AMG S55 tire wear
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: southern TN
2004 S55 AMG, 1999 SLK230, 2010 GL450, GM muscle, Porsche
I thought it might be nice to ride under warranty again for awhile, so we did go look at some Certified Pre-Owned stuff about a month ago. My car's nice, no paint, etc., so I let them work me up a trade on a 2011 E class. Mercedes of Nashville offered me $7500 for the '04 S55 AMG, I kid you not. I said "Wow, was it wrecked when you got out there?!" I realize they have to start somewhere, but jeeeeez.... Wait, you guys can have my '99 SLK for that!
Last edited by DGulliver; Mar 11, 2013 at 10:20 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
Dealers, or any other trader, that your going to part-exchange with or do a trade in offer will always offer you well below the book value of the car, in most cases peanuts.
Its always best to sell your car privately if you can.
Its always best to sell your car privately if you can.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
My S55 does the exact same thing... Around 5k miles the threads are showing on the rear tires with more so on the right side. When I had an S500 it also wore out the rears fast and the right side first. I had to rotate them to get around 10k. On both cars the fronts wear pretty normal. I would be interested to know what other S55 owners out there wear down their rear tires in under 10k miles without burnouts. I just chalk it up to normal for these cars and just spent the $450 every 6mos for new back tires. Mercedes is NEVER going to admit the S Class burns through rear tires that fast. It aint right but it's a small price to pay overall for such a great car.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: southern TN
2004 S55 AMG, 1999 SLK230, 2010 GL450, GM muscle, Porsche
Highlander, I can't rotate tires- the front and rears are different sizes on my '04 S55 with stock wheels.
Since I installed the new (used) ABC module, the car doesn't do the raise/drop thing while at idle anymore. The rears seem to be wearing ok for now but time will tell, soon..
Since I installed the new (used) ABC module, the car doesn't do the raise/drop thing while at idle anymore. The rears seem to be wearing ok for now but time will tell, soon..
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
When your passenger side rear starts to show more wear than the driver side (and it will) you can rotate it to the other side. Your tires are probably directional so you will have to go to the tire shop and they can switch the tires on the rims. If you're really lazy you can buy just one new tire for the right and when it wears out you'll be even again for two new tires back there...lol JK, but thats how my old S500 was. My rear tires on the S55 wear close enough together I change both rear tires between 6k and 10k mikes...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: southern TN
2004 S55 AMG, 1999 SLK230, 2010 GL450, GM muscle, Porsche
Highlander, the tires I had on before were the Michelin Sport Pilot PS2- different (softer) tread on the outside edge of the tire. This is why I couldn't rotate side to side like you recommend. I have a tire now that your method would work for, thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
S55
s55 Tire Wear
New POST; same problem, however in my case I only got 5k out of my Bridgestone Potenza, at $ 400 a pop that is crazy money over the course of a year for tires only...
Any suggestions on more durable tires for this problem? Bridgestone sucks!
Any suggestions on more durable tires for this problem? Bridgestone sucks!
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
It really doesnt matter what brand you buy... expect 10k miles or less on the rears. Rotate as right wears more. I'm running Kuhmo's right now. They were pretty cheap and ride good so I dont stress. I just know in 6mos i'm going to need new ones.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
I had new Pirelli P-Zero's put on about 6 months ago, i dont even think iv got 5k out of them. But the problem with mine is that the inner 2cm of the tyre have completely worn down to the strings, whereas the rest of the tyre is showing approx. 3.5mm of tread.
I think my main problem is down to poor tracking and camber/castor adjustments.
If yours is showing tyre wear in the same way (tyre is more worn on one side than the other, usually the inner side) then your problem might be down to tracking rather than the car simply burning tyres of its own accord.
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
Iv used Bridgestones in the past on my car and they're not a bad tyre. If anything, you should be getting more out of Bridgestones as they use a harder compound than the likes of Michelin and Pirelli.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 56
From: Alberta, Canada
'18 GLE63S AMG /'19 PORSCHE TURBO S / '09 CORVETTE ZR1 /'14 LEXUS RX350/'16 RAV4 Ltd
For what it's worth who's to say factory aligment specs are correct for your car ? I know on my Z06 and ZR1 if you aligned the rear to factory specs they both would burn off the inside of the rears..they both needed custom tweaking and only then did it minimize the wear and extend tire life..granted at the loss of spirited driving performance..
