C Class (W205) C 180 BlueTec,C 200 BlueTec,C 220 BlueTec,C 220 BlueTec BlueEfficiency,C 250 BlueTec,C 300 BlueTec Hybridplus,C 180,C 180 BlueEfficiency,C 200,C 250,C 300,C 400 Plug-in Hybrid,C 400

C400 Tire change question

Old Mar 25, 2023 | 02:59 PM
  #1  
lloyd right's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 4
C400
C400 Tire change question

Hey everyone, I changed all four tires one year ago to date and last week I realized my front right needs to be changed. Now i'm tinking of changing all four tires, but the back ones are rarely worn out for sure as I only drove abouto 8k miles over the last year. What are the main risks if I just change the two front tires? THat's what I intend to do. I don't know if the tires being staggered matters in this case, but the back are wider and usually always in better condition than the front. In fact, the back rims are rarely dirty as most of the braking is done at the front. THanks for your help.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 05:16 PM
  #2  
W205C43PFL's Avatar
MBWorld God!
 
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,505
Likes: 6,347
Originally Posted by lloyd right
Hey everyone, I changed all four tires one year ago to date and last week I realized my front right needs to be changed. Now i'm tinking of changing all four tires, but the back ones are rarely worn out for sure as I only drove abouto 8k miles over the last year. What are the main risks if I just change the two front tires? THat's what I intend to do. I don't know if the tires being staggered matters in this case, but the back are wider and usually always in better condition than the front. In fact, the back rims are rarely dirty as most of the braking is done at the front. THanks for your help.
Do you have 4MATIC? If you do definitely change all of them to prevent putting additional stress on the transfer case, recommend having same brand and model and same tread remaining.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 06:02 PM
  #3  
GJC400's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 81
Likes: 7
From: Chicagoland
C400
Just because you have 4matic, you don't necessarily need to buy all 4 tires if the 2 you'd like to keep are on the same end of the car and within 4/32 (i think) tread life of the new ones. You'll want to confirm the measurement, but there is a tiny bit of leeway when comparing fronts to rears. I had to replace my rears only, and the shop told me they wouldn't install them if the difference between old and new was more than 4/32. The difference on mine were less than that. so I put the 2 on the rear and everything has been great after 2 years. I don't think the same applies if, for example, your left front needed to be replaced but your right front was fine. In that case I think you need to do both right and left.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 06:25 PM
  #4  
Keith66's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 820
From: Florida
2018 AMG E43
If this were my scenario, I'd replace both front tires and everything will be fine. In fact, if you are only replacing 2 tires out of 4, you would want the new tires on the steering axle anyway, so you're good.

I understand people being hesitant adding any differentials of measurements to AWD cars, but I don't believe modern AWD systems are nearly as sensitive as they are betrayed to be.

If you really think about it, if manufacturers made AWD systems that fragile, there'd be dead AWD cars littering the side of roads everywhere, lol.

Also, who knows anyone that has ever had a modern AWD system grenade itself because of dimensions? I surely haven't. I hear a lot of people and mechanics make reference to it, but I have yet to see a proven example of it.

JMO.

Good luck!


Reply
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 10:18 AM
  #5  
W205C43PFL's Avatar
MBWorld God!
 
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,505
Likes: 6,347
Originally Posted by GJC400
Just because you have 4matic, you don't necessarily need to buy all 4 tires if the 2 you'd like to keep are on the same end of the car and within 4/32 (i think) tread life of the new ones. You'll want to confirm the measurement, but there is a tiny bit of leeway when comparing fronts to rears. I had to replace my rears only, and the shop told me they wouldn't install them if the difference between old and new was more than 4/32. The difference on mine were less than that. so I put the 2 on the rear and everything has been great after 2 years. I don't think the same applies if, for example, your left front needed to be replaced but your right front was fine. In that case I think you need to do both right and left.
My bad, thought OP said the left front and left rear was wearing, shouldn't be a problem if it was on the same axle, good catch.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 10:20 AM
  #6  
W205C43PFL's Avatar
MBWorld God!
 
