My car magically aigned itself - is this possible? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Will_w202 · #1 10-13-2006, 09:26 PM

I've gone through 2 sets of tires in 50k, in a 4cyl car with 17" AMG wheels. H-rated tires. So, the car had been wearing them oddly, bad cupping, uneven treadwear mostly on the front. Then, the tires I had on it were so bad that I actually spun out merging onto the interstate last week!!

After this, the car started tracking straighter, wasnt wandering as much, AND - the biggie - stopped bouncing around and following the grooves in the road as much. I thought the car needed shocks, then I began to wonder if I had an ailgnment issue, and this somehow made it less controlled on rebound.

I put Mich. Pilot Sport A/S on it yesterday and it feels like a new car. Awesome tires.........tracks straight. Is it possible for a car to realign itself?

Do I need to get the alignment checked IF it is tracking perfectly straight and feels more settled on the new tires?

waybomb · #2 10-13-2006, 10:39 PM

Those two sets of tires were probably bad. Did you ever try changing the locations of the old tires? Sometimes that helps.

gmercoleza · #3 10-14-2006, 12:00 AM

Were you rotating at all? What was the tread depth when you replaced them? In my experience, the MB suspension on *some* of these cars chews the tires just a little bit at a time. If you rotate, especially every 5K, you spread the wear evenly across all the tires and it averages out. They all end up looking like they wear evenly. 25 to 30K per set of tires is not unreasonable, depending on the weather where you're located and your driving style. That's about all I get out of mine before they're down to 5/32 and I want a new set...

lkchris · #4 10-14-2006, 12:19 PM

New tires ALWAYS feel better the the worn out tires just removed.

The idea of self correcting alignment is similar to believing in Santa Claus.

whunter · #5 10-14-2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

The idea of self correcting alignment is similar to believing in Santa Claus.

Have you never received a personal Letter from:

* the Easter Bunny.

* Santa Claus.

* the Tooth Fairy.

http://mycreateabook.com/letters.html

http://www.billybear4kids.com/post/Letters/HomeBusiness.html

http://www.igco.com/

http://www.claus.com/index.php

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111070/

I am totally shocked.

Will_w202 · #6 10-14-2006, 10:20 PM

K, thanks for the jackass comments. These tires were rotated every 5k and lasted 17k before they got to 4/32. They were Coopers (crap). However, my last set were Potenza RE950s - not crap. And they wore the same.

If you bothered to READ my post, you wuold know the behvior corrected itself on the OLD tires. I put new ones on AFTER that because I didnt believe I had bad shocks anymore. The ride becase more settled. Maybe skidding across the road jerked something into place. How the hell else can this be explained? I know my car....I've only put 80,000 miles on it

whunter · #7 10-14-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will_w202

K, thanks for the jackass comments. These tires were rotated every 5k and lasted 17k before they got to 4/32. They were Coopers (crap). However, my last set were Potenza RE950s - not crap. And they wore the same.

If you bothered to READ my post, you would know the behavior corrected itself on the OLD tires. I put new ones on AFTER that because I didn't believe I had bad shocks anymore. The ride became more settled. Maybe skidding across the road jerked something into place. How the hell else can this be explained? I know my car....I've only put 80,000 miles on it

Hmmm, I did not consider how you might view the humor of what he said.

For myself, it was only a silly simile.

Silly Similes
http://www.amazon.com/Silly-Bees-Knees-Busy-Astounding/dp/0688163602
http://www.davidparlett.co.uk/wgames/sillysim.html
http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/spoon/similes.php

To give you a serious answer:

You need the total steering/suspension inspected by an MB technician.

What you describe causes me great concern.

The rims and new tires you spun out on, need to be balanced and inspected for flat spots, warping, metal stress lines.

One thought which comes to mind:
If the wheel rim that took the greatest stress during your spin out, was warped prior to this, then it is possible the spin out stress straightened the rim.

My grave concern would be; this aluminum rim has now been stressed twice, to the point of bending, fracture is the next logical issue, and I have no clue as to where the stress point (future fracture point) may be...

manny · #8 10-15-2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will_w202

the tires I had on it were so bad that I actually spun out merging onto the interstate last week!!

So, how can you tell the problem has " corrected " itself in one week ?

Have a good look at your tires in 2-3 month & see if it is " corrected ".

POS · #9 10-15-2006, 10:04 AM

It didn't correct itself, the tires corrected the problem.

whunter · #10 10-15-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

It didn't correct itself, the tires corrected the problem.

This becomes clear now.
The old tires had shifted belts, and where dangerous...

The tire pressure and/or alignment is 99.999% the cause of your wrecked tires.

The problem has not been corrected, just masked by new tires.

Your spin out did not help any existing issues.

Will_w202 · #11 10-15-2006, 09:32 PM

As I was suspecting - a shifted belt maybe. I don;t want to kill my new Pilot Sports - too expensive! Will be getting an alignment tomorrow

whunter · #12 10-16-2006, 02:32 AM

be aware that your car requires a spreader bar (special MB tool) for correct alignment.
Any shop that does not have it, and know how to use it, is wasting your money...

The alignment will be wrong without the tool...