2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Tires & Wheels Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 equipped with Arroyo Tires, Tire Line: Grand Sport ZR A/S, Tire Size: 225/55/R16, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an unusual sound coming from the rear tires. The contact parked the vehicle and became aware that the rear tires tread had separated, and the steel belts were visible. The tires were not replaced. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the tires were replacement tires purchased at Pep Boys. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 250,000. The tire failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

WHEN I WAS PARKING MY CAR I LOST FULL CONTROL OF MY FRONT BRAKES AND HIT MY FRONT BUMPER TO THE POLE TO AVOID A NEAR MISS WITH A PEDESTRIAN. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I PRESSED ON MY BRAKES AND THERE WAS NOT PRESSURE, MEANING I COULD PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD BE NOT STOP. ANYWAY, TOWED IT TO MERCEDES DEALER (FLETCHED JONES MB) AND THEY SAID THE SBC PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2300. I RESEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT ON MY VEHICLE SO I PRESENTED THE RECALL NUMBER TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NO. 2005070007 AND 2005110001) AND THEY SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THEN THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE SBC UNIT BECAUSE THERE IS A 10 YR WARRANTY UNLIMITED MILES ON THE SBC SYSTEM AND MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 2003. I ASKED THEM THE REASON THAT I NEVER RECEIVED AN EMAIL/MAIL FOR THE RECALL AND HE JUST SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID NOTHING. *TR

MY CAR PICKED UP A NAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT BLEW A ROUND HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER IN THE TIRE RIM. THESE ARE ALUMINUM ALLOY LOW PROFILE RIMS THAT CAME WITH MY E500 2004 MERCEDES BENZ AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER I HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES PUT ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT TWO MORE RIMS WERE BENT. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER (OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE) AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A RIM GO BAD. SUDDENLY I HAVE THREE RIMS GO BAD. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR CURBS OR ANY THING OTHER THAN NORMAL BUMPY ROADS. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW RIMS AND MOUNTING. I COMPLAINED TO M B AND THEIR ANSWER HAS BEEN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD. I SAID THAT I KNOW THAT THE ROAD HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BUT THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR USING MATERIALS THAT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT TAKE THE STRAIN OF REASONABLE DRIVING. ANECDOTALLY I CAN TELL YOU THAT A CLOSE FRIEND IS DRIVING AN S500 WITH THE SAME LOW PROFILE TIRE AND HE TOO HAS HAD TO REPLACE THREE WHEELS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. I FEEL CERTAIN THAT IT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE RIM WHICH IS AT FAULT SINCE IT CANNOT STAND UP TO THE ROAD SURFACE PROBLEMS AS WELL AS A RIM OF THE SAME MATERIAL THAT IS NOT OF THE LOW PROFILE DESIGN. *NM