RE: Mercedes tyre 'skipping' - official statement

[Forest Jones]

finally received my new all weather tyres from Mercedes for my GLC after pursuing them with regard to the crabbing issues and excessive tyre wear.

So far so good although I won't be able to really tell until I experience cold weather and wet weather conditions.

Already though the steering feels lighter as if there is less resistance.

The service manager at Mercedes Benz and his team who deal with the AMG track cars there thinks the major issue is down to the fact that all new GLC'S were fitted with run flats and the rigid tyre walls on low profiles created a much worse crabbing effect.

Pleased to report that my tyres were supplied and fitted F.O.C.

For those interested the tyres fitted are Vredsrein Quartrac 5

Edited by Forest Jones on Monday 1st May 09:44

[sonnenschein3000]

I don't see why this is a big issue. The tyres skip a little as I approach full lock on my car (not a Mercedes) when they are cold, but they're fine once they warm up.

I don't understand how this has turned into a huge issue, its a very minor thing.

[saaby93]

sonnenschein3000 said:

I don't see why this is a big issue. The tyres skip a little as I approach full lock on my car (not a Mercedes) when they are cold, but they're fine once they warm up.

I don't understand how this has turned into a huge issue, its a very minor thing.

From the videos it's much worse than 'normal' tyre skipping - have you read the thread? If it can be re-solved with type of tyre lets see what that does to the others

Edited by saaby93 on Sunday 30th April 21:23

[popeyewhite]

Forest Jones said:

finally received my new all weather tyres from Mercedes for my GLC after pursuing them with regard to the crabbing issues and excessive tyre wear.

So far so good although I won't be able to really tell until I experience cold weather and wet weather conditions.

Already though the steering feels lighter as if there is less resistance.

The service manager at Mercedes Benz and his team who deal with the AMG track cars there thinks the major issue is down to the fact that all new GLC'S were fitted with non flats and the rigid tyre walls on low profiles created a much worse crabbing effect.

Pleased to report that my tyres were supplied and fitted F.O.C.

For those interested the tyres fitted are Vredsrein Quartrac 5

Different tyres give different feedback shocker. You seem to think you should be entitled to new tyres from MB, don't know why.

[Sheepshanks]

popeyewhite said:

....don't know why.

Here's a novel idea - try reading the thread.

[anonymous-user]

jimmybell said:

i'll eat my hat - just watched this video: https://www.mercedescrabbing.org/2017/02/13/gettin...

Was that a particularly bad day for it, or is that every time you drive anywhere?

Yours is much worse than anything i have. Have you requested the dealer principle come for a ride with you?

(i'm still not convinced i'd be losing sleep over it)

Blimey, if any car I owned did that I'd be worried , it sounds like some serious movement of things in the wrong directions going on under there, even pulling out of normal junctions.

[popeyewhite]

Sheepshanks said:

popeyewhite said:

....don't know why.

Here's a novel idea - try reading the thread.

Don't you roll your beady little quoting-out-of-context eyes at me

Beggars belief OP went through this hassle instead of going to Kwik fit and getting new tyres himself.

[saaby93]

popeyewhite said:

Don't you roll your beady little quoting-out-of-context eyes at me

It's only a smiley

[popeyewhite]

saaby93 said:

popeyewhite said:

Don't you roll your beady little quoting-out-of-context eyes at me

It's only a smiley

[Sheepshanks]

popeyewhite said:

Beggars belief OP went through this hassle instead of going to Kwik fit and getting new tyres himself.

Beggars belief that you'd spend £1000 or so when Mercedes have clearly messed up.

When this issue first reared its head, MB was taking cars back off people.

[popeyewhite]

Sheepshanks said:

Beggars belief that you'd spend £1000 or so when Mercedes have clearly messed up.

I would change tyres then pursue MB. Like anyone with half a dose of common sense. Shouldn't be a problem for the OP - if he can afford a spanking AMG then new tyres is a drop in the ocean.

Will your next quote again start with copying something I've written, or can you manage to string a reply together without my help?

[VGTICE]

To be fair, the problem here was that nobody knew what the problem was. Crabbing is normal but some of the examples here were beyond that so it seemed like Merc fked something up and the cars weren't fit for purpose. Therefore suggesting that owners should have changed the tyres on their own dime without knowing what's causing it is a bit daft.

