Tire Wear Question.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 234
Likes: 19
Tire Wear Question.
I have had my CLK320 for about 3 months now. A couple of days ago I noticed that my front tires were really wearing on the outside edge compared to the rear. The dealer said that my alignment was slightly off and gave me a new alignment.
Does this amount of wear in about 2000 miles seem a bit extreme for a "slightly off" alignment? Or is this a symptom of something bigger?
Thanks,
Ed
Does this amount of wear in about 2000 miles seem a bit extreme for a "slightly off" alignment? Or is this a symptom of something bigger?
Thanks,
Ed
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,357
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From: Chicago
Mercedes
If the shoulders of your tires are wearing faster than the center of the tire, it means that your tire pressure is too low. I don't think it was problem with the alignment (dealer might have screwed you over here). I've had the same thing happen to me, so now I inflate my tires about 2-3 psi higher than what MB recommends. Solved the problem. Not only will the higher pressure even out the tire wear, it'll give your wheel a little more protection from potholes, because I've bent both of my front wheels with MB's recommended pressure. Also, you'll know if the tire is overinflated if the center wears more than the shoulders of the tire.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
That’s a fair amount of wear. It looks like you’ve got too much positive toe. A little toe will make the car feel more stable during braking and under acceleration. Too much devours tires, which is what you’re seeing. Did the dealer print the before and after specs? If so print them. If not, in the future, it’s a good thing to request.
When you check the tire pressures, are the tires cold (as in overnight cold)? Your pressure gauge, is it a quality gauge, something that’s under $5, or (heaven forbid) whatever’s available at the local filling station? What’s the range of the gauge and has it ever been dropped? Both of those questions will reflect the accuracy of the gauge. I have several stick gauges in my garage that are 25% off at 35 PSI. I know they are because I also have a calibrated gauge. A quality gauge is about $20 and will pay for itself a zillion times in extended tire life. Ditto for an infrared pyrometer.
When you check the tire pressures, are the tires cold (as in overnight cold)? Your pressure gauge, is it a quality gauge, something that’s under $5, or (heaven forbid) whatever’s available at the local filling station? What’s the range of the gauge and has it ever been dropped? Both of those questions will reflect the accuracy of the gauge. I have several stick gauges in my garage that are 25% off at 35 PSI. I know they are because I also have a calibrated gauge. A quality gauge is about $20 and will pay for itself a zillion times in extended tire life. Ditto for an infrared pyrometer.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
A good gauge is a must, I agree. And TPMS is even better; it's more accurate. But Marcus is right that that's an alignment problem. Low inflation pressure would cause wear on the inside edge as well as outside.
If the tires aren't assymetrical or directional, you can try reversing them (dismounting and remounting after flipping). It would buy you most of the life back but could possibly cause steering problems or vibration, in which case you'd have to put them back again. And of course pay for balancing each time.
If the tires aren't assymetrical or directional, you can try reversing them (dismounting and remounting after flipping). It would buy you most of the life back but could possibly cause steering problems or vibration, in which case you'd have to put them back again. And of course pay for balancing each time.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 303
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From: orlando, florida. Dr.Phillips, UCF
04 CLK 500, 07 GSX-R 750, S 550, 09 Jeep GC
How do you drive your car.
I have a 500 and EVERY time i go to the dealer they say i need an alignment, becuase of the EXACTLY same problem you have.
For me it's because i drive the car pretty hard, and take corners quickly, not to mention freeway on/off ramps at good speed.
This combined with the fact the mercedes does not put enough camber in the suspension, makes for this problem.
I have a 500 and EVERY time i go to the dealer they say i need an alignment, becuase of the EXACTLY same problem you have.
For me it's because i drive the car pretty hard, and take corners quickly, not to mention freeway on/off ramps at good speed.
This combined with the fact the mercedes does not put enough camber in the suspension, makes for this problem.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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Just an update....
Last Sunday I noticed that the tires were getting really bad on the outside edge so I replaced them with Yokohama AS430's. On Monday I brought my car in for an A Service and explained about the wear issue and that I was about to take a 1000+ mile trip. I also explained that the car was pulling to the right. They told me that my tires were "not approved" and that I shouldn't worry about it or to take it back to where I got the tires. They also filled my tires with nitrogen.
Yesterday I filled out the survey form they email you after work is done. Almost immediately I got an email from the service manager asking me to call. 30 seconds later I called him and now my car is going back for another alignment on Friday.
