A210 AMG Evolution LWB - doesn't want to stay on the road!

[svennard]

Hi

I've just purchased a 2003 A210 Evolution LWB as a second car.

Generally I'm really pleased with it, but on anything but a good road surface, it wanders and 'tramlines' badly, making it quite unnervy to drive - certainly at speed.

All of the tyres are about 50% worn, leaving about 3-4mm I would say.

I put the problem down to it being a light car / high centre of gravity / very low profile tyres (205/40/17) and having a fair amount of power.

I've had similar issues with a VW GOLFV6 and a 2006 Impreza STI where they handled great until the tyres became about half worn, and then both cars became almost uncontrollable on anything but an A road or motorway.

I think I've probably answered my own post here, but before I go and spend money of new tryes, if anyone else has the same model (or experience of it) I'd appreciate your thoughts.

thanks

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

My wife has a A210 AMG Lwb evo... (mouthfull !!), its a Manual one, we bought it on 19K miles and its now on 30K having had it about 18months. Its probably on the original tyres and I would say they are half worn so 4 to 5mm say?

I use to drive a bmw convertible with 19" alloys and 35 profile tyres and now drive an ML with huge tyres (55 profile I think).

The main thing I find with the A class is it's a much harder ride and also it is hard to get the power down on anything put one dry surface. Torque steer beeing front wheel drive is also an issue. As for wanders I don't find that, sure it will tranline like any car with fat tyres.

I would maybe check the pressure and tracking first before you change tyres?

Although the A class is probably the only merc I would buy in manual form I actually think it would drive better with the full auto, but the wife didn't want to know about autos

We love it though, very rare, she regulary gets over 40mpg and its huge inside.

Post a pic of yours...

good luck

 

[svennard]

Hi

I've only had it a couple of weeks and as its rained pretty much every day since, I'll try to get some pics at the w/e.

It's got a mixture of tyres on it - 2 part worn Toyo T1R's, a Federal (brand new) and something else!

The only matching pair (the toyos) were at the back, so I've now moved them onto the front, which did help a little, but not greatly if I'm honest.

In terms of tracking, I had that checked last weekend and all was pretty much fine. (the car had the well documented steering column 'knock' which the garage sorted out before I collected (new steering assembly or part of) - but the tracking was a fraction out, which I had put right)

I'm running at 29psi all round, which is maybe a little lower than indicated in the fuel cap (32), but I'm a little sceptical about the figures in the fuel cap and I reckon they are generic pressures for standard profile tyres - I got 29psi for the A210 off a website which has an extensive car model and tyre pressure guide.

It would be good if you could confirm the brand of tyre you've got there and the pressure that you are running on?

I absolutely agree about driving in the wet - have to be careful with the power out of bends and through roundabouts..

Given my experience with my other cars that also run on low profile tyres it is probably is a combination of the tread getting a little low, and a mixture of tyre brands not helping things.

It was probably a bit misleading to say it wanders - it drives great on good surfaces with no wander at all - it's more of a case that when on a 'b' road which is not great quality, it's all over the place, so a lot of concentration is needed to keep it on the road - it's still tramlining in effect but how bad depends on the road!!


Looking around on the net, the new TOYO PROXES 4's seem to be the way to go and at about £50 each, I don't think you can grumble too much

cheers, Svennard

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

I think looking at this picture I took a while back....rather than go out and have a look. They are Dunlop sport something or other (think SP sport 9000 ??).

I put 32 psi in the tyres only the other week as I checked them and am embarised to say they were all pretty low.

I also agree you should have the same make on front / back at least and my bet withit being FWD would be to have the best set on the front.

Try pumping the tyres up a little and see how you get on, at £50 a corner if £200 fixes it and you get some nice grippy new tyres maybe thats the way to go if it still has a problem?


I don't even try in the wet, as A) I'm useless in a manual now as use to auto, B) I would look like a plank just scrabaling for grip...

Good on roundabouts though

 

[svennard]

thanks for the info - I'll drop a bit of pressure back in tomorrow and see how we go from there.

As you say, you can't beat a good set of new tyres and as we're probably only gonna cover about 5k a year in it, a new set would last a fair time.

thanks for your help and I'll try and get some pics up at the weekend.

If you get chance tomorrow, much appreciated if you could confirm what the tyres are - I might see what dunlops current offerings are..

cheers, Svennard