Ray you are an honorable man and the truth of the matter is if I were living in Florida you would be my mechanic, now let me see that both you and Eric O always put a smile in my face whenever either one of you make a comment about the other you are both great men, Ray God bless you and your family and the business that you are working in.
keep this sh**za up brotha. You show the entirety of what it’s like to be a dedicated, real, and intelligent mechanic. i love it. i don’t live for ur vids, but I do love them
"High performance" tires usually use softer rubber for better grip and handling.. The downside is that they wear out faster and have higher rolling resistance, causing higher fuel consumption. So, if your pocket can handle it, sure, go for it. But if you can't afford them and end up driving around with worn out tires, you have issues. So for the customer that wanted to find out what's wrong with the car, the answer is: "the driver".
I paused the video to check some info, and the tire traction rating of AA is the "grippiest". The temperature rating of A is the "coolest" (runs least hot from road action?). The wear rating of 440 means the tire is projected to last 440% as long as the "reference tire" extrapolated from a 7,200 mile test on a reference track in West Texas. - So the excess wear can be attributed to the "grippy" traction rating (meaning softer rubber) and likely under-inflation as evidenced by the wear being on the outside of the tread area, but not the center.
From the netherlands. I really enjoy all your video's, and it doesnt matter if anything fixed at the end or not. I watch it for education and entertainment so every footage from your daily work is always interesting. Thankyou
As a former tire tech, you are correct that this is a combination of things causing advanced tire wear, in this case, i'd say the predominant reason is lowish air pressure, followed by lack of rotation and excessive cornering force, mix in MB's love of the ackerman effect and you have all sorts of advanced wear.
100% correct call ! “W” rated tires did their job! Hotter Road , Hotter Tire !! Stick like glue ! Time to replace & slow down a bit ! “Who Me ?” Corvettes , Hellcats & Cobra’s all have “Z” tires & need them ! Drive it like you stole it ! LOL
I agree with the predominant reason being low'ish air pressure. For many years, on my European-made Skoda (a VAG model, similar to EU version of the VW Passat, utilizing very similar steering mechanics to the Mercedes) my summer tire sets (225/40 R18, Y XL rated) only lasted a single season every time before having to be replaced due to excessive edge wear. I also had to replace 2 sets mid-season due to tires blowing up on their side walls (stemmed from the same cause). Raising the pressure from 2.5 BAR to 2.9 BAR solved that problem completely. Since then I haven't noticed any excessive edge wear. I am now on my 4th year of using a single set and I probably could squeeze in a 5th year... but I won't :) Raising the pressure wasn't recommended to me initially due to possibility of pressure rising too high during heat waves in the summer months. Pumping the tires with Nitrogen gas instead of air completed the solution.
There's never a bad or lame video with you Ray, There's always a ton of info! When you broke down specs of different tires, that was actually something I was unaware of and was quite informative. Thank you sir!!
On the Toyota Rava4 alternator replacement it could’ve been a shop install issue as well….! You should checked behind your mechanics on the install! On my Tundra the mechanic didn’t bolt the alternator down correctly that resulted in a rattle and belt squeaking with warning lights coming on intermittently! Took it back twice and demanded them to check the alternator again and it was done correctly without any recurring issues! Glad your issue with the RAV4 with with a satisfied client
I’m a tire guy. Been selling tires for 30 years thank you for knowing what most people don’t get. Always best to get new tires first then the wheel Alignment. And yes the car can go straight and still eat tires.
I learned a lot about tires i didn't know and that was super helpful because it is one of the most important components on the vehicle. I have now checked the dates on my 2 Kia's and they are 2017 and 2018. the treads look ok on one but the other is getting worn and now will be replaced. Minnesota winters are not fun with poor tread. Thanks for the lesson Ray!
