[photoclick]

Even though tires were regularly rotated/balanced dealer says that 18,000 miles is about uusual life for the 4 original Dunlops on my 350. My previous 2002 ML320 had same tires that were still going at 35,000. Dealer can't explain the difference. Would appreciate knowing if any others are having the same 350 experience?

Jim

 

[chia]

18,000 on the Dunlops? I got about 35,000 on the OE General Grabber ST's (a cheaper tire).

 

[Orlando]

Other than the slightly larger engine there are virtually no differences between the ML320 and the ML350. Assuming that your driving style or type of driving has not changed, then you either had a defective set or Dunlop has changed the tires.

I have 37,000 miles on the OE Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires on my 2002 ML320. One tire, which had a bad valve and a puncture, is nearing the tread bars but still has a few thousand miles left. The other tires are in slightly better condition.

I was recently going to replace the tires because Costco had a sale and then I found out that Michelin does not make the Cross-Terrains in the ML's tire size with an H rating. There are not many choices in this tire size. I welcome any recommendations.

 

[Drew]

Jim....

photoclick - 2/18/2005 8:08 PM

Even though tires were regularly rotated/balanced dealer says that 18,000 miles is about uusual life for the 4 original Dunlops on my 350.

Jim

Do you have the larger 275/55R17 tires on your ML350? FYI, my Continental Contact 4X4 tires did not last very long either, requiring me to replace them after 25K kilometres.

I went with the Michelin Cross Terrains and am very pleased thus far; I've had them for just about 3 weeks.

 

[Drew]

Orlando...

Orlando - 2/18/2005 11:41 PM
I was recently going to replace the tires because Costco had a sale and then I found out that Michelin does not make the Cross-Terrains in the ML's tire size with an H rating. There are not many choices in this tire size. I welcome any recommendations.

I think that I would suggest that you go with the Michelins anyway, despite the slightly lower speed rating. Even my MB shop foreman and the a couple of the techs with ML320s have them and absolutely love them.

 

[ron in sc]

I have 59K miles on my Cross Terrains, 1999 ML 320. Not quite to the wear bars yet but will replace soon.

 

[photoclick]

The original tires are 255/60-17. The dealer service rep is saying that the Dunlop SP5000s are "all" lasting about 18-20,000 miles on the 350. My driving is no different than on my 320, and since I had good mileage on these tires on my 320, I'm considering filing a complaint. Just wanting to see if others might be having the same experience.

Thanks.....Jim

 

[Orlando]

RE: Cross-Terrains

Drew:

Thank you for your advise. I had thought the same thing, but Costco will not install the S rated tires. I like to purchase my tires Costco because of their excellent customer service. In fact they fixed the two problems on the Dunlop tires and did not charge me for their work.

Other than the ability to handle the increased heat from the higher velocity between 112-130 mph, I am not sure what the difference is between the H and S rated tires. I have also contacted Michelin via email and by phone. The phone representative said that they would send the suggestion to product marketing while the email response was rather terse and said that Michelin has no plans to offer the H rated tire in the ML's size. I will ask my SA, who is very helpful and knowledeable to see what he says. I still have a little time as the tires still perform well in the rain.

Thanks,

Orlando

 

[Drew]

Jim...

photoclick - 2/19/2005 1:29 PM
My driving is no different than on my 320, and since I had good mileage on these tires on my 320, I'm considering filing a complaint. Just wanting to see if others might be having the same experience.

You will have to go to Dunlop to complain about this, not MB. If you're lucky, they'll prorate you some money towards a new set.

 

[2bmj]

Odd. I have the same Dunlops on my 2004 ML350 and after 9,800 miles I hardly see any wear.

 

[marcelc]

photoclick - 2/19/2005 4:08 AM
Even though tires were regularly rotated/balanced dealer says that 18,000 miles is about uusual life for the 4 original Dunlops on my 350. My previous 2002 ML320 had same tires that were still going at 35,000. Dealer can't explain the difference. Would appreciate knowing if any others are having the same 350 experience?
Jim

My ML was delivered with the Dunlops and they wore out in less than 25,000 miles. They would have lasted more than 30,000 had I (and the 'engineer' who did the service) noticed that the alignment was out.

I did not know about the free alignment at or before 10,000 miles whichever it is.

I have the Continentals now and they are wearing less.

Did your Dunlops wear evenly?

 

[luke7e7]

That's wierd.Dunlop is a premium tire, and should last a lot longer.I had 60.000 miles on my '01 320 when I replaced the OE Generals.

 

[CA ML350]

I have just replaced my Dunlop Sport 5000's (275/R55/17) on my 2004 ML350 "Inspiration Edition". They lasted about 18k miles and I got the same song and dance from the dealership about "this is about average wear based on the wieght of the vehicle", etc..

A friend owns a number of tire shops and says that these should be good for 35k, and that his OE tires on his M55 lasted about that.

Mine wore "prematurely" according to the service advisor due to "misalignment", this despite the fact that I took the vehicle in 3x to have the alignment checked and was told that it was "in spec".

I have a new set of tires on it and they still seem to have a vibration to them. I am going to document everything and forward it to the "ombudsman" at the Mercedes-Benz Owners Group and see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

 

[AC_ML]

The question is if the dealer sold you the ML with used tires or not.

I just bought a brand new 2005 ML 500, and found that the dealer had installed used feathered tires and wheels on a 28 mile brand new ML. As I found later, the tires and wheels belonged to a manager of the dealer who had them on his wife's car and which she did not liked and so he installed them on my ML as if they were brand new and charged $4000.00 on the sticker price.

Some dealers are real crooks (Mercedes Benz of Sugarland are one of them). I lost $4,000.00 for those wheels and tires and had to force the dealer to install my old AMG wheels and tires onto my new ML 500 because the ones they had were defective and could not be balanced. I am still deciding to take that dealer and MB to court or not. MB customer relations service people are rude and a [email protected] joke, too..

Funny thing is that normal buyers that are not paying attention or do not know enough to realize the problem, they would not have even noticed that these tires were feathered, used, and defective..

AC

 

[jojorom]

A couple of suggestions, could it be, Dunlop was experimenting with a different rubber compound on the tread about that time? Tire manufacturers do this on occasion, as they can track the tire via the serial at the end of its life cycle. Or maybe the regular builder was away for extented period of time(due to illness, vacation leave etc...)and some one new took his/her place and used the wrong spool of rubber for the tread pattern in the building process. Every tire have a number of different compounds for different areas of the tire. The only way to find out is to complain to Dunlop, I doubt they will come right and admit they had a problem on a certain run of tires, at the most they may offer you a prorated adjustment on a new set. If they do,(the offer won't be very much) you may decide to turn the offer down, as others here have given you good advice for a alternative make of tire.