Mercedes tyre 'skipping' - official statement

[Tony Mac]

It sounds like the easy way to deal with this would be to delete the sillier wheel and tyre options from the brochure and price list. except in marketing terms it's not that easy because people will buy X3s and Q5s instead.

Yes, customers will buy Audi, BMW, Porsche, Range Rover, Jaguar ( some of these do exhibit slight but very minor and infrequent tyre skipping / sliding ) etc because they have designed SUV / Cross-over / 4WD vehicles that provide a normally comfortable drive on larger 18, 19, 20, 21" wheels within the constrains of the Ackerman theory - without the awful crabbing, juddering and clonking.

MB need to look at their Left-hand drive GLC and determine what the differences are with the Right-hand drive UK car, and FIX THE FAULT

Tony

 

[dejongj]

Trouble is the owners don't need to spend so much on a car.

So the like of MB need the customers no buy things that we don't need like 4WD in order to upsell from the Toyota Aigos and Ford Kas we'd all otherise be driving.

It sounds like the easy way to deal with this would be to delete the sillier wheel and tyre options from the brochure and price list. except in marketing terms it's not that easy because people will buy X3s and Q5s instead.

So considering it happens regardless of the wheel sizes, are you suggesting Mercedes should reduce the size of the brake callipers and start selling these on 15" wheels with drum brakes or something? 17" is lowest you can get with the off-road pack to clear the brake callipers for a 220d version if I am not mistaken.

 

[Dryce]

17" is lowest you can get with the off-road pack to clear the brake callipers for a 220d version if I am not mistaken.

I wonder how many are supplied with 17s in the UK. And I wonder if that the proportion is lower and that this is a reason RHD drivers may have more reports of proboems than LHD?

I don't think I've ever see a GLC with anything less than 19s so far.

 

[HumberMart]

I've posted a few times on my concerns regarding stress on the drivetrain and tyres causing premature failure, but now I'm thinking this is a real safety issue.

I know I'm not the first to raise this point, but if you are trying to turn right at a mini roundabout in slippy/icy/snowy conditions (and in my mind irrespective of whether you are shod with winters or not), the wind-up forces that are at work here that cause the hop/skip/judder, are most definitely forcing the loss of traction.

If that right turn was on a down slope, how could you be sure that the GLC wouldn't just carry straight on??? It's almost like anti-lock brakes working in reverse if you think about it.

If you wanted to retro-fit a 'characteristic' that would best induce random skids on slippy surfaces, you'd be hard pressed to design a better system - well done MB !!!

 

[rf065]

the wind-up forces that are at work here that cause the hop/skip/judder, are most definitely forcing the loss of traction.

Nothing to do with wind-up forces, the Ackerman principle is the cause and it's because both wheels have good traction but are following different paths that it happens. If on snow or icy roads without much traction then the tyres would be able to slip sideways easier and without being felt as much.

Russ

 

[HumberMart]

Nothing to do with wind-up forces, the Ackerman principle is the cause and it's because both wheels have good traction but are following different paths that it happens. If on snow or icy roads without much traction then the tyres would be able to slip sideways easier and without being felt as much.

Russ

No wind-up intended

 

[HumberMart]

Let's just inject a little bit of clarity here regarding the Ackerman Effect/Principle.

This effect is due to geometry, and effects all cars, whether 2WD or 4WD.

Having driven both C43's and GLC's, and compared those drives to countless other drives in lots of other 4WD, FWD, RWD, LHD/RHD etc etc vehicles, I'm convinced it's more to do with the diff/clutch/transfer box arrangement and affects RHD models only.

That's only my opinion, but at least I've driven all these cars, experienced it first hand, and due to my education/profession, feel competent to offer well-thought comments regarding the technology and engineering, not just offer blind speculation from hearsay.

 

[rf065]

That's only my opinion, but at least I've driven all these cars, experienced it first hand, and due to my education/profession, feel competent to offer well-thought comments regarding the technology and engineering, not just offer blind speculation from hearsay.

Even when you're wrong?

Russ

 

[HumberMart]

Even when you're wrong? Russ

Don't mind being wrong. I tend to learn more in the process.

 

[John]

If you are selling a vehicle with the combinations of wheels/tyres/suspension available, they should all work as expected and not have this issue.