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,505
Likes: 6,347
Originally Posted by Keith66
If this were my scenario, I'd replace both front tires and everything will be fine. In fact, if you are only replacing 2 tires out of 4, you would want the new tires on the steering axle anyway, so you're good.

I understand people being hesitant adding any differentials of measurements to AWD cars, but I don't believe modern AWD systems are nearly as sensitive as they are betrayed to be.

If you really think about it, if manufacturers made AWD systems that fragile, there'd be dead AWD cars littering the side of roads everywhere, lol.

Also, who knows anyone that has ever had a modern AWD system grenade itself because of dimensions? I surely haven't. I hear a lot of people and mechanics make reference to it, but I have yet to see a proven example of it.

JMO.

Good luck!
I mean personally I never seen any fail catastrophically either but better safe than sorry, there might be additional wear, so it adds up over time. There is reason why it is recommended to even shave tires with significant tread difference if not removing them all if the problem is on the same axle. That is just what I heard That said though, I mistakenly read OP as having front left and rear left tires having issues, so there is that too.
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2023 | 10:31 AM
  #7  
lloyd right's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 4
C400
Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
I mean personally I never seen any fail catastrophically either but better safe than sorry, there might be additional wear, so it adds up over time. There is reason why it is recommended to even shave tires with significant tread difference if not removing them all if the problem is on the same axle. That is just what I heard That said though, I mistakenly read OP as having front left and rear left tires having issues, so there is that too.
Thank you,

I just wanna know I won't destroy anything or die on the road for trying to same some cash.
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2023 | 11:05 PM
  #8  
W205C43PFL's Avatar
MBWorld God!
 
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,505
Likes: 6,347
Originally Posted by lloyd right
Thank you,

I just wanna know I won't destroy anything or die on the road for trying to same some cash.
For sure OP, safety first! Enjoy your ride
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 28, 2023 | 11:35 AM
  #9  
Keith66's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 820
From: Florida
2018 AMG E43
Sometimes the correct answer is not always the right answer. It may be more about what you are comfortable with.

You are obviously concerned, so I would recommend for you that you replace all 4 tires. Otherwise it's probably going to stay on your mind and drive you nuts, lol.

Personally I think it's not an issue to replace 2 tires on the same axle and again I sure would like to see some proof it could be an issue (not just an old repeated wives' tale), but you really should listen to your gut.


Reply
Old Mar 28, 2023 | 11:46 AM
  #10  
Keith66's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 820
From: Florida
2018 AMG E43
And just to add some color to the conversation, of the w205 4matics shipped from the factory with staggered wheels/tires, most of the rears are a smaller diameter than the fronts by about 0.3 inch. That's an approximately 19/64ths of a difference front to rear.


Reply
Old Mar 28, 2023 | 07:32 PM
  #11  
lloyd right's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 4
C400
Originally Posted by Keith66
Sometimes the correct answer is not always the right answer. It may be more about what you are comfortable with.

You are obviously concerned, so I would recommend for you that you replace all 4 tires. Otherwise it's probably going to stay on your mind and drive you nuts, lol.

Personally I think it's not an issue to replace 2 tires on the same axle and again I sure would like to see some proof it could be an issue (not just an old repeated wives' tale), but you really should listen to your gut.
TBH, once I drive it and I don't have any issue I won't even think twice about it thereafter lol I just wanted to know it's not going to damage the car.
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2023 | 08:43 PM
  #12  
Keith66's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 820
From: Florida
2018 AMG E43
Originally Posted by lloyd right
TBH, once I drive it and I don't have any issue I won't even think twice about it thereafter lol I just wanted to know it's not going to damage the car.
Cool, then replace the 2 front tires and be happy that you didn't needlessly spend ~$500 replacing good tires. It's not going to damage your car.

I'll add one more thing and I'll stop beating this dead horse... this is a fairly large message board encompassing all Mercedes models and has been online for many years. If this was a real issue, it would be expected to see a multitude of threads and posts filled with the 4matic horror stories of massive (or even slight) failures caused by people running new and "old" tires, mismatched tire pressures, etc., but nope, crickets.

Unless a mismatch in tire tread depth causes piston failures also, lol.


Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:41 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE