I tried to build the Hobby Boss EBR-10 kit but was put off by the impossibility of getting the heavy ridges off the rubber tires. Now that DEF Model has come out with replacement wheels, I'm ready to try again. One question-were the center wheels one color instead of with rubber tires? I got that idea from the picture I saw.

I believe that you're correct. Link to pic:
http://data3.primeportal.net/apc/david_lueck/ebr_ett/images/ebr_ett_20_of_49.jpg
(Different vehicle but same type of chassis)
I think that they (the kit's mid-wheel tires) were molded in "rubber" possibly to aid assembly.

According to AFV Profile #39: "The intermediate wheels have Duralmin tyres with steel grousers but they are provided with a limited degree of resilience by a row of rubber of rubber blocks inserted between the wheel disc and rim."

The all-metal wheels are painted the same color as the vehicle. The rubber inserts Gary mentions are not visible as they are inside the wheel structure.

Olivier

I also wonder about the color. The picture on Wikipedia looks like the color of SAC Green.

A good match for the French Army green is XF-58 Olive Green. You enlighten it a bit to show a faded paint.

http://www.paint4models.com/paintchart/paintconversionchart20100101e.htm#

Or Tamiya AS-14 if you want to use spray.