E350Wagen

Don't know how are they on a GLS, but had DWS06 on Audi A6 and Q7, also few of my freinds have them, one on S-Class, and one on a Infinity SUV, those tires are awesome. Especially if you live where it snows. no need for snows with those tires. Myself im about to put DWS06 on my GLS550, just got it from FLorida and i live up north.

FWP!

We're about to need new tires on our 550, it has the CrossContact UHP's on it right now. What would you guys recommend for a tire where the car will most likely never be driven in snow and maybe drive in the rain 3-4 times a year? (Phoenix)

4everalone

You get it by going through continental warranty when they wear out at 1/2 the rated miles.

FWP!

this is what the right rear looked like yesterday. I checked the toe myself, it had less than 1/8” toe in on that axle. I guess it must be the camber? Installed new Michelin Pilot Sport All Season’s today, but I’m planning on taking it to a shop to get it looked at. That kind of wear for no obvious reason is beyond ridiculous.

chassis

It's the factory camber specification. It's too much. The camber setting is chosen so that a GVW-loaded vehicle maintains yaw stability during an abrupt high vehicle speed lane change. Sounds like a good idea but the practical implementation means the GL/GLS is a tire gobbler.

John CC

Camber aside, that wear is localized, so you also either have an out of round tire or a balance problem.

FWP!

Both rear tires were bald on the inside. This one was just the worst. WTF was Mercedes thinking with this setup?

WillieMack

How many miles on the tires?

FWP!

Unknown, we bought the car a year ago with these tires on it. The fronts looked great, probably could have gotten another 15k out of them. We don't drive the car much aside from one 12 hour trip to Park City last fall, but the rest of the time it's to the grocery store and to pick up our son from daycare 2 miles away.

WillieMack

I bought my 17 GLS550 expecting to replace tires every 20k miles. I did the research. It is what it is. This is a high performance 7 passenger heavy SUV with dynamic driving capabilities close to a sports sedan. Tires won’t last on it like a GLS450 or a Lexus LX but neither drives like a 550. It’s a trade off. The 550 is not made for grocery getting mall cruising. That would be more so the GLS450. The 550 is more designed for performance driving as evident by the larger brakes and sport tuned suspension.

FWP!

I'd be amazed if we put 5k miles on the car in the last year. And most of it under 50 mph. Nowhere CLOSE to 20k miles.

WillieMack

You aren’t the original owner of those tires and you bought the vehicle used? Could be anything (faulty tires, bad alignment from shop from previous owner, bad wheel balance, under/over inflation etc.)
Before blaming Mercedes, I would start with a clean slate by ordering brand new tires (preferably with a mileage warranty), and take it to a MB dealer for mounting, road force balance and alignment.

FWP!

Alignment is within “spec”. And the car only has 34k miles on it. Already bought and installed Pilot Sport All Season 4’s.

I’ll be taking to a shop where they can get rid of as much camber as possible, and I’ll have them check out the bushings back there to see if deflection is happening under acceleration or something along those lines. I know the Conti UHP’s are crap, but this is another level.

WillieMack

I hope for this best with the Michelins. I’m almost done on my Conti UHP’s and I’m not satisfied with them. My next set will be the Pilots very soon. Report back with your comparison.

K-Mac

REALITY IS OEM THERE IS NO FRONT CAMBER OR CASTER TO ADJUST TIRE CONTACT ANGLES !

Above is essential to spread load more evenly. All to do with cost cutting and ever increasing speed of Auto assembly lines.

For the rear there is Camber adjustment, but insufficient. We saw the need therefore to provide a Front Camber and Caster kit. Along with a rear Camber (and extra Toe) kit which allows to double the rear adjustment range.

Front kit #504016M $595 (Lowered Suspension #504016-1N $695)
(also same time replaces the 4 Front highest wearing bushings which OEM are expensive to replace).

Rear Kit #504026K $480




KMAC Experience Of Resolving OEM Suspension Shortcomings Since 1964

John CC

LOL! You'll never convince me the GLS450 is any better.

RickSamuel

You may also have a bent wheel - Mercedes wheels are very strong, but I have bent two popping over a curb at around 30mph. I found a place that could straighten them and was very pleased.


I have a 2017 GLS450 - Installed Continental LX25's (275/55r19) at ~186000 back in 8-30-2021 - currently, I noticed the "S" of the "DWS" indicator worn off. I have about 256000 now. I will be reordering a new set of these tires soon. These tires also have alignment indicators when new.

I drive about 100000 miles a year (Highway and City) I have been keeping them inflated to 32PSI front and 34PSI rear (cold). Check the tire pressure sticker on the Gas fill Lid.

I also have the LX25 my 2007 GL450 (265/60r18) We don't drive this one that much anymore. It has 325000 miles on it.

I have also had a 2012 GL350 and a 2014 GL350. Both of these got up to 267000 and 263000 respectively. They had 21inch and 20inch wheels.

FWP!

So far, we are loving the Michelins. My wife who drives the car mostly is by no means a "car person" but she commented to me that the car feels so smooth now. I completely agree that the tires really have made the ride even nicer than it already was. More stable, less tram-lining, nicer over sharp bumps, all of the above. Very happy with them. The wheel is not bent, they had inspected them during the tire change.

Rb3rd

Same wear on the rear tires of my GLS550 after less than 1yr. The front tires are good. All are Pirelli Scorpion tires 295/40r21 111v m+s

BobSandra

These were installed at 2yrs. The OEM Continentals failed State inspection because of sidewall cracks, terrible road noise, and shaking like crazy at speed.
I had to order from Tire Rack because the dealer refused to install them because they weren't OEM 👎

K-Mac

DO KEEP IN MIND NO MATTER WHAT THE TIRE BRAND - TODAYS MODELS THERE IS NO WHEEL ALIGNMENT CAPABILITY.

“FULL ALIGNMENT” IS ONLY BASIC TOE “DIRECTIONAL ADJUSTMENT”.

No longer Front or Rear Camber to adjust tire contact angles, spread load more evenly to resolve costly, premature wear. Excess edge load can also cause ruptured side walls.

FACTORY CAMBER IS SET FOR “SHOWROOM HEIGHT” CONDITIONS - no adjustment for varying height / load conditions or drivers and passengers side uneven wear encountered in day to day commuting.

Dealers only alternative (to try and placate / appease owners) stating “IS WITHIN FACTORY SPECS” (meaning at showroom height and conditions) !

ALSO SEE ABOVE #10 - ALL GLE W166, GLS W166X MODELS

FWP!

Rear camber is easily adjustable. Loosen a bolt on the upper end of the knuckle and pull the top of the knuckle all the way out towards you and voila - way, way less camber and no more odd tirewear for 15k miles now. Tires are wearing perfectly. Front isn't adjustable, but they're wearing evenly as well.

MelissaC

I am having the same issue. Did you like the Michelins? How did they hold up?

FWP!

We've put over 15k miles on them and they've been fantastic. Probably will get 25k out of them before we need to replace them.

BobSandra

We love the ones in the above photo, one full season, snow & sun. Could not be happier.