justthinking

For the past few weeks, I began to feel my c300 doesn't drive quite as smooth as it used to..
What I am experiencing is the car seems to be more slippery..
When going over rough patch on highway,
I got a slight hydroplaning feeling, like the car has slipped/skidded a little..
I am also sensing that I am using more force to grab the steering wheel now,
as opposite to before when I was merely guiding the steering wheel..
(the steering wheel felt loose, not tight at all)

The car corners just fine, when cornering, I still feel good grip..
When let go of the steering, on some roads the car would stay in the center while on other roads it would steer slight to right..
However, I thought the off to right might due to the normal road crowning..

I know it could very well be the alignment is off, but consider the fact I have not curb the wheels..
I don't know what could have thrown the alignment off...
If it is not alignment, what other probable cause could it be?

Tire treads for the rear are about 4.5/10 and front are about 6.5/10
Since I have a RWD c300, could bad rear tires cause the slippery feeling?

What about suspension/shocks/strut or control arm?

I am taken the car to the dealer next week but want to get some idea first so we can have the issue properly diagnosed..

MBnewby

My first guess is you need new rear tires. Not sure what you're running but my Michelin Pilot HXM...whatever didn't last long at all on my RWD C350...especially since you cannot rotate them. The front tires are still great but the rears were worn down to the wear bars in the middle of the tire mostly. I would check your rear tires, you probably are due for an upgrade. I went with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus on just the rears for now and the car feels safe and planted to the road once again.

dcjwlee

Penny test your treads and check psi. Overinflated tires will be skittish over bumps and while they will corner more responsively it will cause a more sudden loss of traction than if you had underinflated tires.

If you don't have an idea what to tell the dealer at least make sure you don't go there and cough up five hundred beans for an alignment and balance. I was able to negotiate an alignment check for free even though they insisted they charge me the full price even if no corrections were made.

justthinking

I use tire tread gauge to get more precise reading and all 4 tires are in ok shape..
front tires has about 6.5/10 left and rear has about 4.5/10 left..
I am running 31 psi for the front and 35 psi for the rear..

I was going to wait til the summer when I replace all 4 tires s/ Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus to do alignent, but looks like I will have to get it done early..
Good thing I found a coupon on Fletcher Jones (fremont) website for $99 4 wheels alignment + suspension check and my perferred dealer should have no problem taken the coupon..I also have a complimentary 25 point winter inspection coupon available too..

EASYDOES1T

When you get the feeling that it "slips or skids," does the exclamation point flash by the speedometer?