W203 tyre wear question

[gazzz]

I've just spent the last hour or so searching the forum on typical tyre wear - W203 specific (facelift if that makes a difference). Can't seem to find consistent opinion though.

I've noticed that I'm getting a fair amount of wear on the front tyre outer shoulders (Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45/ZR17 fitted). The tyres are perfectly legal with masses of tread left across at least 90% of the tyre but just don't look good with the shoulders chamfered down to a millimetre or so.

I can find a lot of posts saying this is normal, recognised by MB and "unfixable" but I can find just as many saying that with proper alignment tyre wear should be even.

I think I'll probably bite the bullet and get a decent alignment check done by a specialist but don't want to throw my money away unnecessarily. Any views?

Thanks

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Try searching this forum or Google for key words: wheels in motion

Not used them myself but always very helpful and lots of positive feedback.

 

[gazzz]

Yes, thanks, found many posts on this forum and they look like they are the experts. Bit far for me to travel to them though

As a starting point I'm trying to find out whether what looks like a problem to me really is, or just par for the course.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Front tyres often wear more on the outer shoulder - for all sorts of reasons: effects of roundabouts and hard cornering, or lots of low speed 'tight' manouvering.

The latter might not seem a big deal, but turn your steering wheel until you reach full lock to the left, and then look at the angle that your front wheels are relative to the vertical. It will look like it's about to break off!!

Given that you think it looks disproportionately worn then I would suggest that it would be best to get an alignment check done regardless.

 

[Alex Argent]

Agree totally with Bobby's comments above.

However, castor angle is also critical to tyre wear (and safety ) on most recent marques, and can be easily knocked out of alignment by even slight kerbing or a finding a deepish pothole.

It seems that accurate adjustment of the castor angle is beyond the realms of most 'high street' tyre/wheel fitting companies. I've even heard that some main MB dealers farm out this sort of work to specialists such as Wheels in Motion and other reputable companies as they do not have the correct equipment.

IMHO, I'd get a complete wheel realignment done and the geometry checked out.

You will probably find that in the long-term, the costs of replacing rubber will far outweigh the costs of getting an accurate alignment carried out.

That's my tuppenceworth

 

[Geoff A]

Gazzz, I've had two E320CDi W210s and I'm now running a C270Cdi estate - and all three have shown the same very even tyre wear characteristics: equal shoulder wear up front, and centre wear on the rears, despite sticking to recommended pressures for load/speed etc.
I'm currently playing with inflation pressures to even out the wear with a few extra lbs up front and a few less lbs in the rear, but its a long term process. My previous set of fronts lasted 12k.
Reckon this is just a bog-standard Mercedes trait, and the book inflation pressures are only a guideline, so be prepared to experiment a little to get the best from your tyres (once you're satisfied the geo isn't out of line).
Geoff.

 

[Rory]

...I'm now running a C270Cdi estate -
......
My previous set of fronts lasted 12k.

Yikes! I changed mine at 40K and only then because the outer edges had scrubbed so they looked bad - the bulk of the tyre still had 3-4mm. And they were Bridgestone Turanza ER30's, not known for long life.

 

[Geoff A]

Ah, to be fair, the fronts were part worn when I bought the car - I didn't explain that bit. Sorry. The rears were new at point of purchase and have so far covered 17k and there's a couple of mm left on them, so they should see out 20k quite easily.

 

[Rory]

Ah, to be fair, the fronts were part worn when I bought the car - I didn't explain that bit. Sorry. The rears were new at point of purchase and have so far covered 17k and there's a couple of mm left on them, so they should see out 20k quite easily.

That's about the same as I get on the rears.

By the way, how much more awful do you find the ride of the C Class than the E Class's you had?
Mine is my first MB, and I'm really disappointed in how harsh and crashy it is.

 

[Geoff A]

I don't. I went from a two E saloons to a BMW 535d M Sport Touring on run-flats which was a bone shaker, then on to the C - and it glides along by comparison and is a great motorway cruiser. The standard 17in alloys run on Conti Sport Contacts 3s. I've no complaints, other than balancing out the tyre wear cos I can't swap them front to back.....

