21" "Normal" tire Wear
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 22
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GLC 43
21" "Normal" tire Wear
Hi All, I have a Dec17 build wagon delivered late Jan18 fitted with the "upgraded" 255/40 R21 Contisport Contact 5 "Star" tire. (apparently on earlier models, the ones without the "star", wore out on the way home from the dealer). So, Im now 10 months down the track with 11,000km on the clock and my "upgraded" tires are worn (quite evenly) to the wear bars and need replacing. Dealer checked and confirmed wheel alignment ok. I've done the replacement dance with MB Australia and they've walked away saying this is "normal" wear for this vehicle. So potential new buyers beware!
Not sure about the rest of you, but I dont consider 11,000 km as normal or acceptable wear and before I head off to arbitration, I though I might ask the forum for some feedback on average front tire wear experience on other vehicles fitted with the 21" wheels.
BTW, its been a fairly sedate 11,000km, no track days, mainly to and from work and the occasional 100-300km highway trip. The rears are about half worn, I consider this "normal". Fronts 38psi Rears 41psi
Look forward to your feedback and advice on alternate tires that will hopefully last longer than the windscreen wiper blades. Ive been told Michelin Pilot Sports might be a good alternative? Anyone tried these?
thanks
Not sure about the rest of you, but I dont consider 11,000 km as normal or acceptable wear and before I head off to arbitration, I though I might ask the forum for some feedback on average front tire wear experience on other vehicles fitted with the 21" wheels.
BTW, its been a fairly sedate 11,000km, no track days, mainly to and from work and the occasional 100-300km highway trip. The rears are about half worn, I consider this "normal". Fronts 38psi Rears 41psi
Look forward to your feedback and advice on alternate tires that will hopefully last longer than the windscreen wiper blades. Ive been told Michelin Pilot Sports might be a good alternative? Anyone tried these?
thanks
Last edited by viper43; Nov 29, 2018 at 05:26 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 28
Likes: 7
GLC63
I'm afraid I'd have to agree with your dealer about normal wear. The extreme performance tires that came on your vehicle have a very soft compound to provide maximum grip on dry pavement. Couple that with our 4500 pound high torque AMGs and they are not going to last long. I have an 18 GLC63 with 21" wheels and the Pirelli PZeros that came on it were just off the wear bars at 6800 miles when I removed the to install 19" snow tires.
US spec 43s have 255/40r21 front and 285/35r21 rear. Are yours different as you indicated 255/45. From what I can see there are not any choices in your size that will be much better. If you could fit the 63 size 265/40 and 295/35 you would have better choices. I had Michelin Sport 4s on my M3 and loved them. I believe they would last a bit longer but not a lot. You could go to a performance all season tire like Pirelli Scorpion Verde and get a large increase in tread life at the expense of some handling. They have a 600 treadwear rating as apposed the 2-300 for anything currently in your size.
I'm going to try the Sport 4s next spring with hopes that I can squeeze 10,000 miles out of them.
US spec 43s have 255/40r21 front and 285/35r21 rear. Are yours different as you indicated 255/45. From what I can see there are not any choices in your size that will be much better. If you could fit the 63 size 265/40 and 295/35 you would have better choices. I had Michelin Sport 4s on my M3 and loved them. I believe they would last a bit longer but not a lot. You could go to a performance all season tire like Pirelli Scorpion Verde and get a large increase in tread life at the expense of some handling. They have a 600 treadwear rating as apposed the 2-300 for anything currently in your size.
I'm going to try the Sport 4s next spring with hopes that I can squeeze 10,000 miles out of them.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 22
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GLC 43
Hi Tim, thanks for getting back to me and your suggestions. My fronts are 255/40s as per the US spec. Just a typo.
Appreciate your comments about wear but that level of tyre wear is just unacceptable. The wear on rears is fine and they are handling more of the torque than the front. It just crappy front end geometry design and MB know it. If that’s the best they can do then they should be upfront about it a sales
time.
thanks again
Appreciate your comments about wear but that level of tyre wear is just unacceptable. The wear on rears is fine and they are handling more of the torque than the front. It just crappy front end geometry design and MB know it. If that’s the best they can do then they should be upfront about it a sales
time.
thanks again
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 28
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GLC63
I was mistakenly under the impression due to research from a long time ago that the AWD on the 43 was biased toward the front wheels, but I must have been thinking about another vehicle. Interesting that there is that much difference between front and rear wear for you. Mine wore almost perfectly evenly from front to back with the rear tires worn slightly more and each tire wore evenly. I still wore all 4 out in 6800 miles and like you no track days and about 1500 miles of highway driving but I am addicted to the awesome acceleration of the 63.
