Tire wear on RWD
#1
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Tire wear on RWD
So what has the experience been on tire wear? My car has 23,000 miles on it now, 2,000 from me. My rear tires look almost new with deep even tread. I can even see some of the white printing below the tread line. My fronts however are getting a little worn looking.
I was under the assumption that RWD cars wear out the back tires more quickly.
I was under the assumption that RWD cars wear out the back tires more quickly.
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
My rears wear more quickly that the fronts. They actually wear on the inside shoulder since the car was new which is annoying & even with rotation I cannot obtain even wear. The camber angle is within limits. We have moved from steep rough gravel rural roads to the more sedate built up areas so the inside wear may lessen.
I am a sedate driver. Maybe the car is designed to be thrown around more which would negate the negative camber wear.
It is possible the previous owner rotated your tyres or it suited them to use tyres from another vehicle ?.
If you have the impractical staggered set up some of this will not count .
I am a sedate driver. Maybe the car is designed to be thrown around more which would negate the negative camber wear.
It is possible the previous owner rotated your tyres or it suited them to use tyres from another vehicle ?.
If you have the impractical staggered set up some of this will not count .
Last edited by Carsy; 01-09-2016 at 03:00 PM.
#3
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Yes, I am staggered. I think all non 4matic C250s have the staggered setup.
My rears look good enough to be new but the front were worn enough to get a warning from the dealer that they are getting near replacement.
Although the previous owner had hit something and the alignment might be slightly off. I think the wear is even with a touch more on the outside. I have bent rims on the right side of the car which I'm trying to get repaired.
My rears look good enough to be new but the front were worn enough to get a warning from the dealer that they are getting near replacement.
Although the previous owner had hit something and the alignment might be slightly off. I think the wear is even with a touch more on the outside. I have bent rims on the right side of the car which I'm trying to get repaired.
#4
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'05 MBZ C230K and '09 MBZ C350
Normally, the rear tires wear out quickly than the front. I think the best way is to get a set of four new tires for your car. After 15k or 20k miles, you will see the rear tires are worn out and the front tires threads will be about 50% left. Then get a pair of tires for the rear only. 15k-20k miles later, you will have all four tires worn out at the same time. That is what I would do with my car.
#6
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I thought of that but they don't look quite that new. Plus it was a leased vehicle. I don't think someone would put new tires on just before the lease was up.
From what I remember looking up on the tires they are warrantied to 40,000 miles on staggered setups.
From what I remember looking up on the tires they are warrantied to 40,000 miles on staggered setups.
#7
Super Member
Yes, I am staggered. I think all non 4matic C250s have the staggered setup.
My rears look good enough to be new but the front were worn enough to get a warning from the dealer that they are getting near replacement.
Although the previous owner had hit something and the alignment might be slightly off. I think the wear is even with a touch more on the outside. I have bent rims on the right side of the car which I'm trying to get repaired.
My rears look good enough to be new but the front were worn enough to get a warning from the dealer that they are getting near replacement.
Although the previous owner had hit something and the alignment might be slightly off. I think the wear is even with a touch more on the outside. I have bent rims on the right side of the car which I'm trying to get repaired.
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#8
Super Member
Not true. You will be charged a maintenance fee from the dealer if you give the car back on bald tires. The previous owner most likely replaced the tires from a cheaper source.
#9
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Although a different model, I have RWD as well. I noticed the wear on the rear was worst then the front when I purchased the car before the middle of last year. I've since replaced all 4 with Yokohoma Advan Sport A/S and have put over 10k miles on them. So far the wear has not really shown on the front or the back. I'm sure it will in the next 10k miles though.
#10
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That is a possibility I thought of. They are all Continental ContiProContact which seem to be the ones I see on all the C-Series cars.
#11
Senior Member
Get the numbers from the sidewalls on the rear tires and compare the manufacture dates to the fronts:
Hot to find tire age
Also, on average my c350 will go through 3 sets of 540 thread wear rears before the fronts need replacement. That is also with my wife driving.
