Uneven tyrewear
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Uneven tyrewear
I’ve just noticed that my tyres are worn uneven and the metal thread is visible. I had new lowering springs installed and the wheels aligned by MB a while ago. What should I do now; my tires look new but are worn because they didn’t align the front wheels correct. I have currently 25.000km/15.000miles on the clock. Will they pay for a new pair or is this just bad luck for me? Any advice/experience?
Last edited by AR.Shah; Aug 25, 2007 at 08:39 PM.
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they will probably blame the lowering springs for the negative camber. Not sure if camber can be adjusted. Thats why I don't like to mess with suspension stuff. Worth trying to make them change it.
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2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
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I had my rear tires replaced 2 times within 5,000 miles. They said it was tire defect. I asked them 2 times? (crazy) I asked them to check alignment and everything else, but they said no it CANNOT be that! RIGHT! lol... Luckily they said it was under warranty. Let's see when I have to change it again due to tire defect(?).
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190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Try and get the dealer to buy you a new set of tyres, but honestly, good luck. Because you have had the car lowered then they alway have that to fall back on........but, they should have told you when they did the alignment that either they couldn't get it into spec or that you will experience greater tyre wear due to the ride height change.
If you can get a printout of the wheel alignment then i'd be interested to see the figures for the front toe and camber.
If you can get a printout of the wheel alignment then i'd be interested to see the figures for the front toe and camber.
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2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Try and get the dealer to buy you a new set of tyres, but honestly, good luck. Because you have had the car lowered then they alway have that to fall back on........but, they should have told you when they did the alignment that either they couldn't get it into spec or that you will experience greater tyre wear due to the ride height change.
If you can get a printout of the wheel alignment then i'd be interested to see the figures for the front toe and camber.
If you can get a printout of the wheel alignment then i'd be interested to see the figures for the front toe and camber.
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From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
you can adjust camber/castor but it is very limited in the adjustment range.
Generally you can adjust the toe to compensate (won't reduce tyre wear, just even it out) for different camber values.
If camber is correct then excessive toe in will cause outer edge wear and excessive toe out will cause inner edge wear.
Generally you can adjust the toe to compensate (won't reduce tyre wear, just even it out) for different camber values.
If camber is correct then excessive toe in will cause outer edge wear and excessive toe out will cause inner edge wear.
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Seems like you're too fast on those roundabouts 
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2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
you can adjust camber/castor but it is very limited in the adjustment range.
Generally you can adjust the toe to compensate (won't reduce tyre wear, just even it out) for different camber values.
If camber is correct then excessive toe in will cause outer edge wear and excessive toe out will cause inner edge wear.
Generally you can adjust the toe to compensate (won't reduce tyre wear, just even it out) for different camber values.
If camber is correct then excessive toe in will cause outer edge wear and excessive toe out will cause inner edge wear.
I went to the dealer today and they had a look at the tyres, he then saw that the alignment was done by them at 12.000km. on their computer. He said that they will align the wheels and replace the tyres but I have to pay a part of the tyres myself. I asked why and he said that these tyres are almost worn down anyway. That is BS because the tyres have markers that show when the rubber is worn and there is still at least 2mm left before the markers (marker 1,6mm + 2mm additional = 3,6mm rubber left). I told him this and and the claimed that there is only 0.5 rubber left before the marker, which is BS (look at the pictures). Anyway a date has been set for the alignment and tyre change, lets see what how much he will be charging me.
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ML500 190E 2.3-16
be sure to post the alignment figures this time so we can see them. Make sure they are within the tolerance shown on the report. I would think the car would be alignable with the lowering kit or the airmatic would be unaligned at high speeds. If Mercedes cant align the car take it to any respectable aftermarket rim instaler they probably have more experince in setting it right.
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Thread Starter
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Bad news: They didnt replace my tyres because of the HR lowering springs. They claim that the setting with lowering springs can never be set 100% correct thus the uneven tyrewear. Who is to blame in this matter? The HR lowering springs maker? MB? Me?
I so tired of this and now I need new tyres, I thinking of Continental wintertyres because the Michelin Diamaris were terrible during last winter. Can these Continental be used all year, any experience anyone?
I so tired of this and now I need new tyres, I thinking of Continental wintertyres because the Michelin Diamaris were terrible during last winter. Can these Continental be used all year, any experience anyone?
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2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Yeah I think you're right. I feel the MB dealer is basically full of BS when claming the setting cannot be set correctly with the lowering springs.
