C43 Tyre Wear

pitmmald

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Posts: 1 C43 Suspension and tyre wear

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My last two sets of front rubber wore on the inner and outer edge, the geometry is in good shape, checked after both sets on the MB Computer. tyre pressures ok, had track rod ends replaced 10k ago. Spoke to Michelln about the Pilot Sport 11's and they have suggested a little more pressure in the tyre 32 PSI instead of 30. one thing that I have noticed is when on hard lock, slow speed comng out of a drive way, the tyres seem to make a scrubbing noise. is there a suspension component that might need changing that could have worn and caused excessive cant of the wheel when turning on full lock at low speed. I have also noticed a small knocking noise when going over bumps in the road. I have had the car 4.5 years and 63k miles and it's been great.

One further thing, can I replace the standard 17" AMG 11 7.5j 225 x40 front and 8.5j 245 X45 for E55 18" wheels?

Thanks in Advance Malcolm
 

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pitmmald said:
Posts: 1 C43 Suspension and tyre wear

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My last two sets of front rubber wore on the inner and outer edge, the geometry is in good shape, checked after both sets on the MB Computer. tyre pressures ok, had track rod ends replaced 10k ago. Spoke to Michelln about the Pilot Sport 11's and they have suggested a little more pressure in the tyre 32 PSI instead of 30. one thing that I have noticed is when on hard lock, slow speed comng out of a drive way, the tyres seem to make a scrubbing noise. is there a suspension component that might need changing that could have worn and caused excessive cant of the wheel when turning on full lock at low speed. I have also noticed a small knocking noise when going over bumps in the road. I have had the car 4.5 years and 63k miles and it's been great.

One further thing, can I replace the standard 17" AMG 11 7.5j 225 x40 front and 8.5j 245 X45 for E55 18" wheels?

Thanks in Advance Malcolm
Hi Malcolm and welcome, for the tyres to wear on both edges shows that they are running under preasure. Do as Michelin say and increase slightly.
Any noise of rubbing should leave tell tale marks on th wheel arch liners, if you have end stops the offending side may need adjusting.

Re changing the wheels, the profile will be so low it would be like running without tyres, the first pot hole and you would lose the wheel, in all an awful ride. I know that people in the US use them, but not in the UK.

Malcolm
 

Rory

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That wear pattern is pretty standard with RWD cars - you should find the rears wear in the centres.

The vast majority of my mileage is on the motorway and my fronts have worn like yours.

The scrubbing noise is probably because Merc's do have pretty tight turning circles compared to similar sized cars so (it seems logical to me) that the front tyres will scrub on hard lock. I make an effort to avoid doing this.
 

angus falconer

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pitmmald said:
one thing that I have noticed is when on hard lock, slow speed comng out of a drive way, the tyres seem to make a scrubbing noise. is there a suspension component that might need changing that could have worn and caused excessive cant of the wheel when turning on full lock at low speed.

They all do that - nothing to do with incorrect geometry

pitmmald said:
I have also noticed a small knocking noise when going over bumps in the road. I have had the car 4.5 years and 63k miles and it's been great.

Might be lower ball joints - the front of the car is heavy and the balljoints get a pounding from potholes and speed bumps

pitmmald said:
One further thing, can I replace the standard 17" AMG 11 7.5j 225 x40 front and 8.5j 245 X45 for E55 18" wheels?

18's look good and lower profile tyres will improve stability and turn in on smooth tarmac but the ride comfort will deteriorate. Horses for courses. Personaly I'm sticking with 17's as I am OK with the overall compromise
 

Timbo

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Hi, just browsing through the post an saw your one regarding tyre wear, I have a c230k sport with exactly the symptoms, I worried about the scrubbing noise the tyres made on hard lock going forwards or backwards but there doesn't seem to be any worn suspension parts. I might try the suggestion for upping the tyre pressures. Do some of these cars have a little extra negative camber than the standard models, might account for the scrubbing possibly but not the tyre wear.

Tim
 
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pitmmald

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Many thanks i beleive theScottish country roads are bad enough with out the 18's many thanks
 
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pitmmald

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Many thanks Angus, i will check the lower ball joints though
 

bigasotonuk

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Hi, just browsing through the post an saw your one regarding tyre wear, I have a c230k sport with exactly the symptoms, I worried about the scrubbing noise the tyres made on hard lock going forwards or backwards but there doesn't seem to be any worn suspension parts. I might try the suggestion for upping the tyre pressures. Do some of these cars have a little extra negative camber than the standard models, might account for the scrubbing possibly but not the tyre wear.

Tim

My 97 c230k has exactly the same problem with nothing worn on the front suspension but when kwik fit did the tracking scrubbing was still there (4 wheel laser alignment) with lock on, got a refund and took it to Micheldever Tyres no scrubbing at all. Their machine gave print out of the steering geometry camber castor toe in toe out etc.
Glad to know i,m not the only one suffering this problem.
 

angus falconer

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Many thanks Angus, i will check the lower ball joints though

Other threads show up other worn front suspension items on various Mercs - anti roll bar bushes, etc.

I highlighted the lower ball joints as they failed on both of mine at about 50k miles.

At the end of the day any of the rubber bushsings can and will fail over time.
 

angus falconer

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Have you had a full geometry check? I just had mine done - rear wheels were poining left, the fronts right, toe in camber were out too.

The C43 is very adjustable and you can correct all this.

Well worth £75 or so (less that cost of a new tyre).
 

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