Larger than spec tires on G55: Problems and solutions?
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G55 AMG (2005)
Larger than spec tires on G55: Problems and solutions?
Hello, I have been trying to figure this out myself for a couple months with local workshops in Korea, but no luck. So I am coming to the forum with organized thoughts to see if anyone can help (and for future drivers too who make this change).
PROBLEM 1: "!" sign on DASH, TCS PROBLEM
I have a G55 AMG from 2005. I recently changed the tires from stock 285/55 R18 to all-terrain, all-season 285/60 R18 tires.
On the same day, the two rear ABS sensors were replaced with aftermarket ones, as an attempt to try and solve a recurring ABS warning light error.
From the moment I pulled out of the shop that fitted the new tires and rear ABS sensors, I noticed two key sorts of strange problems with handling and breaking. I've now narrowed these down to the following symptoms and mechanisms to prevent them happening:
a) Turning full lock around tight corners, the traction control system triangle "!" alert comes on a lot and often its accompanied by a kind of subdued buzzing noise from behind the steering wheel.
Video example:
Two notes, however:
PROBLEM 2: ABS PULSATING OFTEN, ON/OFF CLICK NOISE FROM BEHIND DRIVER SEAT
b) Second problem is I can feel ABS coming on in the break pedal much more than before.
Video example: <-- When I say "Now"!
There are a few interesting observations here:
- When the car is in Drive mode and there's no gas applied, as the car very slowly moves I can hear and feel a light buzzing in the break pedal. But when I'm rolling slowly like this, if I then push the break or gas pedal, I then hear a click noise from the rear-center of my driving position (it sounds like some kind of ABS control unit disengaging).
- If I'm braking suddenly, sometimes towards the end of the brake push I feel the ABS pump being vigorously applied, like we're in icy weather or on a wet slippy surface.
WHAT THE WORKSHOPS SAY
Garage 1: I went back to the garage that fitted the tires and new ABS sensors. They kept the car for literally four weeks and told me their conclusion was that I needed a new ESP module and new ABS pump, costing north of $7000 in total.
Importantly, they told me they reinstalled the old tires (spec size) and the problems continued, hence why they think the issues are related to the above components, not the tire size change.
Following advice in this forum, they also edited settings in the STAR system, but to no avail (the G55 from 2005 apparently doesn't include the larger 285/60 size in its settings).
What they did NOT do was put back on the original rear-wheel ABS sensors, to try and ascertain if these are contributing to the problem.
Garage 2: Not believing the analysis of the first workshop (they told me in the past to install a new anti-roll bar costing almost $2500 to fix steering wheel shake when a simple $50 wheel realignment elsewhere fixed the problem), I went to a second shop.
The second shop said that the larger tires I had installed are the problem and they had broken or damaged the drive train and TCS system.
They quoted me about $3500 for fixing the drivetrain and TCS (without actually specifying what damage there is/was) and said I have to buy new tires again that match the stock 285/55 R18 size.
Again, they did NOT do any tests on the new rear-wheel ABS sensors to see if those were the problem...
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS?
So I'm left with two crazy high quotes from two garages that are -- to me at least -- aiming for expensive component replacements or "fixes" without ruling out simple issues first.
And here I really would like to get help from the forum, since I'm pulling my hair out by now with this issue.
a) Is it just the reality that the g55 from 2005 NEEDS to have stock size tires to avoid such problems? I have read a lot on this forum and some drivers say such even minor wheel size changes unavoidably trigger a lot of problems. If so, I guess I need to bite the bullet and just get regular size tires (problem being here in korea there are only like one or two types and all for just road use only).
b) Can I just live with the problems and use the ESP off button when necessary, or is the over-zealous ABS TCS implementation dangerous in the longer term and likely to wear down related parts much quicker than usual?
c) Based on my description of the issues, would anyone think that it is indeed likely that components like the ESP module and ABS pump are likely the cause?
d) Any other thoughts or feedback appreciated. I spent a lot of money obtaining these tires, importing them, so its frustrating the nightmare of issues such a basic change appears to have caused.