Good morning! Your comment reminded me of why I enjoy Ray's channel so much. I usually learn at least one new thing, if not multiple new things by watching the content and by listening to Ray's associate commentary. This channel id chock full of great information for us DIYers. I love spending my morning coffee time watching Ray's videos as it really is continuing automotive maintenance/repair education for me. Fred
Thanks Ray though we may not have seen you swinging spanners and replacing parts we did get the brake cleaner and an oil change flashlight gravity and an excellent lesson on tyre wear and how each reacts differently depending on their quality. So Ty again mate appreciate it. Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘
It’s an educational about the wear and tear about the tire. I learned something new about the year and weeks of the tire. Thanks for that video and info
20:03 oh my gosh. I Had a panic attack and literally rewound the video before you (almost) pressed the button. You got me. Worst part about all of this... I'm at home on my lunch break, after working on cars all day... watching you work on cars. Oh man, I have issues. I thoroughly enjoy your content and love all the little times you make me laugh. Like when you POWERED DOWN the new toy you got. haha. Love you dude.
One of the realities of dealing with the public is that repairs and diagnostics sometimes don't line up with the customer's wants. Still an interesting video, especially about the alignment and tyre wear, Mechanical Science With Ray is always interesting.
Hey Ray, Even though you didn't get to do the repairs, your videos are still GREAT! Talking about the process you do to explain the problems is a good learning experience for all that watch your videos. Keep up the great work and, Don't forget, to have a GREAT Day.
Thanks for the info about tire. Even when you don't do a repair, I always learn something from your videos. Thanks! If you ever get tired of being a mechanic, you'd make a great automotive instructor.
I liked this video because I gained knowledge about tires that I didn't know before. Sometimes just imparting a bit of info to your viewers is all that's needed for a video.
Ray, this is my first time chiming in. I very much enjoy your show. You say Many phrases that are reminiscent of Marine Corps lingo. I've been picking it up on it for months. Stand By, Hydrate, etc., Well, anyway, I think ya do fantastic work. You're light years faster than me for sure! I could toss in about twelve excuses including not having a lift, but like most of us commenting, don't do this professionally. I have wrenched for decades. But, lol, not hauling a camera around, inserting comedy, & getting even a fraction of the work done. Life Story Alert 🙄
@@allaboutroofing2 What an incredibly bizarre thing to point out, lol. Well.....Thank You? I can't imagine it matters really. But yes, as you were. This was my *Second Time* chiming in. Sorry everyone. Ray doesn't read my nonsense anyhow. Cheerio.
You know you’re a good honest man. A lot of people don’t know a lot of the things you said about tires. I’ve been wrenching most of my life. I had no idea some of the things you brought up about the tires. Except for the date code. In all fairness I never sold tires. AnyWho people think that mechanics lawyers business people in general are all out to get their money and that’s all that matters! Unfortunately there are a lot of businesses out there like that. So when they run into honest people that are in business they are just not sure. It was a great video and I learned a lot. Thank you
People in general have a bad perception when I comes to tire ware and # of miles said tire company says the tire will ware too there are alot of different factors they don't see or understand how hard you drive through corners how hard you accelerate how hard you decelerate do you have any worn steering components good video Ray keep up the good and honest work you do
tire wear looks like a little too much speed around corners. 60 years ago my dad gave me a stern lecture concerning tire wear on the family car tires which were very low milage. Shortly after i got my first car and had the same tire wear problems. AFTER I bought new tires I slowed down and tire wear no longer was an issue. The Michelin tires on my new 2007 Ram 3500 lasted 99,600 miles before they wore out. Your advice on the correct tire for the car is spot on. The main tires on my work vehicle are around $6,000 each and there are 12 of them. Boeing 777. also Michelins.
I was watching one of your old videos today and you were talking about giving up the click. I know you were probably just in a bad mood but please never give up the click. Also I really enjoy the dramatic music and brake parts cleaner. Keep up the great work from Marinette, WI and have your self a great day.
As an (ancient) Audi dealer (Belgium) i can state that, in my case the Audi Q7, designed as a passenger car and high performing. It was completely normal that the 4 tires were used after 30-40.000 kms (:1.68) (and brakes and rotors as well)
I enjoyed this. When I bought my 06 dirty max . I could believe the power . I tow everyday. Went to do oil change at 5000 miles. Rears tires were done. Ok next set lasted 30,000 mile. Now i get over 60,000 mile. There was a problem with drivers foot lol
When I've had my cars worked on I've always been able to talk to the mechanic or have him call me. Why does that not seem like a thing anymore? It would solve so many issues with customer to service writer/service writer to mechanic "issues". I would also go for test drives with the mechanic to point out what noise or job I wanted done
I belive the attitude is that mechanics are troglodytes who should be kept away from the delicate customers. But this adds another layer of communication problems, and the first layer is "customer doesn't have the vocabulary to express what the car was doing."
