Vito tyre edge wearing out.

[W210E320]

Hi

I have a noticed a problem that both of my vitos wear the edge of the near side front tyre. I have driven 30000 miles between the two vans and know this is a common problem with the Vito.
I normally use the recommended Continental vanco 2, but as money is getting tighter everywhere and these are now £180 a tyre I'm looking for alternatives.

So has anyone found a tyre that wears better or is there a modification to the camber that will fix this.

2012 Vito, 116 blue efficency (3.2ton not the 2.8ton)

Current tyres 225/60/16

Thanks

 

[ALFAitalia]

Unless you sort the geometry your next tyres will do the same.....

 

[BTB 500]

Get a good 4-wheel alignment (e.g. Hunter) done by a specialist. I paid £66 for this earlier in the year, which I thought was pretty reasonable. Our Vito has always worn the outside edge of both front tyres (Conti Vanco) - too early to tell if the alignment has sorted this, but it certainly won't hurt. I did have one done by a local tyre centre some years back and that didn't seem to make much difference.

Obviously you can swap the wheels front to back to prolong the life of the tyres a bit.

 

[W210E320]

I should have said to prevent comments relating to geometry.
I have had both vans for almost 10 years and have had geometry done many times. Vitos have alignment adjustment as in left and right but don't have camber in and out adjustments.

My question is does anyone have experience with driving Vitos and a good tyre choice that has better edge wear? Or had anyone used a modified camber kit?

I have experience in all things mechanical related and I'm not ignorant to the basics of wheel alignment.

 

[W210E320]

Unless you sort the geometry your next tyres will do the same.....

Definitely not geometry.

 

[W210E320]

Get a good 4-wheel alignment (e.g. Hunter) done by a specialist. I paid £66 for this earlier in the year, which I thought was pretty reasonable. Our Vito has always worn the outside edge of both front tyres (Conti Vanco) - too early to tell if the alignment has sorted this, but it certainly won't hurt. I did have one done by a local tyre centre some years back and that didn't seem to make much difference.

Obviously you can swap the wheels front to back to prolong the life of the tyres a bit.

Definitely not geometry.

 

[StMarks]

. Vitos have alignment adjustment as in left and right but don't have camber in and out adjustments.

I have to dispute this @W210E320
I have a w639 2007 109cdi, so older and more basic than yours. Nonetheless the front suspension is adjustable for camber.
The upper hub carrier bolt has a cam type adjustment, for camber adjustment.
Whilst it is possible that later model revisions abandoned this facility, it seems rather unlikely.?

If your Vito is the same, it is concerning that the "specialists" who you have been paying to correct this issue for you, would not be able to identify the camber adjustment. Perhaps try taking it to a more proficient organisation, or if you choose to return to the company who have "done my geometry many times" point out that that (as well as setting the camber) they owe you for new tyres.??

FYI.: Technical Vito W639 Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Mercedes Gen-In

 

[BTB 500]

Vitos have alignment adjustment as in left and right but don't have camber in and out adjustments.

?? I've just pulled up the info. from the Hunter alignment I had done in May, and the front camber was changed significantly during that:



This is a 2007 Vito 120 that I've owned from new.

 

[Larkone]

Not read the sticky then

Definative explination.... Pull left | Wheels, Tyres, Brakes & Suspension

I would like to give a definitive explanation for the historic "pulling left" complaint. We've all read, heard, experienced this condition, concluding with an official explanation from MB UK it's a "safety feature". It's not. My field is the chassis but trust me i'm not God in this field nor...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

 

[StMarks]

Not read the sticky then

Definative explination.... Pull left | Wheels, Tyres, Brakes & Suspension

I would like to give a definitive explanation for the historic "pulling left" complaint. We've all read, heard, experienced this condition, concluding with an official explanation from MB UK it's a "safety feature". It's not. My field is the chassis but trust me i'm not God in this field nor...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

Not sure of the relevance Larkone.?
Whilst I take on board the observations, the OP of this thread seems to be describing wear that one would normally associate with an alignment issue.
Correct camber and alignment may well produce the effects covered in that thread, but are you suggesting correct alignment will also produce his (alarming?) pattern of wear.??

 

[markjay]

Does the Vito not have the aftermarket 'fluted' camber adjustment bolt, like the saloon/estates do?

 

[Larkone]

Not sure of the relevance Larkone.?
Whilst I take on board the observations, the OP of this thread seems to be describing wear that one would normally associate with an alignment issue.
Correct camber and alignment may well produce the effects covered in that thread, but are you suggesting correct alignment will also produce his (alarming?) pattern of wear.??

Yes, I had exactly that issue of wear on the inside edge of my tyres continually despite having the alignment set correctly multiple times. The issue was only corrected by WIM once they had fitted three camber adjustment bolts and set the car up based on their experience with camber, caster and tracking, which is different to what MB suggest, and since then the tyres have worn evenly across the tread.

