Steering Problems...

HighEndOne · 03-04-2005, 04:14 PM

I have a 2002 CLK55 with just 13K miles on it with the Original Michelin Pilot Sports. They have lots of tread left.

On very smoth pavement at high speeds it tracks straight, stable and true. At slower, in-town speeds, with any imperfections in the road surface, it's all over the place, pulling to one side or another. The damn thing has a mind of it's own. I had the MB Dealership check/perform an alignment last year and it really has not changed anything. I have played with the tire pressures and that makes no difference.

My other cars (front drivers) do not exhibit this problem. Any advice for me short of getting a 911?

Regards,

HEO

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King///AMG · 03-04-2005, 04:51 PM

Get some 19's, 265 width rubber in the back and you should be all set...

brianw430 · 03-04-2005, 07:03 PM

Not sure how long you have had the car, or your driving experience, as there are a lot of people here with much more driving experience than I, so excuse me if I sound niave, but high performance tires will track everything in the road surface. When I first put high performance tires on my E400 years ago, I felt the same way, thought something was wrong with my car, but it was just the tires grabbing everything in the road, in the way of undulations.

Just a thought!

HighEndOne · 03-05-2005, 09:23 AM

I agree that these high performance tires are very sticky and really grab every imperfection in the road surface. I just don't feel that the steering gear has much control over the front tires when they hit those ruts and joints. I really want to have both hands on the wheel!

Thanks for the replies,

HEO

JLee81 · 03-05-2005, 02:22 PM

U MUST BE USING Pilot Sports A/S(all season). Change the tires and the problem will be gone.

Chappy · 03-07-2005, 04:19 PM

"Tramlining" is common with the OEM Pilot Sports. Make sure your PSI is at least 35 all around and this may alleviate some of the problem.

After I changed out my OE tires, I put on Michelin PS2s and have had little/no tramlining issues. Good luck!

HighEndOne · 03-07-2005, 08:16 PM

Thanks Chappy... I'll try the suggested pressures and see if that helps. I have Pilot Sport A/S's on my Wife's Volvo and they run fine. That might be the ticket for the 55 when the OE tires go south.

BTW... Your banner graphic shows my car exactly, just put on a flat hood badge. What color is the interior? I have the charcoal and silver combo.

Regards,

HEO

HighEndOne · 03-07-2005, 08:19 PM

my error...

You said P/S 2's... Are those the new model of the OE tires I have now?

Chappy · 03-08-2005, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighEndOne

my error...

You said P/S 2's... Are those the new model of the OE tires I have now?

Our W208 CLK55s came stock with Michelin Pilot Sports like the first photo. My current setup is the PS2 (Pilot Sport 2) as shown in the second pic.

Chappy · 03-08-2005, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighEndOne

BTW... Your banner graphic shows my car exactly, just put on a flat hood badge. What color is the interior? I have the charcoal and silver combo.

Regards,

HEO

My interior is charcoal. Where do you live? Any chance you'll make the AMG Photo Shoot in ATL April 30-May 1?

Link here:

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=95199

HighEndOne · 03-08-2005, 05:57 PM

I live in the St. Louis area... I might decide to take a drive to ATL... You never know...

Regards,

HEO

Chappy · 03-08-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighEndOne

I might decide to take a drive to ATL

allenjdmb · 03-08-2005, 10:32 PM

320's to 55's, and anything other than just about dead on OE seems to have the nervous or tramlining issue. The 208 is one of the better late model Benz cars, but does seem to be quite tire and suspension sensitive. I like my car a good bit lower than OE, and I just have accepted the fact that the front end is going to be nervous under some conditions. The old style gear steering doesn't help either. Compromises, they just depend on what you prefer.
BTW, Chappy, have you had any problems with your PS2's being round? I took mine off and went back to the original Pilot Sport. Less road feel, but at least they were round and would stay that way. And I got an interesting call from Harris over at GT last week; he knew I had been doing lots of *****ing about the problems with the PS2. It is now confirmed that the design will be altered again, to address the "tracking and stability issues" (Michelins words, not mine) that they DIDN'T have before. Great tires, horrible customer service. They crack me up.....

allenjdmb · 03-08-2005, 10:34 PM

I am assuming that my 208 430 Cab with lots of Brabus parts will be quite unwelcome on your AMG ride and drive? Perhaps you just want me to stay off to the side when you get to the dragstrip? If you like, I'll bring up the rear....(grins)...

Chappy · 03-09-2005, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenjdmb

I am assuming that my 208 430 Cab with lots of Brabus parts will be quite unwelcome on your AMG ride and drive? Perhaps you just want me to stay off to the side when you get to the dragstrip? If you like, I'll bring up the rear....(grins)...

Nobody is unwelcome...give us a chance to finally meet

I've only had the PS2s on for about 2K miles, but have had no issues, other than the tire tech who advised one tire had more "road force" on the balancer. Those tires grip like hell tho..... :v

rev · 03-26-2005, 01:54 AM

Hey Chappy,

So the Pilot Sport PS2s are good performers? How about the road noise, are they quiet?

Chappy · 03-26-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rev

Hey Chappy,

So the Pilot Sport PS2s are good performers? How about the road noise, are they quiet?