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
No, mine pretty much start to look like slicks with the wear pretty even. After about four months I really start watching the right rear closely. I'd get an alignment in the rear just so you know everything is OK. My fronts wear perfect so I never let anyone mess with the alignment up front... The hard rubber sounds like the way to go...
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
I know from my own personal experience with my car that when i first got it on the original 18" alloys the tyre wear was pretty even all the way accross. On 20's and then lowered on top, abit of a different story. Iv had mine tracked several times, but it does the same thing.
But given the fact that by lowering it and putting bigger wheels on mine i may have moved it away from the factory spec, so now the factory standards dont work on my car. In this case i think i need to find someone who will custom tweak it, but otherwise on a standard car, factory settings are best.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
Nanook has a good point... if it's wearing like that and its aligned correctly the alignment guy might have to get creative. I had a car like that, took two tries for the guy to get it right but he gave me a prit out out of what he did and I keot it with the car info.
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
Now slicks all the way across after just four months from new is definitely not sounding right . . . . unless your version of normal driving is slightly different to ours, lol.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
]Now slicks all the way across after just four months from new is definitely not sounding right . . . . unless your version of normal driving is slightly different to ours, lol.[/QUOTE]
No...lol I start watching at four months. I get around 6 months for a set of back tires and dont let them get to slicks. I rarely, rarely will do a burnout. I'm telling you 5k to 10k miles on the rears are NOARMAL for our cars. Now, you shouldnt be wearing uneven that much... Once you accept you will need two new back tires approx every 6k miles you will enjoy your car more...lol Just go on ebay and get a good deal shipped to your door and cruz on... My tire guy here changes them with balance for $25 per tire. He knows me well...lol
No...lol I start watching at four months. I get around 6 months for a set of back tires and dont let them get to slicks. I rarely, rarely will do a burnout. I'm telling you 5k to 10k miles on the rears are NOARMAL for our cars. Now, you shouldnt be wearing uneven that much... Once you accept you will need two new back tires approx every 6k miles you will enjoy your car more...lol Just go on ebay and get a good deal shipped to your door and cruz on... My tire guy here changes them with balance for $25 per tire. He knows me well...lol
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
Iv had a bit of a vibration issue with the back end of my car for some time now and recently i thought i would just jack the whole rear end up and just put the car into drive.
Sure enough the rear wheels started to spin at about 30 mph. Although to be 100% accurate, only one tyre was spinning (american drivers side rear), the other one wasnt doing anything unless power was applied and the car went over 40-45mph.
My guess is that these cars have an open LSD and so one tyre gets the power down first, which is probably the tyre that gets chewed up before the other one. Just my theory from observations. Try lifting the back of your car up, switch ESP off and just put ut into Drive and see which wheel spins.
Sure enough the rear wheels started to spin at about 30 mph. Although to be 100% accurate, only one tyre was spinning (american drivers side rear), the other one wasnt doing anything unless power was applied and the car went over 40-45mph.
My guess is that these cars have an open LSD and so one tyre gets the power down first, which is probably the tyre that gets chewed up before the other one. Just my theory from observations. Try lifting the back of your car up, switch ESP off and just put ut into Drive and see which wheel spins.
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
No...lol I start watching at four months. I get around 6 months for a set of back tires and dont let them get to slicks. I rarely, rarely will do a burnout. I'm telling you 5k to 10k miles on the rears are NOARMAL for our cars. Now, you shouldnt be wearing uneven that much... Once you accept you will need two new back tires approx every 6k miles you will enjoy your car more...lol Just go on ebay and get a good deal shipped to your door and cruz on... My tire guy here changes them with balance for $25 per tire. He knows me well...lol
But i myself am a tyre fitter so i understand quite a fair bit more than your - "average joe" i think is the right expression - about tyres.
Iv got another brand new set waiting to go on now, but il see if i can get a picture of the old ones on here.
Last edited by w4sim; Feb 19, 2014 at 07:35 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: southern TN
2004 S55 AMG, 1999 SLK230, 2010 GL450, GM muscle, Porsche
Guys, (Stu especially) my tire wear problem has been solved.