Usually in the shops I used to work at we were understaffed and they would slam us with work and ask us to do a “quick” test drive. I would turn down most of them but whenever we were slow I’d take ‘em. Depends on the shop and technicians in my opinion.
I learned the hard way that replacing a battery DOES require that the computer re learns values: idle-5-8 minutes, Put it on D and hold the brake for a minute, then In D, with foot on brake, turn AC on for a minute, these adjust idle values. Then drive normally for 20+ minutes. Love the channel.
As a Mercedes owner, tires are a frequent change item. I used to cringe at every service interval, but no more. I expect the worst news and usually get it. Great video.
@@73amx63 This is a more performance power vehicle. The person is probably more used to a lower power car with like 120hp where they moved up to this thing with 300hp. Some people get so into it they don't realize they're driving like an ass. I'm not surprised they only lasted 2 years.
Maybe when the battery died and the fuel trims and other params reset, the engine was worn so far out of spec that it needed to relearn the tune to run smooth. Especially if the O2 was sluggish because of the heater circuit and didn't go into closed loop mode.
Usually the PROM inside the PCM doesn't lose that info as it's stored in solid state memory and it requires a specific procedure to reset the programmable memory.
My 2000 Aussie Falcon does this if you leave the battery disconnected for too long. Takes a couple of weeks to relearn the fuel settings. It does have 500k on the clock.
With my '95 Z-71, it was the exact opposite and didn't matter how long the battery was dead. The only way to actually reset the PROM was either w/ a scantool, or by driving consistently at 30 miles an hour for about 10 minutes without using cruise control or downshifting.
I did like this video. It portrays a typical day that one would experience as a tech. Complaints of nothing, user fault, normal wear, running around for nothing, and nothing gets done. Excellent!
Ray I’m sure your tired of your video’s being dissected every day by all these people who think they are gods gift to auto mechanics. But your doing it and they aren’t! Keep it up Ray. Your a hell of a good mechanic and your clips are very well done!
YEAH!! Leather seats and summer days don't go together ; I had an experience where the temp was up and my mom's car was locked the entire day till 2:00pm when I got in the car with a tank top and shorts; have you ever heard the term "you went in fast and got out faster" that was me!! I enjoy the care ,time and patience you take in doing your job , I miss it .
Drape a blanket over the seats in such a way that it only touches the headrest and the front of the seat, stops the sun from directly heating the leather, just remove when getting in. Then you just have to deal with the steering wheel, only touch the lower part till things have cooled down.
Hey Ray, I think you made a mistake with the way you said the traction and temperature ratings. AA for traction is the highest rating for DOT approved automobile tires. A for temperature is also the highest rating for the way a tire resists heat buildup before failing. I'm sorry you had a bad day. Some customers are so set in their opinions, that there is no way to convince them that there is something wrong with their car. Keep up the great content. Guy Franks
@@jamesc9327 And you are James, after 20 years of my own experience as an automotive technician working on and for BMW and Mercedes dealerships he was spot on I would assume if it was on the alignment rack it would have needed front camber bolts and a rear toe adjust. But long story short don't be a dick
@@jamesc9327 You're a legend in your own mind. Anyone who is a real professional doesn't need to pump up his own ego by trying to convince the internet he's something. Just another troll.
I would have a close look at the lower control arm bushings on that Merc. When the rubber bushings get worn, they allow a lot of extra movement, which means the alignment numbers are moving around on you.
@@deanwoodward8026 I think they are simple rubber bushings. Probably original on this 2014 vehicle, so it is probably time to do a refresh on the front suspension. When the bushings get worn and sloppy, so does the handling and steering.
