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2014 E550 4matic Sedan M278 engine
Im not Jedi when it comes to tires so any advice/help would be awesome. Here are the details..
These tires where on the car when I purchased it.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 radial X
245/40ZR18 all 4 tires are the same
All 4 tires are filled to 38 psi cold
I do drive aggressively, like a bat out of hell. I guess I just like hearing the exhaust
I did notice when I looked at the side wall that they are "X" tires please see pic and I believes the car requires "XL" according to the Discount Tire website
They are wearing evenly but only the front tires are having this "Chunking" issue. Is this common with all season tires. I have been told that I need to replace with the oem - Pirelli P Zero. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue? Please see attached pictures
Both sides in front show this? Do you live on a race track and corner hard all the time? Any shaking going on?
this should not be happening unless your tires are way out of balance, or the front suspension is effed.
Both sides in front show this? Do you live on a race track and corner hard all the time? Any shaking going on?
this should not be happening unless your tires are way out of balance, or the front suspension is effed.
Yes both sides are like this/ identical. Just driving around the streets and highway. There is zero vibration or shake the car drives beautifully and performs amazing, I had an S class before this and I replaced all the air struts and suspension components so I’m very keen to look out for things like that which also showed me how smooth the car should drive and I’m very impressed with the E class. I just can’t wrap my head around why these 2 front tires are doing this. On a normal street I take turns to where the car is comfortable on the inside and stays level but when I come out of the turn or on the highway I do accelerate fairly quickly. The only time I noticed the car have a slight vibration is a sweet spot around 93mph after that it’s smooth sailing
The car has 75,000 miles
I took a better picture to show how the tires are wearing evenly except for the chunking
Im going to discount tire next week and purchasing a set of 4 Pirelli P zero’s which will come with warranties so if this happens again I’ll be covered and just to be on the safe side I’ll get an alignment after the tires are put on but I doubt they’ll have them in stock so I will have to order them in the mean time I’ll get the two front tires checked to see if they’re balanced properly since they haven’t been since the purchase of the vehicle I just didn’t think that would be an issue since it came from a Mercedes-Benz dealership
Last edited by DaveS500; Aug 20, 2021 at 12:22 PM.
These tires exceed the 97 XL spec, so that is not the issue. What is the date code on them? The 4 numbers in the small oval shape stamped into the tire face.
These tires exceed the 97 XL spec, so that is not the issue. What is the date code on them? The 4 numbers in the small oval shape stamped into the tire face.
Ok thanks! The front tires 0119, 1719 and the rears 1319, 1019
The tire edges have close to 0 of thread, when center 3-4 mm, what indicate very hard cornering or too low tire pressure. I have similar wear on my MB as even with low-powered diesels, I still like spirited cornering.
I increase the tire pressure about 5 psi above recommendation and still get edges wearing faster.
In your case you need new tires regardless, so get different tires and add some pressure.
Ok, they are all manufactured within the first 4 months of 2019, so not date coded out. It could be your front shocks, but with only 75,000 miles I don’t see that. I doubt it’s alignment as you’ve said. I usually run 39 psi in front. Any accident history?
I really appreciate you guys.
Soo I just left Discount Tire I think it is just going come down to the way I’m driving this car because now that I think about it tires had about 50% tread life or more on them when I took delivery of the vehicle and this issue was not happening whatsoever, visibly the tires were an excellent condition which means the previous owner who coincidentally was a judge did not drive the car like a spirited a$$h0le like I do lol. I never drove like this in my Sclass. I guess having a bi turbo V8 brings out the monster in me. And now of all things I want to get a Renntech tune
The guy at discount tire looked at me and goes do you launch the car at green lights? with a smile I responded yes. So that paired with my spirited cornering he said the Pirelli P zero is my best bet and it is oem for this vehicle
I am going to do my due diligence and when I get the new tires I will get an alignment just to cover all my bases also a few of my buddies who have other style german muscle cars S6,M3 and E63’s they did tell me the one downside is in the winter they turn into hockey pucks.
Last edited by DaveS500; Aug 20, 2021 at 01:43 PM.
Directional tires will chunk out if they're installed backwards (been there done that). Do these have an arrow on the sidewall indicating the proper rotation direction?
This is super normal on the E550 sedan if you take corners. The camber is set up for cornering. Do you have air suspension? 6000 mile tire rotation schedule has been mandatory for me since new.
I think the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 radial X compound is rather soft, compared to Pilot Sport 4.
It should not "chipped" out like that while the rest of the thread look so "polite-ly consumed"...at least it wont be the case if it is the Pilot Sport 4. 4 only, not 4S.
You are decent on the cornering, not hard enough as you would be on the track, it is just the tire side is not holding up well. Above is 20 laps front tire on the track as spirited driving only and not racing, Mic Pilot Sport 4. 20 laps = 60 KM.
See the wear on every running surface of the tire at least 70% from outside to inside ? Yours is still smooth.
Dont get P Zero, get Mic Pilot Sport 4 or the 4S if USA has 18" version.
===============================
Below is approx +-10 laps at the track, much milder driving mode. FRONT.
REAR
REAR
My light weight Ford Fiesta 1.6L. FRONT. Same Mic PS4 tire.
Ford Fiesta. FRONT
I think with V8 engine, your car front weight is heavier than mine. So your front tire work harder, no choice.
Typical E Class , E400 W2120.65, Pano Roof, Right Hand Drive corner weights.
The light weight Ford Fiesta and is a Front Wheel Drive. Also Right Hand Drive.
If 75,000 miles and if it is not air suspension, get a Bilstein B4, no need upgraded spring. B4 is civilized compliant ride and sticky too, along with Mic Pilot Sport 4.
This is super normal on the E550 sedan if you take corners. The camber is set up for cornering. Do you have air suspension? 6000 mile tire rotation schedule has been mandatory for me since new.
