Tyre Issues! - Not the usual.

tigerfish
tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
1000 Comments
edited January 2014 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

I have had my Merc ML300CDI for three years now and have covered 35,000 miles in that time.  Both Fuel consumption and tyre wear have been exceptionaly good.  For a very heavy 4x4 I was regularly getting about 33mpg on average and one one long journey with just me on board 38mpg.

The tyres lasted the full 3 years and 35,000 and I could have pushed them longer if I wanted, but why take risks in the winter!

But then came disaster.  I got 3 quotes for identical tyres to the original equipment and settled for a leading UK tyre supplier.  When I went to collect the car I noticed that the tread pattern was a little different and queried it, Only to be told it was the same, but the well known leading Brand manufacturer had made changes so I accepted.  The invoice actually says for Mercedes only 4x4.

But my fuel consumption has gone up by 8mpg and I am now only getting 24 mpg.

The garage are mystified!  But I think I have solved what has gone wrong!  The ML was one of the new"Blue Efficiency" models, and despite being 4x4 they were fitted with main road tyres.  When the garage checked the spec it just indicated 4x4, and that is what they fitted!  Now I'm fighting to get them to replace the tyres at their cost expence, -  big row!

Anyone else had similar problems?

TF