Mr. Ray that oil filter cup you have there has one notch at 6 o’clock and 3 at 12 o’clock. The filter housing has the male end for those notches machined into it, the metal Toyota filter housings aren’t as bad as the plastic ones but they can strip or crack. Happy wrenching brother
Being g a "tire guy" myself, I love your technical terms! And yes it is called tread chunking and Michelin is notorious for it. The condition of these tires should be referred to ask "excessive tread wear", and it may be premature if the car is not aligned properly or rotated often enough. "Secondary rubber" is actually called the "casing layer rubber". Love your videos BTW.
Just a Note--the Higher Mileage New Tires, more expensive ones are, the stiffer the Side Wall's are, this stiffness makes tires ride not as smooth but keeps rubber that is touching road from Flexing as much, thus you should get better Tire Mileage. The Mercedes Tire Spec. with with Tire Tilting In is strange to me. I have always gotten at least 40,000 to 50,000 out of my tires but I do rotate them every other oil change and keep them Inflated Properly....
I have a malibu that went through tires like that. Except it was more to one side than the other on the front. It got to the point I would only rotate on the same axle. Then we realized it was burning through the tires about every 4 or 5 months but i put almost 500 miles a week on it. Plus I had the added advantage of the car handling like shit anytime it rained or snowed. Long story short, despite the car not pulling or wondering and remaining straight if you let go of the wheel, my tire guy put it on the alignment rack and sure as shit, it was out. Fixed it, handles great in weather now, and I'm still on the same set for 2.5 years before I parked it and purchased a new Toyota.
For the Mercedes - back (way back) in the days of my "high speed driving" we controlled edge wear with tire pressure (among all the afore mentioned items being correct). Edge wear meant too low pressure, center wear too high pressure. The "softer" the tread compound, the more critical the tire pressure was. This was most evident on the front tires. So was there any indication of (in)correct tire pressure and perhaps exuberant driving style? Just noticed others mentioned tire pressure and edge wear.
I like watching your channel and Eric O's channel you two are great to watch it helps with learning how to repair many vehicles. A shout out to both you and Eric O.
My work car goes through a set of tires every year no matter what bc I put a lot miles wise a year so I just plan on a set every year just bc a tire says 45 k miles or 60 k miles you rarely get the mileage the tire says it lasts
Yes life is easier when it is broken visibly and the mechanical repair is obvious or visible. I can see how a string of rejects can make the day really long. Enjoyed Ray, cheers!
Hi Ray, quick question, have you ever had to use your video's you do to either show a customera vehicle needs parts or prove that you have done the work/ you didn't break a part that was already broken and the customer tries to blame you? Thanks for the video's as I really enjoy them, keep up the great work 👍🏻
@@dans_Learning_Curve Dan your statement was helpful in what way? It accomplished what other than to show how petty you are? I hear your mom calling you as it’s time to take your meds.
Speaking as a technician who is not Ray, I've taken pictures and videos if there's something I think the customer should see or if I suspect something is going on. We have had to use our shop security cameras to prove our innocence several times as well.
@@Laurelinad I agree with you and I was resigned to the same diagnosis. Then Ray showed the rear tires' condition and I then realized that they (rear tires) had even wear across both of them, so that observation forced me to dismiss my original belief that underinflation of the tires was the culprit. I wish for a good day to both you and Ray. Fred
6:28 my per-diagnostic guess why it was running rough. The battery died and the ECU needed to relearn how to manage the engine idle. At least that's what happened with my 3rd gen RAV4 after the battery was swapped without a mem saver. Ran rough and then after a little while the ECU figured it out and it was fine from there
Just a few quick notes on tire ratings ... AA is the top / best rating for traction. Ratings for traction are AA, A, B, C. (This is wet traction rating). Temperature ratings range from A, B, C. This is the ability for your tires to disperse heat. Living in the South, I only buy a temp rating of A tires. Tread wear rating ranges from around 30 (or so) to 900 (or so). The lower the rating the softer / stickier the tread compound and faster wear. The higher the rating the harder the tread compound and slower wear. Your Yokohama's had a 440 rating which is a fairly soft compound. If the tires were super well maintained (tire pressure, rotations and alignment) you might get 60K out of the tire. 40K to 50K would be more typical. On side note each manufacture tests tread wear differently. Therefore, you can't really compare this number between manufactures. Yes, you can say a 900 rated Goodyear will probably wear longer than a 600 Michelin. But no one can say if a 600 Goodyear will wear longer than a 500 Michelin. My guess, the owner and his mechanics have been under under inflating his tires for years. He likes a nice soft / floaty Mercedes ride. Only knowing the DOT date code, he got fair life out of those tires. (considering his probable need for a soft ride.) Just my .02 .... and have a nice day
We had excessive wear on some front tires on a Jetta. Contributing factor was the side load garage. All the turning from stop to stop while backing the car out was hard on the front tires. After the tire shop mentioned it I went and checked the driveway. You could see a pattern of where we were turning the steering wheel while the car was not moving.
