Tyre muncher

[Hector Hall]

I have a W211 220CDI and it is quite literally eating tyres on the inside of the 4 wheels front more than rear. I do taxi in this Mercedes so cover large miles but as the pic will show it's destroying what is otherwise perfect tyres. It is also causing serious vibration above 50mph. I have had the alignment checked by 2 local tyre depots and they say they're perfect so I'm really confused. Can anyone help?

 

[Wighty]

Do you drive over a lot of speed bumps ?

 

[Hector Hall]

Do you drive over a lot of speed bumps ?

I do yes but I have done in my previous cars also but nothing has ever worn tyre like this

 

[Wighty]

It was just a thought because the tyre alignment people had said all was good . Hopefully someone else may help . Good luck

 

[L John]

That image looks like a tyre with tread across the full width, hard to see any difference.
What is the tread measured at 3 points across the width of the tyre close to the tread markers on all 4 tyres?
How do you know it's that causing the vibration if you don't even know what the cause is?
Did the garage just check alignment or did they check camber?
Has the car been lowered or has it sagged since new due to carrying a lot of weight.
Have you used it for towing?

 

[Wighty]

I thought the tyre pic looks like it's got cord exposed

 

[turbopete]

I thought the tyre pic looks like it's got cord exposed

agreed. that tyre looks knackered, to me. alignment as in tracking may be ok, but was the camber etc checked and ride height standard? those are the things id be looking to check with that tyre wear

 

[L John]

Ah I didn't see the cords, I can now you mention it, pic is small on my screen.
Tread looks ok though so it would have to have extreme camber to do that.
Over inflated tyres and full lock turns scrubbing the edge of the tyre would be my guess.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Nasty camber issue looks like, do you do a lot of town taxi work?
Did the tyre depots have 4 wheel alignment systems (Like hunter)?

 

[Hector Hall]

Unfortunately due to my geography (Londonderry Northern Ireland) there are 2 places with the full alignment and camber system that I only this week found out about so I will be getting that done on Saturday morning. I do do a lot of full lock turns and city driving about 80% so about 40k a year city driving. I don't know for sure if the vibration and tyres are connected

 

[L John]

Turn the steering to full lock on level ground and look at the gap under the tyres.
I try to avoid full lock but I find it very useful at times, the turning circle is excellent but will scrub at angles approaching full lock.
When turning at full lock, go slow to avoid extra scrubbing by lateral forces.
I'm assuming nothing is scraping at full lock?

 

[Hector Hall]

Turn the steering to full lock on level ground and look at the gap under the tyres.
I try to avoid full lock but I find it very useful at times, the turning circle is excellent but will scrub at angles approaching full lock.
When turning at full lock, go slow to avoid extra scrubbing by lateral forces.
I'm assuming nothing is scraping at full lock?

As you say the lock is amazing (very much so for me coming from a Volvo, possibly the worst turning circle ever). It does very much run on the inside of the tyre on full left cut. When I say full lock turning though it would always be slow and zero rubbing. Even with the 18'' wheels I have on. I'll know better once the camber is adjusted/looked at tomorrow. I'm just hoping it will also cure the vibration.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Ha ha you're right, all my Volvos have had the turning circles as ocean going liners!

 

[Hector Hall]

Ha ha you're right, all my Volvos have had the turning circles as ocean going liners!

I have an S60 and a 1998 C70 T5 and I can only liken them both to the QE2 for manoeuvrability lol.

 

[Hector Hall]

Ok so my car went today for the camber check, I wasn't there as I had been working till 6am this morning and was asleep. The camber angle is reading perfect although I do believe the machine used may be a bit 'Mickey mouse' but the problem I have here is the fact the only people who seem to have the proper system are main dealers and they ask £60 upwards just to look at it. I'm not stingy but it seems a bit excessive. I may however have to bite the bullet and pay up. The vibration however is still here whether or not it's connected I don't know. I am seeing me having to make the 160 mile round trip to get the Mercedes dealer to sort it once and for all.

 

[Hector Hall]

These are the camber readings from today

 

[John Laidlaw]

I have an S60 and a 1998 C70 T5 and I can only liken them both to the QE2 for manoeuvrability lol.

Spooky! I had both models , my C70 T5 was 1998 'S' plate in purple and the S60 was an 03 plate D5

 

[LostKiwi]

I had a 1999 S70 T5 and I dont recall it being awful but it was no Mercedes when it came to steering group lock.
Loved that car - that 5 cylinder sounded gorgeous and the kick when it came on boost was addictive.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I loved my C70 it really gobbled up the miles effortlessly and imo was a stunner too
Front shuttle shake didn't help its balance though which was a shame

 

[Hector Hall]

I think it depends what size wheels come on the Volvo. With the 5 pot engine block being so wide in the FWD body it makes the steering lock really bad, especially with bigger wheels. My C70 T5 and S60 2.0T are both 17" standard fit alloys so steering is shocking, even the S80 D5 I had before my E class had dreadful steering lock. So much so my other half drove the S60 and loved it but I recently bought an old TDI Galaxy to tow our caravan and ferry our many kids and she prefers taking it shopping because she can steer it into a parking spot.