I like them...very quiet

I upped the PSI all around from 35 to 38 and they perform even better

03-04-2005, 04:51 PM	#2
King///AMG Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Twp., Michigan Posts: 283 Drives: AMG, Ferrari, Lexus	Get some 19's, 265 width rubber in the back and you should be all set... __________________ Ferrari 360 Modena -- Rosso Corsa, Tan, F1-style paddle shift (coming very soon). CLK55 AMG -- Obsidian Black, COMAND System, 19" Chrome AMG Style IV Double Spoke 2-Piece Rims on Pirelli PZero Nero's. Lexus ES300 -- Alabaster Metallic on Ivory, Gold Package, Mark Levinson Premium Sound (Sold). Lexus IS300 -- Graphite Grey Pearl on Ivory, SportDesign.

03-04-2005, 07:03 PM	#3
brianw430 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 479 Drives: '01 S55 AMG, '01 CLK55 AMG, '03 Ford F-250	Not sure how long you have had the car, or your driving experience, as there are a lot of people here with much more driving experience than I, so excuse me if I sound niave, but high performance tires will track everything in the road surface. When I first put high performance tires on my E400 years ago, I felt the same way, thought something was wrong with my car, but it was just the tires grabbing everything in the road, in the way of undulations. Just a thought! __________________ 01 S55 AMG 01 CLK55 AMG Euro Spec AMG springs Evosport UD Pulleys

03-05-2005, 09:23 AM	#4
HighEndOne Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Drives: 2005 E55, 2002 CLK55, 2005 SLK350	I agree... I agree that these high performance tires are very sticky and really grab every imperfection in the road surface. I just don't feel that the steering gear has much control over the front tires when they hit those ruts and joints. I really want to have both hands on the wheel! Thanks for the replies, HEO

03-05-2005, 02:22 PM	#5
JLee81 Super Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Seoul, Korea Posts: 611 Drives: 04 CLK55, IWC CLS55 AMG(one of 55), 07 Honda CR-V 4WD	U MUST BE USING Pilot Sports A/S(all season). Change the tires and the problem will be gone. __________________ 2004 CLK55 AMG 2006 IWC CLS55 AMG (one of 55) 2007 Honda CR-V 4WD

03-07-2005, 04:19 PM	#6
Chappy MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hotlanta Posts: 7,887 Drives: AMG	"Tramlining" is common with the OEM Pilot Sports. Make sure your PSI is at least 35 all around and this may alleviate some of the problem. After I changed out my OE tires, I put on Michelin PS2s and have had little/no tramlining issues. Good luck! __________________ W208 CLK55 - 2002 (Silver w/Charcoal - 43K miles) 1 of 3,381 W208 AMG Coupes Worldwide 304WHP / 321TQ - Stock! W124 Estate - 1995 MBWGCM #71 Kombi's Uber Alles Member #3

03-07-2005, 08:16 PM	#7
HighEndOne Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Drives: 2005 E55, 2002 CLK55, 2005 SLK350	Thanks Chappy... I'll try the suggested pressures and see if that helps. I have Pilot Sport A/S's on my Wife's Volvo and they run fine. That might be the ticket for the 55 when the OE tires go south. BTW... Your banner graphic shows my car exactly, just put on a flat hood badge. What color is the interior? I have the charcoal and silver combo. Regards, HEO

03-07-2005, 08:19 PM	#8
HighEndOne Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Drives: 2005 E55, 2002 CLK55, 2005 SLK350	I just noticed... my error... You said P/S 2's... Are those the new model of the OE tires I have now?

03-08-2005, 05:57 PM	#11
HighEndOne Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Drives: 2005 E55, 2002 CLK55, 2005 SLK350	AMG Shoot-Out... I live in the St. Louis area... I might decide to take a drive to ATL... You never know... Regards, HEO

03-08-2005, 10:32 PM	#13
allenjdmb MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,045 Drives: SL 55 030, ML, E55, bunch of old ones	I've owned 7 w 208's, 320's to 55's, and anything other than just about dead on OE seems to have the nervous or tramlining issue. The 208 is one of the better late model Benz cars, but does seem to be quite tire and suspension sensitive. I like my car a good bit lower than OE, and I just have accepted the fact that the front end is going to be nervous under some conditions. The old style gear steering doesn't help either. Compromises, they just depend on what you prefer. BTW, Chappy, have you had any problems with your PS2's being round? I took mine off and went back to the original Pilot Sport. Less road feel, but at least they were round and would stay that way. And I got an interesting call from Harris over at GT last week; he knew I had been doing lots of *****ing about the problems with the PS2. It is now confirmed that the design will be altered again, to address the "tracking and stability issues" (Michelins words, not mine) that they DIDN'T have before. Great tires, horrible customer service. They crack me up.....

03-08-2005, 10:34 PM	#14
allenjdmb MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,045 Drives: SL 55 030, ML, E55, bunch of old ones	Also Chappy, I am assuming that my 208 430 Cab with lots of Brabus parts will be quite unwelcome on your AMG ride and drive? Perhaps you just want me to stay off to the side when you get to the dragstrip? If you like, I'll bring up the rear....(grins)...

03-26-2005, 01:54 AM	#16
rev Almost a Member! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Posts: 63 Drives: 2002 CLK55	Hey Chappy, So the Pilot Sport PS2s are good performers? How about the road noise, are they quiet?

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