I can’t remember a time when I had a tire last to the mileage indicated by the manufacturer. Sticky (softer compound) tires lose rubber quicker and need to replaced more often. Driver input is a contributing factor as well and not rotating regularly will cause premature wear. Funny thing is when I was younger, I would often do work on the car myself because I didn’t have the money to go to a shop (I’m talking in my teens). The car I had was older and had issues, so I needed to make lots of repairs to keep it road worthy. I grew up about a mile from a road that was nothing but junk dealers end to end. So I had a parts supply that was cheaper. I would go and get parts on my ten speed (even a drive shaft once). The car would often have all four tires off and when I was done working I’d just put them back on to get the jack stands away. I was rotating my wheels constantly without knowing it. Now granted, the intervals were probably too short between…but it was getting done. That first new set of tires lasted me close to 50,000 miles or just under 4 years. Not bad. Most sets now last 2-3 years and I always do a four tire replacement with a wheel alignment at purchase. I used to use tire shops, but now I use my mechanic. Tire shops will nickel and dime you on other things like air cleaners and fluid swaps. Heck I even had four struts done at one and then within a week they were starting to fail. The tire shop (it’s a national chain, so not mentioning the name) said there was nothing wrong with them, but my mechanic stated otherwise. Not only that, they were unbranded struts and my mechanic would have replaced with Monroe struts for less money. So for the other readers, stick with your local mechanic for any maintenance or repairs. They know your car better than you do and better than the tire shop guys.😁
Michelin XZX radials. I sold a Volvo at 66,000 miles on the original set of tires that still had plenty of tread. They wore evenly, never rotated them, nor performed an alignment, speaks well for Volvo suspension.
I'll second the goodyear Wranglers on trucks. Had a set on my 92 F150 that lasted just under 60k miles of very hard driving. that's when the outer edges started getting very bald. I was a teenager back when I had it and ran the heck out of that truck trying to impress friends. It was originally my dads truck before I bought it from my dad after I graduated. The stupid things we do when we were young... lol
@@nomebear I love on Long Island, NY. We have some of the worst paved roads in the nation. Nearly every road has a pothole or a road patch (with the exception of the freshly paved, but that will change in a few months). Most municipalities used cold patch to fill potholes and that lasts a couple of weeks at the most. The roads need to be nearly impassable before a re-pave is done. Even off-road trucks get a workout on the pavement.
I once thought the car I was driving had a sudden engine noise. It was the first time I had driven on a concrete highway in upstate New York, and it was just road noise. I say this to wonder how many "My car is making noise all of a sudden!" are from road and/or tire conditions.
@@MonkeyJedi99 A young boy jumped in front of my car triggering the accident avoidance. I did not recall the car having such a system. Scared the pee out of me as the car slammed to a hault...and then I read the manual.
Hey Ray: One thing not mentioned about the benz's tires , the excessive wear on tire shoulders like what was shown "according to tire care manuals" could most likely be from to low tire pressure. even 4 psi over time will cause that condition, and it might not be enough to trigger the "tire light". My expedition placarded for 34 psi, I run 38 psi and am now getting more even tire wear.
You could check the tire pressure at that exact time, however that doesn't tell you the tire pressure history of the tires over their 2.5 year history on that vehicle.
