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I want to replace my 2014 E350 with the GLC 350e (plug-in hybrid) that just came out. I've loved the E350 but my hot button is how fast the rear staggered tires wear out and would like to avoid that situation in the future. I'm lucky to get 18K miles on a set. I was at the dealership today doing a 350e build with the salesman and noticed it doesn't come with a spare because the battery consumed that space. I had a feeling his answer would be run flats which is bad enough because they're expensive and severely limits the choices available. That's when I saw it comes standard with staggered tires. 235/60R18 on the front and 255/55R18 on the rear. From what I've seen some models are worse than others and I gather a lot of it has to do with the rear camber. Wondering if anyone that has more experience over the years with staggered tires might have some thoughts to share?
My GLC 300 run on 255/45/r20 front and 285/40/r20 rear. Went to the dealership to change to run flat. There is Pirelli scorpion verde run flat (MOE) for the front but not for rear.
Now my front is a run flat while the rear tyre is regular (MO)
Dealership service department not aware that 2023 x254 run on staggered tyre.
They said they will source it from Europe, been waiting for 2 months now
I saw someone else post in a different forum that had a very similar problem last year on a different model. You might want to google and see how widespread that is and what's happened with other people.
I hear ya'. My logic is this is the forum I've always used and this issue is more about the tire wear than it is about the GLC. I did post there too though. The other reason is that a lot of the people on this forum have a lot of experience with the staggered tire issue with W212, other cars, and the reality that MB is known as very hard on tires. So I was hoping to get some thoughts from these folks about what I might expect. I don't know what I don't know so that's why I'm asking. I know for me and many others this tire issue and the general inability to do anything about it is a hot button. It's the main enduring complaint I have about my E350. I had a couple BMW 5 series with staggered tires before the E350 and it sure didn't have this problem.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I've never had a problem with uneven wear of staggered tires on any of the three Mercedes I've owned. Tires are a wear item. Expect to replace them. Being staggered should have nothing to do with how they wear, just that you can't rotate them. Are you really worried about the cost of new tires? (Hmmm, maybe you should be if things stay bad in November.) And, please, don't be that person that runs oil for 10,000 miles before changing.
I went from run flats to traditional tires and carry an inflation kit in my SL.
My experience with staggered run flat tires (on my BMW) is that I took them off at 1000 miles before they could start causing me headaches. I'm running a square set of 20" non runflats, and am entirely pleased with them.
It’s very interesting to read your experience because it really is so different from mine in every respect. Except for the part that tires are a wear item which of course I agree with. I am. tire warrantees are cut in half for staggered tires. Honestly, you’re the first person that I’ve ever heard express this point of view. But it sounds like you certainly have plenty of experience.
I absolutely am a 10,000 mile oil change guy when it’s a car that requires synthetic oil and that has served me very very well. Oil technology has radically improved over the years which makes it possible. Will be interesting to hear what others might have to say on these topics.
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Originally Posted by Kabra
I want to replace my 2014 E350 with the GLC 350e (plug-in hybrid) that just came out. I've loved the E350 but my hot button is how fast the rear staggered tires wear out and would like to avoid that situation in the future. I'm lucky to get 18K miles on a set. I was at the dealership today doing a 350e build with the salesman and noticed it doesn't come with a spare because the battery consumed that space. I had a feeling his answer would be run flats which is bad enough because they're expensive and severely limits the choices available. That's when I saw it comes standard with staggered tires. 235/60R18 on the front and 255/55R18 on the rear. From what I've seen some models are worse than others and I gather a lot of it has to do with the rear camber. Wondering if anyone that has more experience over the years with staggered tires might have some thoughts to share?
I put takeoff 4matic wheels on my RWD W211 so I could rotate them (all the same size) without issue. Any reason you can't just do that?
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by Kabra
I absolutely am a 10,000 mile oil change guy when it’s a car that requires synthetic oil and that has served me very very well. Oil technology has radically improved over the years which makes it possible. Will be interesting to hear what others might have to say on these topics.
This covers a lot in 87 pages, but there are detailed discussions about oil change intervals and viscosity breakdown. AND you can search YouTube on the subject of Oil Change Intervals. My personal experience has me changing with a high-quality approved oil every 3000-5000 miles and I have over 250,000 miles on my 2004 Audi TT with the same engine and TURBO. Long change intervals (i.e., 10,000 mile) are more for marketing hype than benefiting the car, especially with $300 oil changes. But, even at that, changing more frequently is far cheaper than an engine or turbos replacement. Using an API SP and MB 229.5 approved oil is even more important on newer direct injection engines.