 

[merc07]

I've just spent the last hour or so searching the forum on typical tyre wear - W203 specific (facelift if that makes a difference). Can't seem to find consistent opinion though.

C220 W203 Facelift

After having mine setup by wheels in motion I havn't had a problem. The last 2 sets have been wearing evenly.

I noticed when I changed the last set that it started pulling to the left again. Same tyres, same wheels fitted to the same sides. The only difference was the ones that didn't pull as much were "Extra Load" tyres.

Do they look like this ?

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/wheels-tyres/51517-front-tyre-wear-outside-edge-3.html

Cheers
Adam

 

[gazzz]

Thanks Adam.

My tyres aren't as bad as yours were in those pictures. Not such a difference between wheels (though more wear on the passenger side than drivers side, like yours). The wear on mine is even more confined to the shoulder than yours - or at least more evident at the shoulders with the current amount of wear they have.

I don't have any pull to the left as you describe other than caused by the road camber. However, I test drove a C270 just before buying this one and that was exactly as you describe. Horrible.

What I'm considering doing is to swap the tyres over off the rims so preserving the same rotational direction but extending their life? Then when they need replacing taking a long drive over to WIM to get new tyres and a proper alignment done.

 

[Rory]

I noticed when I changed the last set that it started pulling to the left again.

Try swapping the fronts over. Made a difference on my car.

 

[Chrishazle]

Try swapping the fronts over. Made a difference on my car.

What size rims are you on? I'm on 16's and 205/55 Falken 452's (newly fitted) and would not describe the ride as harsh and crashy - quite the opposite in fact!
Have you dont the front lower bushes, rose joints and ARB bushes? Mine had the traditional C clunks from the front when I first got her, but replacing the lower arms, rise jointed bits and ARB cured that.

 

[Rory]

What size rims are you on? I'm on 16's and 205/55 Falken 452's (newly fitted) and would not describe the ride as harsh and crashy - quite the opposite in fact!

Same size fronts, rears are 225/50/16.

I've had the camber bushes changed but the car has only done 45K mainly "motorway" miles.

When I got it at 5mths old it had Bridgestone Turanza ER30 tyres and the ride was horrendous - they're like iron rings rather than rubber tyres.

It's on Michelin Primacy HP's now and they are better, but it's not the compliant, comfortable ride that I expected.

One thing with the estate is that the load cover flaps about on bumpy surfaces and the noise of that makes the "crashiness" seem worse than it is. I tend to drive with it rolled up now.

 

[horsesuitedfool]

My C270 had awful pull to the left when i got it and awful wear on outer edge of the passenger front tyre......I just changed to 18 inch AMG V alloys wheels with new tyres and had the alignment done on a Hunter machine. They said it was out back and front so adjusted it all but the camber was slightly out of limits on the front passenger wheel and they cannot adjust that without using a kit of some sort. So they adjusted everything else and it seems fine now, just pulls to left with camber of road but straight as an arrow when the road is flat. I will see how the wear is and decide later if i need to get the kit and camber sorted out.... I do however need all the bushes sorted as i get the clunky suspension at the moment too....

 

[Markedes]

Wheels In Motion, Chesham !!!!

My C class 270 CDI Se Aventgarde Sprts pack 04 Face lift had a really bad problem of deciding to go left . I use the word decide as the car drifting left is totally different from a steer left.

Wheels in motion ,chesham have been really helpful and combined with great equipment and people who know what they are doing. I have the four bolts fitted to secure the geometry of the car and then the tracking. they have been so good and would not hesitate in recomending them to any forum member.

Taking Jeep Cherokee this week for same treatment.

First class service although make sure you book.

Regards

Mark

 

[markjay]

On my w203 180k MY2006, the wear is uniform across the thread on both front and rear wheels, and I do mainly town driving.

However, my tyres are not as wide as yours (they are only 205/55x16), so this could be a factor.

Either way, I suggest you PM Tony Bones (WIM) for advice - he is very very helpful, even if you can't actually take to car to him.