Question about tires - I am an idiot
 

Hello,

I am new here and wondering what everyone thinks about my current situation. I have a 2013 C300 Sport, so the tires front and back are different sizes. I had my car in for maintenance and was told I needed new back tires, this is a very common thing come to find out so I called up my tire place and got a new set of rubbers for the back. I got back to work, checked my tires out....my heart sank. The front tires are a BF Goodrich G-Force Comp 2....the backs are a Contiental Extremecontact DWS. Two different treads, but all of them are all-season tires. Did I just waste $500 ??

I called the MB dealer here in my area, explained the situation and they didn't seem concerned. Do I have reason to worry?? I am a total idiot and its all my fault for ordering the wrong tire...tire place won't take them back either.

Is the car 4MATIC or rear-wheel drive? If 4MATIC, you have a problem, if rear-wheel drive, you're ok.

It is a 4Matic

If you mix tire brands or tread depths, the transfer case has to make up the difference between the front and rear axles and that results in additional strain exerted on it. What's the tread depth in the front and the rear?

Rears are brand new
Fronts I'd have to check and see what the service place said but only about 25K miles on them.

I've called two different Mercedes dealers and both say it shouldn't be an issue. The only thing they expressed any concern over was that the different treads might track different.

This is what causes the extra strain on the transfer case. Someone people even go as far as recommending all 4 tires even if 1 of them is damaged and needs replacement.

Pretty much why I've been asking...not sure why the dealer would say they don't see any problems, and that it wouldn't cause any long term harm to the car...but I'm seeing differently on here. You'd think the dealer of all people would want me to replace the tires to get more money out of me.

Both dealers suggested the wheels would spin at the same rate regardless of treads/brand. The issue would be in if I had one brand on the front right and a different on front left. Being that the difference is front to rear both places haven't expressed much concern.

Not a good idea, mainly from a traction/stability perspective.

Hell I dont even mix speed/load ratings, let alone different tires!

Dealer wants to sell you a new car that's why they aren't concerned...

Hahahahahahahahahaha! So true!

Youre both morons

Lmfao

Match the tires

Thank you for calling us morons after providing you with information and helping. Very much appreciated.

Although townie15 was joking, but there's some truth in what he's saying which shouldn't have offended you. Dealerships will try to charge you and make you pay as much as they can. That's why we call them the Stealerships.

Good luck anyway.

This.
Having 2 separate brands (front vs back) isn't ideal but not the end of the world. don't lose sleep over this and just correct the problem when its time for new tires.

As long as the tires on the same AXLE are the same size it would affect the trasfer case. It would be different if you had a very worn tire and a brand new tire on the front or back. So, you are good as far as that goes. As for the tires being different brands, as long as they are the same type and quality (all summer tires, all all seasons, etc) I would think it wouldn't make a whole lot of difference in every day driving. However, you said you have the Conit DWS tires, which are all seasons and you said the other two are Comp T/As. If that is correct you are mixing a high performance SUMMER ONLY tire with all seasons. If you have the Comp TA 2 A/S tires, then you are good. If you just have the Comp TA 2s and where you live experiences colder weather and snow, that is NOT a good idea and I would change then out. Thos summer tires would get rock hard and any little bit of snow or cold and you would have significantly less grip. Even if where you live is warm I wouldn't mix two all seasons and two summer high performance tires.

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