure that they are tight so they don't come off. Two is that you tighten all of them equally in a pattern so as not to warp the brake rotors.

I have a torque wrench but have never used it on wheels in 30 years of MB maintenance. What I do is use the factory lug wrench and tighten the lugs equally, in a five pointed star pattern. I put my body weight on the end of that short wrench. I weigh about 180 pounds. This does not mean that I lift myself off the ground. It probably be more accurate to say that I put my torso weight on the wrench.

I have never had a problem with either a lug coming loose or a rotor being warped using this method. I have "warped" rotors by using tire foam that gets through the spokes to the rotor. I now cover the wheels with a circle of plywood when applying tire foam.

Hope this helps,