Customers should be able to choose what they want from what is available, regardless of people's irrelevant opinions on what they think other people should choose based on their own preferences.

If you can't manage it, don't offer it.

They are happy to take the money for combinations which don't work as they should, so should be resolving the issue.

 

[Tony Mac]

If you are selling a vehicle with the combinations of wheels/tyres/suspension available, they should all work as expected and not have this issue.

Customers should be able to choose what they want from what is available, regardless of people's irrelevant opinions on what they think other people should choose based on their own preferences.

If you can't manage it, don't offer it.

They are happy to take the money for combinations which don't work as they should, so should be resolving the issue.

EXACTLY - SO CORRECT

After spending almost £50k on a car with standard MB options, is it not wrong to expect it to drive correctly, smoothly and comfortably. The range of right-hand drive GLC vehicles being market and sold in the UK ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

We are not experiencing a harsh winter, the ambient temperature and conditions are no different to any other British winters. In fact this winter appears to be relatively mild.

Surely cars developed by MB for the UK market should should be capable of performing smoothly and comfortably, without wheel crabbing and juddering across the mild, typical driving conditions here in the UK - the GLC fails

 

[Deleted member 6183]

EXACTLY - SO CORRECT

After spending almost £50k on a car with standard MB options, is it not wrong to expect it to drive correctly, smoothly and comfortably. The range of right-hand drive GLC vehicles being market and sold in the UK ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

We are not experiencing a harsh winter, the ambient temperature and conditions are no different to any other British winters. In fact this winter appears to be relatively mild.

Surely cars developed by MB for the UK market should should be capable of performing smoothly and comfortably, without wheel crabbing and juddering across the mild, typical driving conditions here in the UK - the GLC fails

The unit cost and brand are irrelevant if you have confidence that this is a real issue.

 

[Tony Mac]

The unit cost and brand are irrelevant if you have confidence that this is a real issue.

Complete piffle - MB customers buy a Merc specifically because it's a Mercedes.

MB Customers aspire to owning what they perceive is a high quality top brand vehicle. MB customers do not buy Kia's, they pay a premium because they are confident MB will deliver, which they usually do. But not with the new GLC!

 

[Deleted member 6183]

You meant 'que' didn't you?

 

[John]

I'd expect all brands to get it right or as before - don't sell it!

If you bought an old cheap used vehicle, one might excuse certain issues but these shouldn't be expected on a new car.

If you've paid a lot of money for it, it would certainly be more annoying...

The unit cost and brand are irrelevant if you have confidence that this is a real issue.

Would MB have acknowledged it if wasn't?

 

[tangey]

I wonder how many are supplied with 17s in the UK. And I wonder if that the proportion is lower and that this is a reason RHD drivers may have more reports of proboems than LHD?

I don't think I've ever see a GLC with anything less than 19s so far.

mines on 18" wheels, and I have the issue. Several others on here have reported being on 18" wheels.

 

[dejongj]

mines on 18" wheels, and I have the issue. Several others on here have reported being on 18" wheels.

Indeed standard wheel option is 18". I think it isn't unless you choose the off-road package that the GLC in any market gets delivered with 17" wheels.

As per our survey - wheel diameters of those who declare that have this issue. Membership and data keeps on growing by the day, and I noticed we now also have 17" owners registered and affected.

 

[dejongj]

The unit cost and brand are irrelevant if you have confidence that this is a real issue.

I agree, no car should be doing this. Regardless of whether we have confidence that this is a real issue or not

 

[dejongj]

Another little video, a little bit tongue in cheek

https://www.mercedescrabbing.org/2017/02/13/getting-crab-burger-in-a-mercedes-glc/

 

[MercedesDriver]

Another little video, a little bit tongue in cheek

https://www.mercedescrabbing.org/2017/02/13/getting-crab-burger-in-a-mercedes-glc/

This is really unbelievable. The car literally jumps all over while turning. Keep pushing them and they will have to respond to this.
I remember a story of a guy who parked his Audi TDI with disintegrated oil pump (well known VAG TDI issue) and knackered engine in front of Audi with large banner because they refused to accept a claim and compensate a loss. So why don't you all GLC's make a joint tour visit of MB UK? Maybe then they will hear this characteristic