vg333

We replaced tires recently on our 2006 R500 which has about 60K miles. The car had continental tires. STS tire recommended Goodyear tires for their quality and also for the fact that they were on sale on that particular day.

Since the tires were replaced, there is a lot of humming type noise in the front at low speeds. I feel that this is the noise because of the power shifting in the AWD. STS tire says this is normal when new tires are installed on AWD vehicles. I am not buying this entirely. Is it normal for the car to take some time to adjust the AWD when new tire are replaced? Will the humming noise go away eventually? I have a 30 day free replacement option, so I am wondering if I should replace my tires with Michelin or bridgestone. I appreciate any feedback on this matter.

Thank You.

jwratts

Give them a couple of weeks (don't go beyond the 30 day deal) for the beads, etc to wear down. if it is still there then change tires but i think it will be gone.

vg333

Is the noise a normal occurrence for AWD vehicles (when tires are changed)?

Benzo 003

I would can the Goodyears. Every set I have ever owned were louder than the last set.
I recently went with Conti Extreme Contact DWS tires and couldnt be happier. Incredible wet/snow traction and whisper quiet on dry pavement, and not wearing very fast either.
189 ea at Tirerack for 19"s.....Im happy.

vg333

Thanks for your response.

dewdaltz

This thing happened to me when I had my R between 4-12 months new. complain to them and they said its "normal" After 2.5 years I again complain they said my tires need replacement and change it but still they said its "normal" But noise on the front is getting louder and it is very irritating n the sense that you are driving a Mercedes Benz and NOT normal. . So I decided to go an independent Mercedes shop with my complain about front noise. At first, he thought its the bushing or something that makes the noise but it is not so he decided to check the front differential and drain the fluids inside and wallah... found a debri of metal grating. And the only option is to change the front differential. Went to the Service Manager talked about my complain since the beginning and he gave me half of the total amount that is NEW front differential, whole body alignment and wheel balancing a total of $3200.00. Paid half. Now .......very quite and smooth.

vg333

I agree that the noise makes it feel as though I am driving a 30 year old car. The Benz dealer told me yesterday that Goodyear tires are known to cause this noise on R500s. They recommend using Continental or Michelin. I have an appointment this Friday to change my tires to continental. I will report back with results.

dewdaltz

This is my second set of tires. My first was Pirelli Assimetrico - not happy. Now I am running Conti Contact DWS - very happy.

lkchris

Ditto on getting rid of the Goodyears.

Here's a tip: never ever believe anything a tire dealer tells you.

Mercedes tests and approves tires for its vehicles and those have "MO" molded into the sidewalls. Get those.

avlis

You mean these? http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....emeContact+DWS

What size did you get? 235/65R17 is not listed. Do you have 19's?

Anyway I just put these on my VW GTI this weekend and they are great so far. Wish they had the size for wife's R350.

Don't get me started about not listening to tire dealers...I ordered these Conti DWS for my VW on their website and they still tried to sell me some Toyos when I showed up for the install and they "mistakenly" had the Contis delivered to the store across town. He insisted the Toyos were the best tires in the world and not to believe the 750 user reviews for the Conti DWS on Tirerack. "All the kids with VWs are buying these Toyos up", he tells me, "Tirerack makes up good reviews when they have a sale". Whateva......

vg333

I got rid of the goodyear tires and there is no noise now. Thanks for your comments everyone.