My wife only drives German cars and they wear tires and they are expensive, especially if they are run flats and staggered ( no rotating them). Your analysis is spot on, it’s the owner. Also, I’m glad you touched on LT tires, I replace a set of tires on my Superduty every 30,000 miles. I have owned 13 trucks in my life and have never got much more than that on a set of tires. I know others that get 50-60k on a set of tires, however I don’t… towing, off-road and skinny petal input I guess pays off on tire wear. For now I’ll stick to replacing skins every 30k
"Lost on translation" is one reason I prefer to use small, independent workshops when I can. There's something to be said for actually talking to the block who's going to be doing the work, rather than a service advisor who acts as a go-between.
Looks like low tire pressure to me. Love the sticky Yokos on my Lotus. Always check the manufacture date when buying tires. A buddy was upset when tracking his 350Z as chunks were breaking off. Plenty of tread, but old tires!
I used to wrench on my free time as a hobby on my cars, but now I suffer from a herniated disk in my column and cannot wrench anymore without suffering from pain! This channel and the SMAC helps me compensate the lack of wrenching!
More wear on outer edges and less wear in center of tread means too low air pressure. Mfgs spec lower air pressure than the tire mfg spec for comfort. Usually, adjusting air pressure a few pounds above the mfg recommendation will improve handling, fuel economy and tire life. But too much air pressure will cause the tire to wear faster in the center of the tread. Driving sporty with lowish pressure will cause this kind of wear. TPMS warning light flashes when tires are severely under inflated, so waiting until then to check tire pressure causes faster wear. Air diffuses through rubber fast enough to warrant checking air pressure at least every 2 months.
That Mercedes is suffering from under inflation and cornering wear. I have seen this in my tyre shop quite often. We would replace the tyres and inflate them between 36 to 44 PSI depending on tyre size and vehicle weight and tell the client that the pressures need to be checked every month. The car runs a little firmer over bumps with the higher pressures but that is a small inconvenience for the benefit gained. Provided the checks are made we found tyre wear was improved considerably. Unfortunately most people do not check tyre pressures often enough resulting in the Mercedes example. 😀👍🇦🇺
That was certainly an in-depth look at tire ratings! I'm certain my tire dealer doesn't consider all that when I go in for a set of tires, and after the last time I bought tires I was almost unable to get 2 of the lug nuts off. Ended up replacing the studs and nuts. I don't know what to do, though. I don't want to make them mad, because things may get worse. It was worse at the tire dealer I used before that. I wish I could just do all the stuff myself, so I don't have to keep going back and asking for help.
A long time ago I went to Sears to get 4 new tires. The tires were fine. One day, about a year later, I had a flat and found when I changed the tire that the lug nuts were on so tight that when loosening two of the five lug bolts that metal thread particles were falling to the ground. Straining to unloose those lug nuts is something I still remember. I checked the other three wheels and found unloosening those lug nuts just as hard. After I put on the spare tire I took the car back to Sears and 'vigorously' complained. Sears replaced the two of the stripped lug bolts and readjusted the torque settings on the lugs for the other three wheels. Over a couple of years I think I replaced two more lugs bolts as a result of their technician's incompetence. After that event I bought a torque wrench and have checked the lug bolts' tightness settings anytime our cars wheels need to be removed by a shop I'm not familiar. In this world one often needs to be their own advocate to get something done right, and if you can't do it yourself then it's important to find someone you can trust (or a shop) that you know will do it right.
@@bearpuf yeah...even using "torque sticks" on an air impact I wouldn't trust an installer-some of those I bet are wore out......torque sticks arnt a "forever tool"..I ALWAYS check torque after having a tire removed n replaced...a good torque wrench isnt very expensive
Got the exact same fountain/dispenser at my work. So much better than the old fountain. No, this comment has no real purpose, so I'll say I learned quite a bit watching your videos.
Oh, my wife knows everything about tires. She knows every tire I have had put on every vehicle she has ever owned are defective, that is why the outside edges of all of the front ones wear out. I thought it could be high speed turns, but she knows I am just a jerk for suggesting that.
I will say being a michigan native and having lots of pot holes the road surface is pretty smooth. When I visit Florida the roads don't have pot holes but they are rough like gravel.