I've seen a lot about the crabbing issues on the 43. I did not experience any crabbing until the tires were well worn and the temperatures dropped. Then I did experience a great deal of crabbing. It is gone again with the snow tires on.
I was disappointed by the PIrellis when I took delivery of my vehicle since every picture I saw of a 63 prior had the Michelins. I sold the M3 with only about 3000 miles on the Michelins so I cant really speak to their wear but the were far and away the best tire I've driven in every other respect. They do have a 30,000 mile warranty which is pretty unheard of for that class of tire. No warranty for us though due to staggered setup.
I've seen a lot about the crabbing issues on the 43. I did not experience any crabbing until the tires were well worn and the temperatures dropped. Then I did experience a great deal of crabbing. It is gone again with the snow tires on.
I was disappointed by the PIrellis when I took delivery of my vehicle since every picture I saw of a 63 prior had the Michelins. I sold the M3 with only about 3000 miles on the Michelins so I cant really speak to their wear but the were far and away the best tire I've driven in every other respect. They do have a 30,000 mile warranty which is pretty unheard of for that class of tire. No warranty for us though due to staggered setup.
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Joined: Jul 2012
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Mercedes AMG
Viper43 I am currently in an uphill battle with MB Australia regarding this problem on my car after just 5,000kms. The front tyres are worn below the tread wear indicators and they deem it acceptable and a normal characteristic of the car.
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 104
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From: Adelaide SA
AMG GLC 43, GLC Coupe 300 2020
Hi Viper,
I've had my RHD GLC 43 from new and it is still on the original 21' MO marked continental tyres with 20,000KM on the rears, The fronts have 17000km on them due to MB changing them free of charge to the 5 star marked continental tyres to address the tyre skip issue.
The car gets aligned every six months and pressures checked and adjusted every week. I'm sure that has helped with the extended the trye life I'm experiencing. I reckon the tyres are still good for another 5-7000km.
I have heard some horror stories about tyre life, the tyre skip issue if your's is RHD does increase the wear as well as going like a bat out of hell every where.
Couple that to a very soft tyre compound, incorrect wheel alignment which is also a known fault and tyre pressures all will lead to **** poor trye life .
But 11000km I would be pissed as well.
Wish you the best
I've had my RHD GLC 43 from new and it is still on the original 21' MO marked continental tyres with 20,000KM on the rears, The fronts have 17000km on them due to MB changing them free of charge to the 5 star marked continental tyres to address the tyre skip issue.
The car gets aligned every six months and pressures checked and adjusted every week. I'm sure that has helped with the extended the trye life I'm experiencing. I reckon the tyres are still good for another 5-7000km.
I have heard some horror stories about tyre life, the tyre skip issue if your's is RHD does increase the wear as well as going like a bat out of hell every where.
Couple that to a very soft tyre compound, incorrect wheel alignment which is also a known fault and tyre pressures all will lead to **** poor trye life .
But 11000km I would be pissed as well.
Wish you the best
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
GLC 43
thanks for your feedback Rob and wmc, Rob, I got the same BS from MBA about normal, "what we are seeing", "Design expectations" blah blah blah. IMHO, 11000 (now 12000 but perilously close to worn out) is not normal or acceptable quality/durability under Australian Consumer Law and MB thinks it is, then the least they could do is to warn prospective buyers at point of sale, of the expensive surprise that awaits them 6-8 months down the track. Anyway I'll be lodging a complaint with fair trading in the New year, so please keep the feedback coming as hopefully it will help convince an arbitrator that MBs expectations do not reflect those of their customers......
Its a shame because it really spoils the experience of what otherwise is an awesome car.
Its a shame because it really spoils the experience of what otherwise is an awesome car.
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Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: TX
GLC 43. 2018
Optioned the 20s all season sport goodyear on my 43. Treadwear 500. Easily run laps around the Toyota/GM/Nissan/other SUVs. At 9k no issue with high speed turning squealing. One stop light run against a Ford Mustang was... amusing. AWD to 60ish gave ‘em no quarter.