Hot to find tire age
Also, on average my c350 will go through 3 sets of 540 thread wear rears before the fronts need replacement. That is also with my wife driving.
#12
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Get the numbers from the sidewalls on the rear tires and compare the manufacture dates to the fronts:
Hot to find tire age
Also, on average my c350 will go through 3 sets of 540 thread wear rears before the fronts need replacement. That is also with my wife driving.
Hot to find tire age
Also, on average my c350 will go through 3 sets of 540 thread wear rears before the fronts need replacement. That is also with my wife driving.
Last edited by michail71; 01-13-2016 at 07:48 AM.
#13
Super Member
Get the numbers from the sidewalls on the rear tires and compare the manufacture dates to the fronts:
Hot to find tire age
...
Hot to find tire age
...
![Yourock](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/yourock.gif)
#14
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Although a different model, I have RWD as well. I noticed the wear on the rear was worst then the front when I purchased the car before the middle of last year. I've since replaced all 4 with Yokohoma Advan Sport A/S and have put over 10k miles on them. So far the wear has not really shown on the front or the back. I'm sure it will in the next 10k miles though.
#15
Super Member
I'm currently on Michelin PSS and compared to stock, I'll never go back.
#16
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Those run about $611 for a set of 4. Not too bad, despite the warranty and 300 treadwear rating people seem to be getting good tread life.
#17
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Get the numbers from the sidewalls on the rear tires and compare the manufacture dates to the fronts:
Hot to find tire age
Also, on average my c350 will go through 3 sets of 540 thread wear rears before the fronts need replacement. That is also with my wife driving.
Hot to find tire age
Also, on average my c350 will go through 3 sets of 540 thread wear rears before the fronts need replacement. That is also with my wife driving.
#19
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LOL, I'd so love some sub 40F weather. I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago and it was nice to feel some crisp air.
I fugure in about a year I'll be ready for new tires.
I fugure in about a year I'll be ready for new tires.
#20
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
The grip is great I'd say better than the Pirellis that were on it before I changed. I'm in Northern Jersey so summer tires are not very common up here and even if I got them I'd only be able to use them for a small portion of the year.
#21
Super Member
Edited to add: most tire warranties require that the tires be rotated. And with the tires that our cars use having unidirectional tread, in addition to being stagerred, they cannot be rotated
#22
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#23
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Consider this: you say the fronts are so worn out that they warranted a warning from the dealer... Therefore, and due to the fact that the rears always wear out faster than fronts, then the rears were in much worse shape shortly prior to the previous leasee's turning it in, and accordingly, he had replaced them shortly prior to returning it.
Tire warranties do not cover wear and tear, and are actually voided by way of uneven wear... Nor do they cover road hazards (which is the primary cause for tire failure). So from a realistic standpoint, a tire warranty is worthless when it comes down to it.
Edited to add: most tire warranties require that the tires be rotated. And with the tires that our cars use having unidirectional tread, in addition to being stagerred, they cannot be rotated
Tire warranties do not cover wear and tear, and are actually voided by way of uneven wear... Nor do they cover road hazards (which is the primary cause for tire failure). So from a realistic standpoint, a tire warranty is worthless when it comes down to it.
Edited to add: most tire warranties require that the tires be rotated. And with the tires that our cars use having unidirectional tread, in addition to being stagerred, they cannot be rotated
The only reason I had mentioned the tire manufacturer warranty was to get a good idea of what the tread ware would be.
#24
Tire warranties do not cover wear and tear, and are actually voided by way of uneven wear... Nor do they cover road hazards (which is the primary cause for tire failure). So from a realistic standpoint, a tire warranty is worthless when it comes down to it.