PROBLEM 1: "!" sign on DASH, TCS PROBLEM
I have a G55 AMG from 2005. I recently changed the tires from stock 285/55 R18 to all-terrain, all-season 285/60 R18 tires.
On the same day, the two rear ABS sensors were replaced with aftermarket ones, as an attempt to try and solve a recurring ABS warning light error.
From the moment I pulled out of the shop that fitted the new tires and rear ABS sensors, I noticed two key sorts of strange problems with handling and breaking. I've now narrowed these down to the following symptoms and mechanisms to prevent them happening:
a) Turning full lock around tight corners, the traction control system triangle "!" alert comes on a lot and often its accompanied by a kind of subdued buzzing noise from behind the steering wheel.
Video example:
Two notes, however:
- If I'm going down a hill while turning or otherwise not-accelerating during these tight turns, NO TCS "!" alert comes on and there's no buzzing noise.
- If its active, when I press "ESP OFF" these symptoms disappear 100%. Or, if I use my left-foot to break while doing such a turn, the symptom also disappears. So now I'm resorting to using ESP off a lot when driving, especially around tight car parks, to avoid this problem.
PROBLEM 2: ABS PULSATING OFTEN, ON/OFF CLICK NOISE FROM BEHIND DRIVER SEAT
b) Second problem is I can feel ABS coming on in the break pedal much more than before.
Video example: <-- When I say "Now"!
There are a few interesting observations here:
- When the car is in Drive mode and there's no gas applied, as the car very slowly moves I can hear and feel a light buzzing in the break pedal. But when I'm rolling slowly like this, if I then push the break or gas pedal, I then hear a click noise from the rear-center of my driving position (it sounds like some kind of ABS control unit disengaging).
- If I'm braking suddenly, sometimes towards the end of the brake push I feel the ABS pump being vigorously applied, like we're in icy weather or on a wet slippy surface.
WHAT THE WORKSHOPS SAY
Garage 1: I went back to the garage that fitted the tires and new ABS sensors. They kept the car for literally four weeks and told me their conclusion was that I needed a new ESP module and new ABS pump, costing north of $7000 in total.
Importantly, they told me they reinstalled the old tires (spec size) and the problems continued, hence why they think the issues are related to the above components, not the tire size change.
Following advice in this forum, they also edited settings in the STAR system, but to no avail (the G55 from 2005 apparently doesn't include the larger 285/60 size in its settings).
What they did NOT do was put back on the original rear-wheel ABS sensors, to try and ascertain if these are contributing to the problem.
Garage 2: Not believing the analysis of the first workshop (they told me in the past to install a new anti-roll bar costing almost $2500 to fix steering wheel shake when a simple $50 wheel realignment elsewhere fixed the problem), I went to a second shop.
The second shop said that the larger tires I had installed are the problem and they had broken or damaged the drive train and TCS system.
They quoted me about $3500 for fixing the drivetrain and TCS (without actually specifying what damage there is/was) and said I have to buy new tires again that match the stock 285/55 R18 size.
Again, they did NOT do any tests on the new rear-wheel ABS sensors to see if those were the problem...
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS?
So I'm left with two crazy high quotes from two garages that are -- to me at least -- aiming for expensive component replacements or "fixes" without ruling out simple issues first.
And here I really would like to get help from the forum, since I'm pulling my hair out by now with this issue.
a) Is it just the reality that the g55 from 2005 NEEDS to have stock size tires to avoid such problems? I have read a lot on this forum and some drivers say such even minor wheel size changes unavoidably trigger a lot of problems. If so, I guess I need to bite the bullet and just get regular size tires (problem being here in korea there are only like one or two types and all for just road use only).
b) Can I just live with the problems and use the ESP off button when necessary, or is the over-zealous ABS TCS implementation dangerous in the longer term and likely to wear down related parts much quicker than usual?
c) Based on my description of the issues, would anyone think that it is indeed likely that components like the ESP module and ABS pump are likely the cause?
d) Any other thoughts or feedback appreciated. I spent a lot of money obtaining these tires, importing them, so its frustrating the nightmare of issues such a basic change appears to have caused.