Does anyone know the correct camber and toe numbers for my car? I am going to ask for the sheet from the previous alignment and whatever they do on Friday.
More to come...
Ed
Last Sunday I noticed that the tires were getting really bad on the outside edge so I replaced them with Yokohama AS430's. On Monday I brought my car in for an A Service and explained about the wear issue and that I was about to take a 1000+ mile trip. I also explained that the car was pulling to the right. They told me that my tires were "not approved" and that I shouldn't worry about it or to take it back to where I got the tires. They also filled my tires with nitrogen.
Yesterday I filled out the survey form they email you after work is done. Almost immediately I got an email from the service manager asking me to call. 30 seconds later I called him and now my car is going back for another alignment on Friday.
Does anyone know the correct camber and toe numbers for my car? I am going to ask for the sheet from the previous alignment and whatever they do on Friday.
More to come...
Ed
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,357
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Mercedes
Just an update....
Last Sunday I noticed that the tires were getting really bad on the outside edge so I replaced them with Yokohama AS430's. On Monday I brought my car in for an A Service and explained about the wear issue and that I was about to take a 1000+ mile trip. I also explained that the car was pulling to the right. They told me that my tires were "not approved" and that I shouldn't worry about it or to take it back to where I got the tires. They also filled my tires with nitrogen.
Yesterday I filled out the survey form they email you after work is done. Almost immediately I got an email from the service manager asking me to call. 30 seconds later I called him and now my car is going back for another alignment on Friday.
Does anyone know the correct camber and toe numbers for my car? I am going to ask for the sheet from the previous alignment and whatever they do on Friday.
More to come...
Ed
Last Sunday I noticed that the tires were getting really bad on the outside edge so I replaced them with Yokohama AS430's. On Monday I brought my car in for an A Service and explained about the wear issue and that I was about to take a 1000+ mile trip. I also explained that the car was pulling to the right. They told me that my tires were "not approved" and that I shouldn't worry about it or to take it back to where I got the tires. They also filled my tires with nitrogen.
Yesterday I filled out the survey form they email you after work is done. Almost immediately I got an email from the service manager asking me to call. 30 seconds later I called him and now my car is going back for another alignment on Friday.
Does anyone know the correct camber and toe numbers for my car? I am going to ask for the sheet from the previous alignment and whatever they do on Friday.
More to come...
Ed
You just need to put more air in the front tires than recommended. The same thing happened to my old CLK500 and 5 more psi helped it. If it's only worn on the outside shoulders of the tire, then you have a problem. But if it's worn on both shoulders of the tire, it just needs more air.
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 206
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From: Norfolk UK
2004 CLK 240
Tire tread wear is visually deceptive, and it really needs quantifying.
Most tire data on the web is from US sites where tread depth is measured in Imperial fractions of an inch in 32nds. A new tire tread depth is reckoned to be 10/32. The legal minimum is 2/32.
The UK MoT test checks tire tread depths in mm. This translates into 8mm when new. The legal minimum depth is 1.6mm, although tests show that below 3mm a tyre is equally unsafe.
My CLK has done 10K miles on its factory fitted Continentals and the tread depth is now about 6 mm, with the wear even across the width. At this rate I am expecting to get about 30K miles out of this set of tires.
Most tire data on the web is from US sites where tread depth is measured in Imperial fractions of an inch in 32nds. A new tire tread depth is reckoned to be 10/32. The legal minimum is 2/32.
The UK MoT test checks tire tread depths in mm. This translates into 8mm when new. The legal minimum depth is 1.6mm, although tests show that below 3mm a tyre is equally unsafe.
My CLK has done 10K miles on its factory fitted Continentals and the tread depth is now about 6 mm, with the wear even across the width. At this rate I am expecting to get about 30K miles out of this set of tires.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
From: So California
2020 C43 coupe
I have had my CLK320 for about 3 months now. A couple of days ago I noticed that my front tires were really wearing on the outside edge compared to the rear. The dealer said that my alignment was slightly off and gave me a new alignment.
Does this amount of wear in about 2000 miles seem a bit extreme for a "slightly off" alignment? Or is this a symptom of something bigger?
Thanks,
Ed
Does this amount of wear in about 2000 miles seem a bit extreme for a "slightly off" alignment? Or is this a symptom of something bigger?
Thanks,
Ed
If you are burning the inside, toe out is to much,
Tell them the settings you want....