Your Lumens said, "No!" Ray said, "But, my 'Tubers!" And Lumens said, "No, and quit asking!!" As for the Mercedes E350's tires, a traction rating of AA is top of the charts...for road rated tires. This generally translates to a softer tire for better traction (especially when aggressively maneuvering & cornering), which matches up with being in "sport" designation/name by Yokohama. Unfortunately, being of slightly softer rubber also means faster tread wear. With 89K on the odometer and the tires being that worn, I wonder if the owner just drives aggressively? Furthermore, I think the owner has unrealistic expectations of the tires. We all want tires that last 100K miles. I wished that of my F350, my wife's Cadillac SRX, her 3-series BMW, and the three cars before that. The reality is that you have to balance out tread life vs. road noise vs. traction vs. road/weather conditions to match your needs. A sport/track tire will allow you to slingshot around corners & brake like a champ, be abhorrible in rain/snow, and only give you 10K - 20K miles of tread life. A highway touring tire won't corner or brake nearly as well, but you will get okay rain/snow traction and great tread life. It's all a balancing act.
Hello Lyle, you sound like someone who knows about tires. You're spot on! I worked for GoodYear tires for 13 yrs. and learn a bit about carcass, plies, compounds and then some more. If you have a softer compound you'll get grip but not longevity. The shoulder wear on the Benz it could be aggressive cornering on the driver, it doesn't matter what tire you have you cannot escaper that. Drive like and old lady from Pasadena and they'll last you longer. Cheers
I was thinking the tyres would wear like that if they were slightly underinflated but I bow to your superior and experience based knowledge. Can't be easy telling a customer his tyres wear is because the car is driven too fast on the corners. No BMW driver wants to be told that.
I hope you will answer a question that I’ve wondered about for years When lifting a car on your hoist - how do you know when to stop before hitting the ceiling (have you ever hit the roof??? Great videos thank Paul F.
@@veroa1985 ofcourse that's the basic answer, but a keen eye is key when a vehicle has say racks on the roof or the hoods up, hell even had a pickup with a cap on it then had kayak racks on the cap, lol the standard safety bar wouldn't catch that before sticking through the roof xD
Yeah, believe it or not at the end of an F1 race (the one with all the corners) the drivers were told by their teams to drive over the marbles slowish to add weight to make sure they were’nt under weight. Not heard it recently though, looking forward to Spa in Belgium, next race, they’re on summer break now
WHAT did you call the engine cover, a bonnet? have you become all British Ray ? Maybe cornering at flat out speeds contribute to the Merc tyre wear. Maybe ask the customer if they have a teenage son :)
@@vulgivagu Nope, fenders that aren't in any way connected to Leo, would be wings. Maybe Ray will start using spanners and split-pins, you never know. . . . . . . . .
@@572Btriode I agree. A wrench in my part of the world (South Africa) is something a plumber will use to fix a water leak. A wrench is more commonly known as a "baboon spanner". Don't ask me where that name came from 😂😂
Great overview of tires. Most people think everyone is trying to screw them when they have little knowledge. Read up on cars people and we'll all get as long better.
Great video You are a top notch mechanic pardon me technician. I was very educated on how long tires last I did not realize how often I should actually be changing tires.
I wish Toyota would make all the vehicles maintenance light reset the same. Some are trip A, or the odometer. I always end up inadvertently resetting trip meters and I found out that really bothers some customers.
🥹 Warms my little heart at 18:42. You're a good man Ray 👍
Brake clean brothers!
Gotta love the classic brake clean sound! 😄
But still you are the best Erik!🥳
Eric O is in the house! Now the brake clean intro is legit !!
you and my grandma are the only good things left in NY.
Never boring RAY .
Ray you are an honorable man and the truth of the matter is if I were living in Florida you would be my mechanic, now let me see that both you and Eric O always put a smile in my face whenever either one of you make a comment about the other you are both great men, Ray God bless you and your family and the business that you are working in.
The fact that you and Mr O are routinely highlighting each other is amazing Ray!!!! Two of my favorite mechanics on UA-cam!!!
Seeing an honest mechanic doing his honest best is always a good video.
keep this sh**za up brotha. You show the entirety of what it’s like to be a dedicated, real, and intelligent mechanic. i love it. i don’t live for ur vids, but I do love them
"High performance" tires usually use softer rubber for better grip and handling.. The downside is that they wear out faster and have higher rolling resistance, causing higher fuel consumption. So, if your pocket can handle it, sure, go for it. But if you can't afford them and end up driving around with worn out tires, you have issues. So for the customer that wanted to find out what's wrong with the car, the answer is: "the driver".