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2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
I had a competing non certified MB workshop to fit them and MB to do the alignment afterwards. MB did a bad job resulting in uneven tyrewear, now they claim its due to the lowering springs and the setting cannot ever be set correctly. I am going to contact H&R manufacturer on this issue.
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I had a competing non certified MB workshop to fit them and MB to do the alignment afterwards. MB did a bad job resulting in uneven tyrewear, now they claim its due to the lowering springs and the setting cannot ever be set correctly. I am going to contact H&R manufacturer on this issue.
I have my issues with MB dealers also, but your case seems a little out of their scope of work.
From a liability stand point, they don't want to touch your car becuase they know it came back to bite them months later. Aftermarket mods are always going to be a 50/50 chance. It isn't MB's fault that your tires wore out..
If I were you, I would make H and R pay for your new tires, alignment and hassle.
my 2 cents
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
Why are you blaming the dealer for this? The place you got the springs from should have aligned your tires for you????
I have my issues with MB dealers also, but your case seems a little out of their scope of work.
From a liability stand point, they don't want to touch your car becuase they know it came back to bite them months later. Aftermarket mods are always going to be a 50/50 chance. It isn't MB's fault that your tires wore out..
If I were you, I would make H and R pay for your new tires, alignment and hassle.
my 2 cents
I have my issues with MB dealers also, but your case seems a little out of their scope of work.
From a liability stand point, they don't want to touch your car becuase they know it came back to bite them months later. Aftermarket mods are always going to be a 50/50 chance. It isn't MB's fault that your tires wore out..
If I were you, I would make H and R pay for your new tires, alignment and hassle.
my 2 cents
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2007 ML 500
Yes you're right on that but it was after a discussion with MB that I decided to get the HR springs, as MB could not offer any lowering springs. We decided that MB would do the allignment afterwards and I would be billed for that. They did the allignment and told me everything was 100% ok, thats why I feel they're liable to a certain degree. And yes I am going to cotact H&R to hear what they have to say. Im sure that in the end I will be paying for the tyres my self which is why I just bought new tyres, the old ones were dangerous to be driving arround on. I'll keep you posted.
i have to ask, is this the first time you ever lowered a car? because it sure seems like it. whenever you lower any car, you are going to get negative camber and the inside of the tires are going to wear out faster than the outside since your tires sit like this.... / (left tire) \ (right tire) after being lowered. when it wasn't lowered it sat like this... l (left tire) l (right tire)
there are camber kits out there to help with the negative camber, but your wheels will never sit perfectly again and they will always sit where the insides will wear out faster.
as for who to blame, unfortunately most of it would have to fall on you, and then the h&r dealer who didn't mention to you that your car will have negative camber.
best thing to do if you are still unhappy is to speak to your h&r dealer and see if you can get the springs returned, or just learn to live with the inside of your tires wearing out faster than the rest which again is normal for lowered cars.
Last edited by vinceching; Oct 12, 2007 at 06:40 PM.
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Well this is not the first time, currently I also have my W211 lowered with Kleemann springs and there is no trace of uneven tyrewear there. Perhaps you're rigth about the negative camber, but in this example the front tyres did not wear faster on the inside, they only wore down on the inside and the rest of the tyres were in perfect condition. Besides the rear tyres are spotless.
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2007 ML 500
Well this is not the first time, currently I also have my W211 lowered with Kleemann springs and there is no trace of uneven tyrewear there. Perhaps you're rigth about the negative camber, but in this example the front tyres did not wear faster on the inside, they only wore down on the inside and the rest of the tyres were in perfect condition. Besides the rear tyres are spotless.
the fronts show more wear because it has the weight of the engine in the front as well as doing all the turning.
i'd bet that if you checked the rears out in about 6-8,000 miles you would notice the rear tires wearing on the insides faster than the rest of the tire tread for the rear.
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2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
rear tires on a negative camber setup will always show less wear since there isn't more weight back there.
the fronts show more wear because it has the weight of the engine in the front as well as doing all the turning.
i'd bet that if you checked the rears out in about 6-8,000 miles you would notice the rear tires wearing on the insides faster than the rest of the tire tread for the rear.
the fronts show more wear because it has the weight of the engine in the front as well as doing all the turning.
i'd bet that if you checked the rears out in about 6-8,000 miles you would notice the rear tires wearing on the insides faster than the rest of the tire tread for the rear.