You asked for 'or is there a modification to the camber that will fix this' and that is it but it does require a tyre shop that knows what they are doing and I cannot recommend WIM highly enough, they have an excellent reputation in the trade. I go to them even though it is a 160 miles round trip because it is cheaper than constantly replacing tyres.

 

[BTB 500]

Yes, I had exactly that issue of wear on the inside edge of my tyres continually despite having the alignment set correctly multiple times.

FWIW I don't think the OP specified that it was inside edge wear?

 

[Larkone]

FWIW I don't think the OP specified that it was inside edge wear?

Does it matter if it is the inside or outside edge if correct tracking is causing edge wear then it has to be something else so at a guess - camber or caster. Would hazard a reasonable guess that it is the inside edge but need the OP to confirm.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Inside edge front tyre wear is (99percent of the time) causes by too my toe out at the front. Excess camber does cause wear ....but much more of a full width slope of wear across the face of the tyre....if its just the in inch or two its toe. Just because its set to factory setting does not mean its right when driving...soft bushings and worn parts can mean the geometry is off when actually driving. Also just because its set to factory angles does not mean those settings were ever right right.....especially if that sort of wear is common on that model.
On the ALFA 159 they were notorious for destroying inner front tyre edges with factory settings....turned out that the factory had set them with way to much toe out and they were not toeing in under load as much as designed for (as FWD cars usually do....reverse on rear wheel drive where they gain toe out under power)) as the bushes where quite stiff. Setting them to zero toe...or possibly the tiniest hint of toe out cured the problem.....so that's what 159 drivers in the know do.

 

[W210E320]

I have to dispute this @W210E320
I have a w639 2007 109cdi, so older and more basic than yours. Nonetheless the front suspension is adjustable for camber.
The upper hub carrier bolt has a cam type adjustment, for camber adjustment.
Whilst it is possible that later model revisions abandoned this facility, it seems rather unlikely.?

If your Vito is the same, it is concerning that the "specialists" who you have been paying to correct this issue for you, would not be able to identify the camber adjustment. Perhaps try taking it to a more proficient organisation, or if you choose to return to the company who have "done my geometry many times" point out that that (as well as setting the camber) they owe you for new tyres.??

FYI.: Technical Vito W639 Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Mercedes Gen-In

So I'm now sitting in the waiting room af ATS euromaster, they are doing a full alignment check. He has confirmed what the previous garages have said, that their is no camber adjustment bolt for my Vito.

Garages that have checked are

Christchurch Tyres

Formula one tyre

National tyre and now ATS.

Maybe they are all living up to the tyre fitter stereo type? Or maybe they do know what they are doing and not all vitos are the same??

I will post a pic of the adjustment in about an hour.

Also I have new wishbones, track rod ends and drop links fitted 6 month ago with a full alignment.

 

[W210E320]

Inside edge front tyre wear is (99percent of the time) causes by too my toe out at the front. Excess camber does cause wear ....but much more of a full width slope of wear across the face of the tyre....if its just the in inch or two its toe. Just because its set to factory setting does not mean its right when driving...soft bushings and worn parts can mean the geometry is off when actually driving. Also just because its set to factory angles does not mean those settings were ever right right.....especially if that sort of wear is common on that model.
On the ALFA 159 they were notorious for destroying inner front tyre edges with factory settings....turned out that the factory had set them with way to much toe out and they were not toeing in under load as much as designed for (as FWD cars usually do....reverse on rear wheel drive where they gain toe out under power)) as the bushes where quite stiff. Setting them to zero toe...or possibly the tiniest hint of toe out cured the problem.....so that's what 159 drivers in the know do.

Thanks for the info, it seems that not many garages are willing to set outside of Mercedes spec. I think I will have to find a backstreet garage to do some fine adjustments.

 

[W210E320]

Not read the sticky then

Definative explination.... Pull left | Wheels, Tyres, Brakes & Suspension

I would like to give a definitive explanation for the historic "pulling left" complaint. We've all read, heard, experienced this condition, concluding with an official explanation from MB UK it's a "safety feature". It's not. My field is the chassis but trust me i'm not God in this field nor...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

Nope I didn't, I now have and this doesn't seem to have any relevance to my problem. My van doesn't pull to the left.

 

[m80]

If I remember
on a previous Vito (06 Dualiner) the camber adjuster was hi on the suspension leg. A fitter didn't want to adjust that as it would mean removing the wheel, adjusting, and running the check again, until correct.

Oh, on 3 previous vito's I don't recall having uneven wear until the tyres are run below 4 - 5mm, then uneven weer could set in. I blamed the type of tyre.

And as an additional thought. Is there possibilty that alignment is carried out unladen, but normal use is fairly well laden?

 

[W210E320]

Does it matter if it is the inside or outside edge if correct tracking is causing edge wear then it has to be something else so at a guess - camber or caster. Would hazard a reasonable guess that it is the inside edge but need the OP to confirm.

Thanks for the info, I will have to contact wim. I'm currently waiting for tyres and tracking to see if there is any movement in the last 6 months to rule out any lose or worn parts.