I am experiencing VERY rapid inner tire wear on my front tires. The inside inch of tread is almost bald in about 1500mis.

Background:
purchased '98 E320 w 86k
drove 3k until brake light came on, replaced brake pads, tires OK (Michelins).
Just checked tires and was shocked with the tire wear. Inside tread in is gone. Ouside has slight wear, but it is also feathered. In both cases it is only the outside inch. Center is fine. Running stock tire pressure. I did not find any noticeable play in suspension. Original shocks.

I checked archives. No references to similar problem on W210. (I'm not sure if 124 & 210 have similar suspensions). Saw a mention about a 'drag link' on a 123 post, but not sure what that is.

Any help would be great. I've never experienced tire wear like this on any of my previous cars.

BTW, I am ordering Bilsteins & new rotors. Any suspension parts I should replace as a matter of fact?
This didn't seem to be a problem before the pad change.

Thanks Jim

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'98 E320 90k
'91 Miata Turbo 280hp
'90 Miata Turbo 230hp
'90 Audi 200 turbo 170k
'93 Caravan

Check tire inflation. Overinflation will cause the centers to wear faster.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Alon,
It is not the middle that is wearing so fast, it is the inside inch. And it is at a sharp angle. It is as if the tires are at an extreme camber at some point. Braking?

The wheel bearings on this car are sealed right? Do they ever need adjustment? (I've repacked & tightened them in other cars)

Thanks Jim

__________________
'98 E320 90k
'91 Miata Turbo 280hp
'90 Miata Turbo 230hp
'90 Audi 200 turbo 170k
'93 Caravan

Toe-out will cause inside edge wear, toe-in will cause outside edge wear. Have a good alignment shop check the car. I try to have my cars set a zero and am happy with the way the cars track and steer. As for pressure I run 37 lbs. all around. Otherwise I experience edge wear (on both inner and outer edges). I don't think the car rides hard at all at that pressure.

I bet it just needs an alignment. Excess toe-out causes inside edge wear. If you had enough negative camber (top of tire tipped inward) to cause this kind of wear it would be very noticable. You didn't mention it, but does this car have the stock suspension, or has it been lowered?

Make certain the tie rods are checked for wear.

The 210 chassis is known for being kind of finnicky about alignment. However it usually shows up as less than perfect tracking at highway speed rather than extreme tire wear.

- Jim

Vince,
That's interesting that you mentioned the tire pressure. When I got the car, it was 37 all around. I checked the book and decreased the fronts a few lbs, to what the book recommended.
I'll move them back to 37.

Jim,
Stock suspension. I agree about camber having to be obvious, to cause this. My Audi has obvious neg camber and never wore this fast. The tie rods both felt fine, but I'll recheck. My minvan's TRs go bad every 30k and they are very obvious.

Do you know the alignment specs? Just to make sure the shop is using the correct ones!

Overall the car tracks fine on the highway.
I've decided to replace the shocks, after driving some of my buddies E320's (all with fewer miles).

Thanks! Jim

__________________
'98 E320 90k
'91 Miata Turbo 280hp
'90 Miata Turbo 230hp
'90 Audi 200 turbo 170k
'93 Caravan