[popeyewhite]

VGTICE said:

To be fair, the problem here was that nobody knew what the problem was. Crabbing is normal but some of the examples here were beyond that so it seemed like Merc fked something up and the cars weren't fit for purpose. Therefore suggesting that owners should have changed the tyres on their own dime without knowing what's causing it is a bit daft.

If I'd spent that money on a new AMG I wouldn't drive round in it with that fault without looking at the tyres. It would drive me up the wall. Tyres are an obvious source of crabbing, so change them. If a change of tyres doesn't ameliorate the situation then it's back to MB. Surely that isn't beyond the wit of an adult who can think for themself?

[VGTICE]

popeyewhite said:

If I'd spent that money on a new AMG I wouldn't drive round in it with that fault without looking at the tyres. It would drive me up the wall. Tyres are an obvious source of crabbing, so change them. If a change of tyres doesn't ameliorate the situation then it's back to MB. Surely that isn't beyond the wit of an adult who can think for themself?

I'd let the manufacturer deal with sorting out their mess and if they fail ask them for a full refund, same as if I bought a brand new house with foundations that sink on one side I wouldn't go on and start fixing it myself - regardless of whether I can or can't afford it. That's what any thinking person who has a life to live would do. In this particular case MB admitted to some design challenges with RHD cars which lead to increased crabbing. Them offering softer tyres is really just a way of dealing with something that shouldn't have happened had they designed it without cutting corners.

[popeyewhite]

VGTICE said:

I'd let the manufacturer deal with sorting out their mess and if they fail ask them for a full refund, same as if I bought a brand new house with foundations that sink on one side I wouldn't go on and start fixing it myself - regardless of whether I can or can't afford it.

Because buying a set of tyres is the same financial proposition as fixing the foundations of a house

VGTICE said:

That's what any thinking employed person would do.

Let's hope you're not employed to think then eh?

VGTICE said:

In this particular case MB admitted to some design challenges with RHD cars which lead to increased crabbing. Them offering softer tyres is really just a way of dealing with something that shouldn't have happened had they designed it without cutting corners.

My rhd MB doesn't crab at all. Do you mean SOME MBs?

[saaby93]

Here's one of the videos

Cyb3rDud3 said:

A comfort issue, yes too right it is a comfort issue. It is bloody uncomfortable.

This is my vehicle;
https://youtu.be/rO5rqpYPNjo

This was the passenger side tyre at 2,700 miles


This is the tyre at 4,008 miles



Driver side tyre is absolutely fine.

Just a comfort issue, year right.
They all do that? Yes right, just seriously think about coming to my home and take my car for a test drive as a potential buyer. Would you buy such an AMG vehicle?

I would walk a mile, but Mercedes say it is just fine...

[VGTICE]

popeyewhite said:

My rhd MB doesn't crab at all. Do you mean SOME MBs?

Ah the power of anecdotal evidence. Did you bother to read the thread and/or MB's statement Einstein?

[saaby93]

Just in case he turned the page
The video would be good with decent broadband

Cyb3rDud3 said:

A comfort issue, yes too right it is a comfort issue. It is bloody uncomfortable.

This is my vehicle;
https://youtu.be/rO5rqpYPNjo

This was the passenger side tyre at 2,700 miles


This is the tyre at 4,008 miles



Driver side tyre is absolutely fine.

Just a comfort issue, year right.
They all do that? Yes right, just seriously think about coming to my home and take my car for a test drive as a potential buyer. Would you buy such an AMG vehicle?

I would walk a mile, but Mercedes say it is just fine...

[Rawwr]

Forest Jones said:

all new GLC'S were fitted with non flats

I like my cars to be fitted with non-flats, too.

[Sheepshanks]

popeyewhite said:

I would change tyres then pursue MB. Like anyone with half a dose of common sense. Shouldn't be a problem for the OP - if he can afford a spanking AMG then new tyres is a drop in the ocean.

I don't think it's an AMG he has - IIRC a significant problem on the AMG models is suitable size All Season tyres didn't exist.

OK, I know this is PistonHeads but in the real world I doubt there are more than a handful of people who would agree with you that it's reasonable to spend a grand or so on a new set of tyres on the off-chance they might rectify a design flaw. I have a Mercedes too and see enough issues with them to convince me that there's absolutely no chance MB would refund the tyre cost whatever the outcome.

The fact is, they've messed up the front diff on GLC in the conversion from LHD to RHD. There's a tech note about it somewhere. Softer tyres work around the issue, but it's still there.