It's not driving habits, misalignment or poor tires! It was in fact, a faulty ABC module. It seems the module would randomly raise and lower the car while driving or parked. It no longer makes any of it's own up and down changes or adjustments while sitting idle. I bought one used from eBay for $250, plugged it in and put new tires on the rear. I have been 8k miles on this last set of rears with even wear and they look good. Even my fronts are wearing evenly, which they never did before.
This may not be the magic cure for everyone, but it solved my problem. I wanted to share my results.
It's not driving habits, misalignment or poor tires! It was in fact, a faulty ABC module. It seems the module would randomly raise and lower the car while driving or parked. It no longer makes any of it's own up and down changes or adjustments while sitting idle. I bought one used from eBay for $250, plugged it in and put new tires on the rear. I have been 8k miles on this last set of rears with even wear and they look good. Even my fronts are wearing evenly, which they never did before.
This may not be the magic cure for everyone, but it solved my problem. I wanted to share my results.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
S55
Guys, (Stu especially) my tire wear problem has been solved.
It's not driving habits, misalignment or poor tires! It was in fact, a faulty ABC module. It seems the module would randomly raise and lower the car while driving or parked. It no longer makes any of it's own up and down changes or adjustments while sitting idle. I bought one used from eBay for $250, plugged it in and put new tires on the rear. I have been 8k miles on this last set of rears with even wear and they look good. Even my fronts are wearing evenly, which they never did before.
This may not be the magic cure for everyone, but it solved my problem. I wanted to share my results.
It's not driving habits, misalignment or poor tires! It was in fact, a faulty ABC module. It seems the module would randomly raise and lower the car while driving or parked. It no longer makes any of it's own up and down changes or adjustments while sitting idle. I bought one used from eBay for $250, plugged it in and put new tires on the rear. I have been 8k miles on this last set of rears with even wear and they look good. Even my fronts are wearing evenly, which they never did before.
This may not be the magic cure for everyone, but it solved my problem. I wanted to share my results.
SPONSOR
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 178
Mercedes-Benz CLK 550
AMG S55 Tire Wear
OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO CONSTANT PREMATURE TIRE REPLACEMENT IS TO FIX IT RIGHT ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH K-MAC
Ex-factory there is only front and rear Toe adjustment for virtually all Mercedes 1968 to current models (and same with Chrysler Crossfire and 300C etc.).
We saw the need for owners to be able to return vehicle to factory specs and were the very first company to manufacture precisely adjustable front Camber and Caster bushing kits with twice the adjustment range of the basic one setting offset bolts.
Then for the rear, K-MAC Camber adjuster kits, which have the advantage (unlike upper adjustable arms/DIY kits) of not moving the top of the tire outwards when adjusting to resolve premature inner edge wear – which is an important factor to prevent tires scuffing outer fenders if wide profile tires/rims fitted.
Another advantage with K-MAC rear kits (unlike spherical bearings used in these upper arm kits that prematurely pound out resulting in harsh metal to metal contact) – there’s 20 years of proven design and certainly no squeaks.
Also all K-MAC rear Camber adjusters include extra Toe adjustment which is essential to compensate accurately for the new Camber facility! These specially designed Toe bushes also eliminate the unwanted flex of the soft composition and air voids of the OEM bushes further improving handling responsiveness when cornering or lane changing.
The K-MAC patented design front kits replace the 4 main suspension bushes – the unique 2 axis/self aligning design also doubles the load bearing area thereby increasing wear life and also steering and breaking response.
Similar design is used for the 4 main rear K-MAC bushings.
Result is precise single wrench front and rear (ongoing) adjustment to importantly return vehicle to factory specs to improve traction, compensate for steering pull, costly inner edge tire wear through altering height, fitting wide profile tires, load carrying, curb-knock damage and/or the advantage of being able to alter specs, improve lap times on track days and with genuine K-MAC you also do not need to purchase special fitting tools.
Product confidence with K-MAC is further assured by our total, ongoing commitment to motor racing – all out 10/10th competition testing keeps K-MAC products always at the forefront of cutting edge technology, proven strength and durability.
Last edited by K-Mac; Feb 19, 2014 at 08:38 PM.