I think the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 radial X compound is rather soft, compared to Pilot Sport 4.
It should not "chipped" out like that while the rest of the thread look so "polite-ly consumed"...at least it wont be the case if it is the Pilot Sport 4. 4 only, not 4S.
You are decent on the cornering, not hard enough as you would be on the track, it is just the tire side is not holding up well. Above is 20 laps front tire on the track as spirited driving only and not racing, Mic Pilot Sport 4. 20 laps = 60 KM.
See the wear on every running surface of the tire at least 70% from outside to inside ? Yours is still smooth.
Dont get P Zero, get Mic Pilot Sport 4 or the 4S if USA has 18" version.
===============================
Below is approx +-10 laps at the track, much milder driving mode. FRONT.
REAR
REAR
My light weight Ford Fiesta 1.6L. FRONT. Same Mic PS4 tire.
Ford Fiesta. FRONT
I think with V8 engine, your car front weight is heavier than mine. So your front tire work harder, no choice.
Typical E Class , E400 W2120.65, Pano Roof, Right Hand Drive corner weights.
The light weight Ford Fiesta and is a Front Wheel Drive. Also Right Hand Drive.
If 75,000 miles and if it is not air suspension, get a Bilstein B4, no need upgraded spring. B4 is civilized compliant ride and sticky too, along with Mic Pilot Sport 4.
Have fun....
Awesome Thank you for all the info. Just one question why not Pirelli p zero or p zero Nero AS?
The tire edges have close to 0 of thread, when center 3-4 mm, what indicate very hard cornering or too low tire pressure. ... so get different tires and add some pressure.
I agree with this. Did you say you run 38psi? Isn't that below the recommendation?
The middle section of the rear tires in my ride were being worn out while the edges of the tires were OK unlike Dave's tires . I was told that I was overinflating the rear tires beyond the recommendation PSI . I was just running them based on maximum recommended cold pressure and it was 40 if I recall correctly .My W212 was RWD
Awesome Thank you for all the info. Just one question why not Pirelli p zero or p zero Nero AS?
Based on the test report I been reading, Mic Pilot Sport 4 seems to have very good overall performance and one of the better ones for straight aquaplaning.
I have faith in this reviewer : https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/...-Tyre-Test.htm
The search for longer wearing tire compounds isn't the major issue.
Facts are OEM – the often quoted, re assuring “Full Front & Rear '4' Wheel Alignment” IS ONLY TOE “DIRECTIONAL” ADJUSTMENT !!
New car industry's best kept secret. It's all to do with cost cutting and the ever increasing speed of new car assembly lines.
Then being told (because of broad alignment parameters) “is within factory specs”, Frustrated owners then going to another dealer or alignment shop or deciding brand of tire could be the cause !
WHEN REALITY IS THERE IS NO LONGER ESSENTIAL “FRONT CAMBER AND CASTER OR REAR CAMBER TO PREVENT COSTLY, PREMATURE EDGE TIRE WEAR BY ALLOWING TO “ADJUST TIRE CONTACT ANGLES” - SPREAD LOAD MORE EVENLY.
Excess edge load can also lead to higher impact, ruptured side walls and subsequent rim damage.
We saw the need therefore to reinstate Camber / Caster adjustment to cater for other then “showroom height” conditions.
Day to day commuting encountering high cambered roads, fitting wide profile tires, wheel squat through load carrying or lowering, curb knocks etc.
FOR THE W212 E300-550, E63/65 AMG WE MNF. A “TOTAL SYSTEM” WHEN IT COMES TO FRONT & REAR ALIGNMENT (in fact every Model Mercedes Benz 1968 to 2021).
Click Spoiler Below:
Spoiler
KMAC FRONT KITS: 502916-1G $295 (Both Sides) Camber
(less then cost of one hi performance tire).
Replaces the lower arm inner bushes. Precise single wrench adjustment. Accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack. Up to 1.5 degrees Pos or Neg Camber. More then enough to resolve costly premature edge tire wear issues. Bush extraction tool included – fit without need for arm removal.
#502916K $480 (Both Sides) Same as above but Caster adjustable as well. Caster allows to accurately compensate for Camber change. Also the solution to correctly resolve steering pull. These (4) bushings are also the highest wearing.
The Caster bushings are also Monoball / 2 Axis. Allowing arms to still travel through their required suspension arcs but significantly improving brake and steering response.
#502916-2L STAGE 2 (Street/Race) $545 (Both Sides) #502916-3L STAGE 3 (Full Race) $545 (Both Sides)
This 3r d Front option (Coil spring models) replaces the upper strut mounts providing Camber & Caster adjustment. From engine bay accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack. KMAC unique patented design allows adjustment without need for strut removal. Up to 3 degrees neg (or 1.5 pos). See website re all the unique features.
REAR KITS #502126K $480 (Both Sides) Camber (and also extra Toe)
Replaces the lower arm inner bushes. Precise single wrench adjustment up to 1.5 Pos or Neg. Bush extraction tool included fit without need for arm removal.
#502226-1M $595 (Both Sides) Camber (and extra Toe)
Upper Camber arms KMAC not soft extruded aluminum or welded, fabricated but same as OEM “high strength forged alloy” turnbuckle adjustable.
NOTE: When adjusting to resolve premature inner edge Tire wear – lower arm adjustment retains important clearance top of tire to outer fender. Upper arm adjustment reduces this clearance.
#502628K $480 (Both Sides) Uprated bushings for the 6 multi link rear arms. Less twitch, flex, loss of traction. Especially when applying power to lane change / overtake.
Delivery $40 one kit $20 each extra
KMAC - Resolving OEM Suspension Shortcomings Since 1964 !
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.