I've never had a problem with uneven wear of staggered tires on any of the three Mercedes I've owned. Tires are a wear item. Expect to replace them. Being staggered should have nothing to do with how they wear, just that you can't rotate them. Are you really worried about the cost of new tires? (Hmmm, maybe you should be if things stay bad in November.) And, please, don't be that person that runs oil for 10,000 miles before changing.
I went from run flats to traditional tires and carry an inflation kit in my SL.
I'm with you on 5K oil changes. Here's a photo of my new oil and oil drained at 5K. OK -- so color isn't everything. But anyone want to buy my used oil at half price and put it in their car?
(Apologies for the hijack).
I hear ya'. My logic is this is the forum I've always used and this issue is more about the tire wear than it is about the GLC. I did post there too though. The other reason is that a lot of the people on this forum have a lot of experience with the staggered tire issue with W212, other cars, and the reality that MB is known as very hard on tires. So I was hoping to get some thoughts from these folks about what I might expect. I don't know what I don't know so that's why I'm asking. I know for me and many others this tire issue and the general inability to do anything about it is a hot button. It's the main enduring complaint I have about my E350. I had a couple BMW 5 series with staggered tires before the E350 and it sure didn't have this problem.
COSTLY, PREMATURE, TIRE REPLACEMENT !
IT IS NOT A TIRE BRAND ISSUE - IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE BASIC FACT - OEM TODAYS MODELS INCL. W212 & GLC THERE IS NO “FRONT OR REAR CAMBER” (OR CASTER) ADJUSTMENT !
YET ESSENTIAL - TO ALLOW TO ADJUST TIRE CONTACT ANGLES / SPREAD LOAD MORE EVENLY !
“RESOLVING ONCE AND FOR ALL” THE ISSUES ENCOUNTERED IN DAY TO DAY COMMUTING - High cambered roads with excess passenger side edge wear. Wheel squat / camber change through extra passenger loads. Fitting wide profile tires. No longer ongoing adjustment capability for curb knock damage. Or lowering vehicle height for performance / improved handling.
WHY - COST SAVINGS AND EVER INCREASING SPEED OF NEW CAR ASSEMBLY LINES - STOPPING TO ADJUST CAMBER IS NO LONGER AN OPTION !
THE OFTEN QUOTED REASSURING “Full Front & Rear ‘4’ Wheel alignment” is now only Toe “directional” adjustment. NEW CAR INDUSTRY’S BEST KEPT SECRET.
Having “no Camber facility” OEM to adjust, compensate for above premature edge wear. Dealers can only try and placate by stating - “At showroom height” - is within factory specs !
ONUS NOW BACK ON OWNERS TO FUND THIS COSTLY PREMATURE TIRE REPLACEMENT.
NOTE: W212 models (not GLC) “front only” can purchase offset bolts but only offer one offset position and miniscule 1/8 inch Camber change.
WE SAW THE NEED THEREFORE TO PROVIDE BOTH “FRONT AND REAR” ADJUSTMENT AND SERIOUS ADJUSTMENT FOUR TIMES RANGE OF OFFSET BOLTS PLUS PRECISE / ACCURATE.
KITS DESIGNED SO BOLT-ON - No special tools needed or time consuming control arm removal !
PLUS UNIQUE K-MAC PATENTED DESIGN - allows easily accessible single wrench precise adjustment. ULTIMATE - Direct on alignment rack UNDER LOAD.
W212 AND GLC MODELS FRONT CAMBER KIT $345 (BOTH SIDES). LESS COST THEN ONE QUALITY TIRE !
See website re full range and other upgrades manufactured.
... I went from run flats to traditional tires and carry an inflation kit in my SL.
I'm thinking of going this route as well and ditching the run flats when it's time to replace them. Curious if you've ever had to use that kit and how it worked?
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
re tire life on the E350... My wife's car has about 25000 miles on a set of 17" Michelin Pilot A/S, and they still have about half their tread life left.
The wife goes through 3 sets of rears for 2 sets of fronts.
Have tried Conti ProContact & DWS, Michelin A/S4 (tread roar like a 4x4), and now Bridgestone. Similar across all. (Will replace with more Bridgestones due to decent wear, good traction, and quiet ride)
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by Kabra
I'm thinking of going this route as well and ditching the run flats when it's time to replace them. Curious if you've ever had to use that kit and how it worked?
Never had to use the kit. I did get a slow leak (nail) but was able to repair it myself. I also keep these in my car. https://a.co/d/2X4Ly5R
I have used these and they work well. I've also used the traditional tire repair kits with the rubber strings you plug the hole with.
Last edited by JettaRed; Aug 29, 2024 at 09:41 PM.
My new oil looks like your old oil at 100 miles. It has to be VERY bad for color to matter.
