lws1

Hi. I just purchased four new Michelins for my car from Costco and have had it back there three times. They can't get the balancing right. Any ideas as to why? They supposedly tried different techniques. It is included in the price but my time is worth more at this point. I just don't know what to do... Should I take it to Sears or do I have to go to the horrible dealer that is here in Miami?

Any advice is appreciated. - Lance

lkchris

You may think your dealer "horrible," but they would have gotten in right the first time. It's quite likely that if you attempt to run a Mercedes on a Costco budget, you'll end up paying more.

konigstiger

I would suggest having dealer or independent road force balance with Hunter http://www.gsp9700.com/

MBtech1098

Any shop with the balancer listed by konigstiger...and the know how to actually use it, will be able to find your problem. There are many tire shops that have it, and it is a required tool by MB, so it should be at any MB dealer.

lws1

Thanks for your advice. Balancing tires is not rocket science, but I figured it had to have been the equipment that they are using.

I do not run my car on a budget. I have had very horrible experiences with our dealer here -- the last one being scheduling an oil change and it taking two weeks to get it and having to leave the car for the day. I just haven't had any luck with the dealer providing good service, and good service is all I want.

Thanks again.

crazypotato

it might not be your tire balance. A loose ball joint or torque arm will give you a shimmy drive as well.

lws1

Update: After two days of adjusting, my car still isn't right. I found a place that has the same equipment as the dealer. They were able to balance the tires but the car pulls to the right. Then I went to someone that Benz sends their cars to when they have alignment issues and it still pulls to the right. The last alignment guy said that all Mercedes-Benz pull to the right. I've owned five and don't remember that at all. The guy from yesterday said a correct alignment, if there's any pull, it should pull to the left but just a bit and you should be able to hold the wheel with one finger. I still personally think it is the tires because before the new tires the alignment seemed fine. The tires are Michellin. Not sure what else to do besides order new tires.

Does your Benz pull to the right?

MBtech1098

Like I said, take it to someone who knows how to use that balancer. That balancer has a lot of features, and there are countless guys out there who do no know how to use any of them.

You may have a radial pull, and that balancer has a feature called "straight track" that will find the problem if it is tire related. If that checks ok then I would check alignment and worn suspension components.

Did the car pull before you took it to the last place?? If it didn't then you almost definitely have a radial pull. Which happens when the belts inside the tire shift, and also on new defective tires. What model michelins did you get?

lws1

The tires are Michelin Pilot Exalto (made in Mexico). Hate to say it but am always skeptical when things are made in Mexico. No wonder we're in a pickle! And they are 225/55 R16.

They switched the front tires to see if that would correct the pull and nothing.

I can only assume that it is something with the tires. The alignment was perfect before the new tires. All of a sudden the alignment seems off (and they adjusted the alignment a bit but not much) and Costco can't balance the tires. I am going to take it out on the freeway here shortly and assess if any improvement has been made. I know that the tires can be balanced because that was accomplished yesterday and now undone by Costco.

Just frustrated. This is not rocket science and have owned 5 previous MB's and never had an issue like this.

lws1

Problem solved! It was the tires! As soon as they put the new ones on, drives perfectly now. These last Michelins are not directional. Don't know if that had to do with it or if the previous Exaltos were just bad tires. These last ones are the MX4. One of the tires, though, is not perfectly round and kind of drives me nuts because I can feel the wobble at low speed.

06e320cdi

I read somewhere, especially with the w210 model and possible w211, there are certain tires MB does not recommend, I think it has to do with the tread pattern. On the w210 it was the Michelin Pilot Sports that were on the DO NOT USE list.