When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My lady took her 2021 C43 in for its first service (10k miles) today - dealer said she needed front tires as they're at the wear bar. WTF? I know my 63S has high performance summer tires and expect this, but I was under the impression the C43 would get 3x the mileage before needing tires? I haven't looked at the tread depth - but certainly will when she gets back! Expected?
My lady took her 2021 C43 in for its first service (10k miles) today - dealer said she needed front tires as they're at the wear bar. WTF? I know my 63S has high performance summer tires and expect this, but I was under the impression the C43 would get 3x the mileage before needing tires? I haven't looked at the tread depth - but certainly will when she gets back! Expected?
Depending on driving style and tire pressure, 10k miles with the OEM run flats is on the spectrum of normal. I believe the OEM tires are rated at 30k, which you cut in half since they cannot be rotated. Couple that with the w205’s factory camber and you get relatively low tire life. If you swap out the OEM tires for PS4S or AS3, you can expect slightly better tire life (again, depending on driving style etc).
Depending on driving style and tire pressure, 10k miles with the OEM run flats is on the spectrum of normal. I believe the OEM tires are rated at 30k, which you cut in half since they cannot be rotated. Couple that with the w205’s factory camber and you get relatively low tire life. If you swap out the OEM tires for PS4S or AS3, you can expect slightly better tire life (again, depending on driving style etc).
Interesting -- I asked her while she was there about rotating and she stated MB service quoted her $100 to rotate them (she didn't have time to wait though) We keep an eye on pressure, alignment is perfect, and she's no stunt driver.......but likes to zip it occasionally
Not sure how they propose to rotate the tires for a $100 since they are staggered even on the C43, other than just pulling one over on your wife. Have to see the actual wear to really say what's going on. But as said above, if the wear is on the inner edge than likely the toe is out and you need to get it aligned. Camber can't be adjusted, so there is always increased wear on the inner edge, but a bad toe makes it worse. It's a good idea to get an alignment after the suspension had time to settle on a new car, and regularly get it aligned afterwards if your roads are not smooth. But as said above, w/o being able to rotate tires at 6-8k or more frequently for even wear, you'll get reduced tire life. Michelin and others all cut their thread wear warranty in half on staggered setups.
Not sure how they propose to rotate the tires for a $100 since they are staggered even on the C43, other than just pulling one over on your wife. Have to see the actual wear to really say what's going on. But as said above, if the wear is on the inner edge than likely the toe is out and you need to get it aligned. Camber can't be adjusted, so there is always increased wear on the inner edge, but a bad toe makes it worse. It's a good idea to get an alignment after the suspension had time to settle on a new car, and regularly get it aligned afterwards if your roads are not smooth. But as said above, w/o being able to rotate tires at 6-8k or more frequently for even wear, you'll get reduced tire life. Michelin and others all cut their thread wear warranty in half on staggered setups.
Off the top of my head I thought the C43 had 19" tires all around - maybe I'm incorrect?
Just one more data point for you OP - my OEM fronts lasted 14k, while my rears lasted about 26k. Make the move to non-run flats and the ride will be objectively better, and the rubber should last longer (depending on tire pressure and driving style of course).
Regarding sizes, no need to drive yourself crazy on a "deep dive" - if it's stock wheel setup, fronts are always narrower than the rear, thus can only be rotated side on the same axle, in which case, absolute rip off and just handing money over to the service department for 8 minutes worth of work.
Just to clarify, there's no benefit of rotating the tires side-to-side, unless you can flip them around on the wheel so that the outside becomes the inside and evens out wear. However, most performance tires have a dedicated outside and can only be mounted one way so moving them side to side leaves the same part of the tire outside and inside, and it just continues the same wear pattern.
Just one more data point for you OP - my OEM fronts lasted 14k, while my rears lasted about 26k. Make the move to non-run flats and the ride will be objectively better, and the rubber should last longer (depending on tire pressure and driving style of course).
Regarding sizes, no need to drive yourself crazy on a "deep dive" - if it's stock wheel setup, fronts are always narrower than the rear, thus can only be rotated side on the same axle, in which case, absolute rip off and just handing money over to the service department for 8 minutes worth of work.
Just make sure to have fix-a-flat, tirefit or something along those lines just in case you are traveling and passing through a remote area and/or can't call a tow truck due to that. Hopefully you don't ever need to use it though.
As others have said, the toe is what kills tires on these cars. Ditch runflats and get an algnment and ask the shop to dial out as much toe as possible to get as close as ypu can to zero toe.
Well, at least MB didn't BS about the tread depth getting low - it definitely is on the two fronts and I honestly wouldn't have looked at it anytime soon thinking 10K miles is way early.
Not too sure about the "rotate" option they stated - my guess is my wife misunderstood what they said.
For the record , MB provided a quote for $851 OTD for two OEM replacement tires mounted and balanced - not even with an alignment wowza.
Going this route most likely:
Last edited by djprov431; Feb 9, 2022 at 10:40 AM.
Putting in a quick plug for the Michelin PS AS4's. I've had them on since December and they've been amazing compared to my continental RFTs. Ride smoother, are quieter, and have better grip in both dry AND snowy conditions. I've genuinely been blown away by their snow traction and got through a snow storm to work while other cars were getting beached on on- and off-ramps. And their dry traction as well--I was able to push 40-45mph on cloverleaf interchanges with the stock continentals before they started squealing and losing grip, but with the AS4s, I've been able to push 50 mph without breaking traction yet. I haven't tested the limits more yet in case there are salt or sand patches on the cloverleafs, but it's not because I'm uncomfortable with the tire itself. Fronts for my 18's ran ~$206 each. I couldn't be more satisfied with them, 10/10.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
wowza.