Depends on the engine and application. My truck with all the emissions stuff falling off has oil that looks almost like the new stuff after 5k miles or more. Even at 15k miles when I change it its still not horrible looking. Been doing that since new and its got 190k miles on it all original. Thats with dyno 15w40 delo. Its a diesel however. Just depends on the engine.
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
my wife let her '16 E350 go til the 'SERVICE B# DUE' was repeatedly warning her, and the oil still looked pale amber, that was at about 10,000 miles from the previous service. I'd been after her to book it for a change since about 5000 miles. I think she has around 58000 miles total now. Todays full synth oils really are amazing. I had a indie shop do a 6000 mile oil change on my '19 Ford ecoboost 3.5L, even tho the oil looked pale gold, it was probably a total waste. My friend has convinced me to start sending off oil samples to Blackstone.
The Expedition Ecoboost has a 100K spark plug interval, I had the indie shop change them at 65K miles, and the original factory plugs looked like this:
this is a twin turbo direct injection 3.5L V6 that gets 375 hp at 5000 rpm, 470 lb⋅ft at 2250-3500 rpm. Mine is the 2nd gen 3.5 with the extra injectors to clean the valves. Same basic engine in a Ford GT is 660HP :-O
I want to replace my 2014 E350 with the GLC 350e (plug-in hybrid) that just came out. I've loved the E350 but my hot button is how fast the rear staggered tires wear out and would like to avoid that situation in the future. I'm lucky to get 18K miles on a set. I was at the dealership today doing a 350e build with the salesman and noticed it doesn't come with a spare because the battery consumed that space. I had a feeling his answer would be run flats which is bad enough because they're expensive and severely limits the choices available. That's when I saw it comes standard with staggered tires. 235/60R18 on the front and 255/55R18 on the rear. From what I've seen some models are worse than others and I gather a lot of it has to do with the rear camber. Wondering if anyone that has more experience over the years with staggered tires might have some thoughts to share?
RWD car owner here. Staggered tires from factory.
Was 245/40/18 8.5J ET48 front and 265/35/18 9.0J ET54 rear.
Now 245/40/18 8.5J ET47 front and 255/40/18 8.5J ET47 rear using BBS CH-R wheels.
Note 1 : For front 5mm spacer is needed to clear the big OE Brembo 4 pistons caliper.
Note 2 : Original AMG albeit only ET48 which means 1mm more inwards than ET47 BBS, has its spoke/fingers more curved as such it will clear the Brembo calipers.
Note 3 : Why I choose 255/40-18 for rear is to add extra wall thickness/height by 9mm for comfort.
Rear tire wear is driver habit and power dependent.
My right lead foot will wear out the rear tires at 20,000 KM / 12,427 miles for sure to the legal limit of 1.6mm tire thread depth. Michelin Pilot Sport 4, my own choice.
Front ones will last easy 40,000KM for me if road driving where the rear will last 20,000KM.
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run flat, OE by MB Indonesia came with the car back in 2014.
If the tire wear at the rear is un-even, well, if you maintain your suspension system like I do, it won't be an issue.
Here is my right rear 255/40/18 Michelin PS4 at 16,400 KM or 10,190 miles. Its almost already at the 1.6mm wear marker. This is like 75% useful life already.
My LEFT REAR at 10,500 KM or 6,524 miles, at 50% useful life. Long story why the rear tires are not of equal mileage
So drive gentle on the throttle if you want your rear tires to last a bit longer and you can choose less sticky tires, say Primacy 4 which has better thread life.
Now I am forced to choose Michelin Pilots Sport 5, because Michelin Indonesia no more import PS4 .
Supposedly this PS5 will have better tire thread life. I use it for 3,000KM only so far this PS5 since end of 2023 last year.
The Roadforce value on all 4 of my PS5 are garbage, bad. I think first production run is not so good . At 100 MPH it has some resonance ( i hope I use the correct word ), at 111MPH or higher it is smooth.
If you do not know Roadforce values, here is a good read : https://www.tirereview.com/tire-bala...orce-function/
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
Do you drive your car really hard? like lots of max acceleration, braking, cornering ?
If you drive a e350 or whatever like a normal person in normal traffic,, the tires should last a long long time. If you're burning rubber, they won't last at all long.
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
I really liked the Michelin Primacy tires on our W124's way back when. but then they were discontinued, and replaced with Premiere that lasted longer but didn't ride as nice. On our 17" W212, I've got the Pilot Sport AS4, but I might try the CrossClimate next time, I dunno.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
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. At 100 MPH it has some resonance ( i hope I use the correct word ), at 111MPH or higher it is smooth.
