C43 Full lock low speed judder

[AndyRC]

That snippet of information actually comes from this forum. I have no idea whether technically that makes the difference but there is difference in setup between LHD and RHD. That could also explain why none of the US forums complain about this either. On my thread over there I've only got one LHD vehicle which occasionally gets it a little bit. And yes I can fully comprehend that you can get this occasionally a little bit. Very different though to getting it persistently and continuously.

When I was looking for a new car I had a test drive in a C43 Coupe. The first thing the salesman did was demonstrate the crabbing on cold tyres in the car park before we drove off. He said it was due to the placement of the steering rack etc on RHD drive cars and the usual “it’s nothing to be worried about”. When I tried to replicate this at the end of the drive on warm tyres it was totally absent no matter what I tried.

 

[Sputnik0003]

At the risk of opening old wounds, I'd appreciate some help with replacement tyre choice for my 2016 C43 Estate.

MB UK are not interested in the crabbing issue despite my dealer being quite surprised at how bad it is. Like others have said, it is affecting my enjoyment of the car to the point of considering replacement.

I need new front tyres regardless, so am looking for advice on what to fit (225/40R19). I am hoping that a new tyre will alleviate the earthquake on low speeds/temperature turning.

MB themselves said they would fit (at my expense) Michelin Cross Climates, but on checking, they do not seem to be available in my size and I did not inquire further as MB UK were being pretty unfriendly IMO.

On here I've read various alternatives, grateful for some clear guidance (oxymoron?) on options and their alleviation of the issue.

Thanks

 

[Bluegnomes]

At this time of year full winters are your best bet. My E43 has Conti winters on and no crabbing whereas just before I changed over (last month) the grabbing was quite noticeable.

 

[Sputnik0003]

Thanks for the reply.

As I will still need to replace the summer tyres, any recommendations?

Also, not convinced I am going to keep it yet. I've yet to convience my wife also and she is quite reluctant to drive it currently.

 

[Psilonaught]

Someone asked me to slow the video down, so I did

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wow that is crazy. I'd also be worried about the excessive vibration creating secondary problems, for example in the trim/facia.

 

[MrRight]

the glc does have it bad. certainly worse than the GLA 45 I used to own which would skip and make very loud single clunking sounds and you could see the car hopping on its conti 5Ps. AWD cars have it worse than rwd cars I'm sure.

there is a risk in just switching two tyres to all season. I would recommend doing all four if you can and use the cross climates as your winter tyres. Then again they dont do them in that size. if you went with a 35 profile , you could get Alpin PA4s but you're looking at an eye watering GBP 900 for a set of four. it could be possibly worth asking MB UK about what the exact size of cross climate tyre they were suggesting fitting and then going to an Indy tyre dealer and getting it done through them perhaps . i recently fitted alpin pa4s on my car and love them but the temperatures are simply too warm at present and they'll get worn out prematurely with the way I drive

 

[Sputnik0003]

Thanks, I have asked MB UK, but they seem to be confused at present, having originally suggested an All-Season that turns out is not available in 19”. Of course, I did not find that out until I left the dealer and checked. I’ve asked them for an update.

In parallel, I thought it useful to ask those who have actual real-world experience of alternative tyres. I am not sure the 35profile Alpins are what I need.

From trawling various posts I see the following options mentioned as ‘resolving’ the crabbing issue:

Original fitment: Dunlop Sport MAXX RT MO 225/40ZR 19 93Y Extra Load

Alternatives positively mentioned in dispatches:

· Continental XR
· Continental SportContact 5 SSR.
· Brigestone Potenza’s
· Firestone Firehawk SZ90

Conti’s website seems to offer me 3 options:

ContiSportContact™ 5 225/40 R19 93Y XL
SportContact™ 6 225/40 ZR19 (93Y) XL
ContiSportContact™ 5P (Merc OEM) 225/40 ZR19 93Y XL

Any suggestions which Conti is preferred? Is the Sport Contact, being newer, a good option?

My Tyres are offering Continental ContiSportContact 5 SSR 225/40 R19 93Y XL MOE with kerbing rib runflat. But these are MOE, so will I just be repeating the folly?

As I am not a tyre specialist, I am a bit confused.

Help gratefully received.

Thanks

 

[BTB 500]

I don't know what sizes are available but the Continental AllSeasonContact was the clear winner in the latest Auto Express all-season tyre test, and compared very favourably with their benchmark summer tyre (PremiumContact 6):

All-season tyre test 2018/2019: Results by category

 

[MrRight]

the trouble with those choices are that if they are summer tyres, then i very much doubt they will solve the problem you are looking to address as only winter tyres and possibly allseason tyres will reduce the skipping. A UHP summer tyre like the conti 6P has class leading colder weather performance but when you're in the middle of the winter, even then this tyre might harden up albeit to a lesser extent than your current tyre

 

[Bluegnomes]

When I got my E class I ordered the 19" winter alloys from Mercedes and they came with ContiWinterContact™ TS 830 P in 245/40/19 sizes. I'm not sure (except if they are out of stock) why you can't get these from Mercedes? Incidentally the tyre skipping with the eclass (on 20" summer tyres) never seems as bad as the GLC/c-class etc...

 

[MrRight]

When I got my E class I ordered the 19" winter alloys from Mercedes and they came with ContiWinterContact™ TS 830 P in 245/40/19 sizes. I'm not sure (except if they are out of stock) why you can't get these from Mercedes? Incidentally the tyre skipping with the eclass (on 20" summer tyres) never seems as bad as the GLC/c-class etc...

Thanks - on RWD c class, the skipping is hardly noticeable, maybe worse on the 4matic ones though.

 

[Rigby]

My W205 4Matic started having a problem with tyre skipping accompanied by a shudder and a thumping noise during the summer when the car was on full or near full lock.

