jerky upshift with winter tires
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 18
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From: Ontario, Canada
2012 C350 4MATIC
jerky upshift with winter tires
Hi folks,
I started driving my 2012 C350 4Matic (OEM 18" tires) in the fall of 2011. Didn't notice any jerkiness when it changed gear at just below 60km/h. During the winter when I had my 17" Pirelli Zottozero dealer installed winter tires on, I noticed a jerky upshift whenever the car is changing to a higher gear at around 60km/h. It really bothered me as I felt that the car wasn't running as smooth as it should be.
Now that I have switched back to summer tires, I no longer feel any jerkiness at that speed while the car is upshifting.
Does anyone have a similar experience or does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks.
I started driving my 2012 C350 4Matic (OEM 18" tires) in the fall of 2011. Didn't notice any jerkiness when it changed gear at just below 60km/h. During the winter when I had my 17" Pirelli Zottozero dealer installed winter tires on, I noticed a jerky upshift whenever the car is changing to a higher gear at around 60km/h. It really bothered me as I felt that the car wasn't running as smooth as it should be.
Now that I have switched back to summer tires, I no longer feel any jerkiness at that speed while the car is upshifting.
Does anyone have a similar experience or does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks.
Last edited by JBeans; Mar 28, 2012 at 09:19 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
Hi folks,
I started driving my 2012 C250 4Matic (OEM 18" tires) in the fall of 2011. Didn't notice any jerkiness when it changed gear at just below 60km/h. During the winter when I had my 17" Pirelli Zottozero dealer installed winter tires on, I noticed a jerky upshift whenever the car is changing to a higher gear at around 60km/h. It really bothered me as I felt that the car wasn't running as smooth as it should be.
Now that I have switched back to summer tires, I no longer feel any jerkiness at that speed while the car is upshifting.
Does anyone have a similar experience or does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks.
I started driving my 2012 C250 4Matic (OEM 18" tires) in the fall of 2011. Didn't notice any jerkiness when it changed gear at just below 60km/h. During the winter when I had my 17" Pirelli Zottozero dealer installed winter tires on, I noticed a jerky upshift whenever the car is changing to a higher gear at around 60km/h. It really bothered me as I felt that the car wasn't running as smooth as it should be.
Now that I have switched back to summer tires, I no longer feel any jerkiness at that speed while the car is upshifting.
Does anyone have a similar experience or does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
2012 C350 4MATIC
I also asked the SA and suggested that the smaller 17" winter tires might not be a perfect match for a vehicle with a 18" OEM tires. The SA dismissed that there is such a correlation.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
Yes, indeed. In the winter, the ambient temp. would be anywhere from -15C to 10C. Since I have my summer tires back on for about a week by now, the ambient temp is around 10C. I believe that I still felt the jerkiness with the winter tires on even there were times that the temp. rose to 10C. So I tend to think that it's the tires.
I also asked the SA and suggested that the smaller 17" winter tires might not be a perfect match for a vehicle with a 18" OEM tires. The SA dismissed that there is such a correlation.
I also asked the SA and suggested that the smaller 17" winter tires might not be a perfect match for a vehicle with a 18" OEM tires. The SA dismissed that there is such a correlation.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
2012 C350 4MATIC
I would have to agree with your service advisor. With a similar overall diameter and circumference between a 17" and 18" set-up, the transmission doesn't care what percent of the round assembly is wheel and what is tire. It seems unlikely that the tires would produce the symptom you reported just on mid-range upshifts. Apparently, you are now in for several month of smooth shifting. But, your complaint is on record. Be a careful observer over the summer, in case it surprises you with an occurrence in warm weather on your non-winter tires. If the abruptness returns as temps drop below freezing in the late Fall, you will have a pattern they can work with. Your car is young enough that you can do this observation without warranty concerns.
Thanks very much for your input. I will pay attention to this mid-range upshift especially in cold temperatures while stilll having my non-winter tires on.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/...-ruled-illegal
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
I started driving my 2012 C350 4Matic (OEM 18" tires) in the fall of 2011. Didn't notice any jerkiness when it changed gear at just below 60km/h. During the winter when I had my 17" Pirelli Zottozero dealer installed winter tires on, I noticed a jerky upshift whenever the car is changing to a higher gear at around 60km/h. It really bothered me as I felt that the car wasn't running as smooth as it should be.....
Try manual shifting to avoid a shift at 37 mph (60km/h). And what happens when you change the acceleration rate (like pushing the pedal more) ??
.
Last edited by kevink2; Mar 29, 2012 at 12:21 AM.