Edited to add: most tire warranties require that the tires be rotated. And with the tires that our cars use having unidirectional tread, in addition to being stagerred, they cannot be rotated
Edited to add: most tire warranties require that the tires be rotated. And with the tires that our cars use having unidirectional tread, in addition to being stagerred, they cannot be rotated
![crazy](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/crazy.gif)
Case in point, my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S had 45k mile warranty. I rotated them at the tire shop I got them from (America's Tire Co) every 6k miles. A year later, they would not rotate them for me anymore, saying the tires have worn down below the minimum, for safety issues. A year later, with 36k miles on the tires (I drive a whole lot).
Now, the tire wear was noticeably worse on the outer edges, so it was not necessarily even wear. BUT it wasn't so bad that it was considered uneven wear. They warrantied the tires and gave me ~$113 off a new set.
As for having summer tires? Keep in mind, those wear down a lot quicker.
#25
Super Member
Tire warranties do cover wear and tear ![crazy](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/crazy.gif)
Case in point, my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S had 45k mile warranty. I rotated them at the tire shop I got them from (America's Tire Co) every 6k miles. A year later, they would not rotate them for me anymore, saying the tires have worn down below the minimum, for safety issues. A year later, with 36k miles on the tires (I drive a whole lot).
Now, the tire wear was noticeably worse on the outer edges, so it was not necessarily even wear. BUT it wasn't so bad that it was considered uneven wear. They warrantied the tires and gave me ~$113 off a new set.
As for having summer tires? Keep in mind, those wear down a lot quicker.
![crazy](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/crazy.gif)
Case in point, my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S had 45k mile warranty. I rotated them at the tire shop I got them from (America's Tire Co) every 6k miles. A year later, they would not rotate them for me anymore, saying the tires have worn down below the minimum, for safety issues. A year later, with 36k miles on the tires (I drive a whole lot).
Now, the tire wear was noticeably worse on the outer edges, so it was not necessarily even wear. BUT it wasn't so bad that it was considered uneven wear. They warrantied the tires and gave me ~$113 off a new set.
As for having summer tires? Keep in mind, those wear down a lot quicker.
Admittedly, I left out the word "normal" when I made my statement. And instead, I should have stated "manufacturer's warranties do not cover normal wear and tear". Because whether you care to admit it or not, normal driving does not lead to wearing out a set of tires at what might be close to 80% of tread life. If it did, the Michelin along with all other tire manufacturers (and n spite of the HUGE mark up on some tires) would have gone out of business long ago.
You would have to be quite the "spirited driver" to wear them out so quick. More so if they were regularly rotated.
But that is only one part of your story that does not jive with this particular discussion. The other part is, and assuming your profile here is accurate, the huge difference between a Luxury C-Class and a Sport C-Class, in that on your Luxury model, and since all 4 tires are the same size, you are able to rotate every 6,000 to 8000 miles as per manufacturer's requirement, whereas for the Sport models, and assuming one stays with the staggered set up that it comes with from factory, they cannot be rotated.
The OP drives a Sport model W204. He's already stated he has a staggered setup... Which as a result of the fact they cannot be rotated, they are not covered under Michelin's normal tread-life warranty.
If we were to review the most basic documents regarding a Michelin Warranty, for example: Michelin's General Guide on tire warranties, we will find the following:
"Some vehicles come from the vehicle manufacturer with “split fitments”— meaning different size tires on the front and rear axles. Because these tires cannot be rotated as recommended by Michelin, the mileage warranty on each rear tire will cover half the number of miles as the standard mileage warranty for that particular tire design."...
But even in your case, uneven wear (often considered a clear sign of an out of a vehicle suffering from out of alignment issues) is also an exclusion to the tread life warranty. And to suggest that your "uneven wear was noticeable" and yet ATC decided to still offer you a prorated exchange, would leave little doubt in my mind that there were other elements that could have influenced ATC's management to offer you a sort of compromise in offering a discount on a new set.
I say this knowing full well, that up until very recently, ATC had offered quite the liberal exchange policy, as proven by the over $700 worth of free merchandise I received from them a couple of years ago, due to a simple mistake they made, and one which I did not point to, instead, they discovered on their own.