I understand this crabbing/tyre skipping issue which emanates from a major design flaw in the Mercedes Ackerman steering geometry which Mercedes are calling a “Characteristic”

I noticed that the shoulders of the front Pirellis were showing excessive wear, so I took the car into my dealership in September who made some very minor adjustments to the tracking; however, this made absolutely no difference whatsoever and the shoulders became completely bald within the next two months.

After numerous letters to Mercedes Benz Customer Services and my dealership, they finally agreed to replace all the tyres last month with Continental Run Flat All Seasons free of charge and this cured the problem.

I did ask about other premium tyres however Mercedes would only fit the following: -

2 x 225/40 R19 93Y XL Continental Sport Contact SSR MOE
2 X 255/35 R19 96Y XL Continental Sport Contact SSR MOE

Furthermore, the ride is much more comfortable.

 

[Sputnik0003]

Thanks, truly appreciate you taking the time to reply.

My saga continues: My 16 plate car went in before Xmas for a service. I got the 'they all do that Sir' response. Tyres, as you note, are wearing unevenly. They said they'd raise a case with Mercedes, but were not hopeful.

The Service Rep showed me and my wife an internal bulletin that talks about what Mercedes will and will not do for the GLC and C43. It clearly demonstrates they know they have a problem (steering knuckle and new tyres for GLC, C43 listed as new tyres also). However, then there is a Dec18 addendum to this bulletin that has a 'decision tree'. This tree shows how you have to be within 2 years of notifying them of the fault, which I did, under 19k miles, which I am by a long margin and have to be the first owner, which I am not.

I also got nowhere when I asked what alternative 19" tyres they'd recommend.....some flannel about depends what is in stock and they'd not recommend.

May I ask if yours is under 2 yrs old and you are the first owner?

Thanks

 

[Rigby]

Thanks, truly appreciate you taking the time to reply.

My saga continues: My 16 plate car went in before Xmas for a service. I got the 'they all do that Sir' response. Tyres, as you note, are wearing unevenly. They said they'd raise a case with Mercedes, but were not hopeful.

The Service Rep showed me and my wife an internal bulletin that talks about what Mercedes will and will not do for the GLC and C43. It clearly demonstrates they know they have a problem (steering knuckle and new tyres for GLC, C43 listed as new tyres also). However, then there is a Dec18 addendum to this bulletin that has a 'decision tree'. This tree shows how you have to be within 2 years of notifying them of the fault, which I did, under 19k miles, which I am by a long margin and have to be the first owner, which I am not.

I also got nowhere when I asked what alternative 19" tyres they'd recommend.....some flannel about depends what is in stock and they'd not recommend.

May I ask if yours is under 2 yrs old and you are the first owner?

Thanks

Firstly you must do what I did to get a result...Write letters to MB Milton Keynes Customer Services, The service manager at your dealership and the head of sales at your dealership making sure you post them 'Special Delivery'.
This was the only way I managed to get a positive response.
My car was supplied new in May 2017 (yes I am the 1st owner bought it from new) with 19" Run Flat Pirelli's which were shot after 6,500 miles...I didn't have a problem with my 18" rims with winter tyres last winter

 

[Rigby]

Firstly you must do what I did to get a result...Write letters to MB Milton Keynes Customer Services, The service manager at your dealership and the head of sales at your dealership making sure you post them 'Special Delivery'.
This was the only way I managed to get a positive response.
My car was supplied new in May 2017 (yes I am the 1st owner bought it from new) with 19" Run Flat Pirelli's which were shot after 6,500 miles...I didn't have a problem with my 18" rims with winter tyres last winter

Here is a picture of my old Pirelli F/N/S summer tyre taken last December after 6,500 miles.
I think they are replacing the summer tyres with all seasons because they have a softer compound

 

[tylerdurden]

My C43 saloon crabbing largely went when MB changed all 4 tyres for Continental SportContact 5 SSR.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Never had a problem with either of my C207 coupes on 19" AMG alloys but my current C250 4matic , on 18" alloys, seems to crab in proportion to how cold it is on any particular morning.

 

[Grifteruk]

Hi,

I am just starting my own debate with MB on my 21' wheels on a GLC C63s. For some reasons this morning MB have said it will replace tyres and fit a knuckle on the steering system on all other models other than an AMG. Does anyone know any reason why MB are treating the AMG 63's differently to other GLC models? I understand on the knuckle solution, but their stance on tyres seems odd to me. As I understand it the difference is only really engine based and the car has a "winter mode" to limit speeds to meet the speed rating of any winter tyres.

Any insight appreciated thanks.

 

[L0tusPhil]

Ive been reading this thread with interest as my new 19 plate C43 suffers dreadfully from this as I have to apply maximum lock to get off my drive every morning.
I took the car to MB at Southport this week for its first service ready to start negotiations regarding new tyres and the surprising response once they checked my car and contacted the warranty dept was "no problem sir 4 new tyres are on order for you"
Not sure what flavour tyres are coming but Ill report back once theyre on.
Thankyou MBClub members for doing all the hard work in advance of me turning up.
Cheers
Phil

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Ive been reading this thread with interest as my new 19 plate C43 suffers dreadfully from this as I have to apply maximum lock to get off my drive every morning.
I took the car to MB at Southport this week for its first service ready to start negotiations regarding new tyres and the surprising response once they checked my car and contacted the warranty dept was "no problem sir 4 new tyres are on order for you"
Not sure what flavour tyres are coming but Ill report back once theyre on.
Thankyou MBClub members for doing all the hard work in advance of me turning up.
Cheers
Phil

How long have you had the car?

I would leave them until the weather turns for the worst so you have maximum benefit in the colder months.