The loose nut is the one behind the steering wheel??
@@brnmcc01 Yes. It's a very common malfunction
@@jake_ In IT they have an acronym for that, it's called the PEBKAK virus. "problem exists between keybored and chair" 🤣
I paused the video to check some info, and the tire traction rating of AA is the "grippiest". The temperature rating of A is the "coolest" (runs least hot from road action?). The wear rating of 440 means the tire is projected to last 440% as long as the "reference tire" extrapolated from a 7,200 mile test on a reference track in West Texas.
-
So the excess wear can be attributed to the "grippy" traction rating (meaning softer rubber) and likely under-inflation as evidenced by the wear being on the outside of the tread area, but not the center.
The tires shown are not high performance but middle of the road. I say this because I own a set of them.
From the netherlands.
I really enjoy all your video's, and it doesnt matter if anything fixed at the end or not. I watch it for education and entertainment so every footage from your daily work is always interesting.
Thankyou
voor mij ook ik vind het altijd interessant om te zien hoe anders dingen zijn daar.
I one hundred percent read neanderthals at first 🤣
Yes. Fans uit NL!
As a former tire tech, you are correct that this is a combination of things causing advanced tire wear, in this case, i'd say the predominant reason is lowish air pressure, followed by lack of rotation and excessive cornering force, mix in MB's love of the ackerman effect and you have all sorts of advanced wear.
100% correct call ! “W” rated tires did their job! Hotter Road , Hotter Tire !! Stick like glue ! Time to replace & slow down a bit ! “Who Me ?” Corvettes , Hellcats & Cobra’s all have “Z” tires & need them ! Drive it like you stole it ! LOL
I agree with the predominant reason being low'ish air pressure. For many years, on my European-made Skoda (a VAG model, similar to EU version of the VW Passat, utilizing very similar steering mechanics to the Mercedes) my summer tire sets (225/40 R18, Y XL rated) only lasted a single season every time before having to be replaced due to excessive edge wear. I also had to replace 2 sets mid-season due to tires blowing up on their side walls (stemmed from the same cause). Raising the pressure from 2.5 BAR to 2.9 BAR solved that problem completely. Since then I haven't noticed any excessive edge wear. I am now on my 4th year of using a single set and I probably could squeeze in a 5th year... but I won't :)
Raising the pressure wasn't recommended to me initially due to possibility of pressure rising too high during heat waves in the summer months. Pumping the tires with Nitrogen gas instead of air completed the solution.
You are a great mechanic , really enjoy your Videos !
There's never a bad or lame video with you Ray, There's always a ton of info! When you broke down specs of different tires, that was actually something I was unaware of and was quite informative. Thank you sir!!
Yup it is a good chanel love it so much altghout i don't have a car..😁😁😁thx mr raiman
Call them Tyres or Tires it matters not,the classic problem with these tyres is under inflation.
Ray’s auto tech knowledge is in deed phenomenal, but to me his lighthearted schtick and sometimes savage humor keeps ‘Em coming back!
On the Toyota Rava4 alternator replacement it could’ve been a shop install issue as well….! You should checked behind your mechanics on the install! On my Tundra the mechanic didn’t bolt the alternator down correctly that resulted in a rattle and belt squeaking with warning lights coming on intermittently!
Took it back twice and demanded them to check the alternator again and it was done correctly without any recurring issues!
Glad your issue with the RAV4 with with a satisfied client
Hi, the excessive wear on the external parts of a tyre could also mean that those tyres have been working on a lower pressure than recommended.
He probably just took th3 reading psi off the dash rather than check it, they had them in 2014
i was about to write the same comment
Dude learn how to spell..tires is spelled this way...duh.
@@jefferybye2169 I believe the British way is tyre.
@@jefferybye2169 The spelling of tyre is correct in other English speaking countries.
I’m a tire guy. Been selling tires for 30 years thank you for knowing what most people don’t get. Always best to get new tires first then the wheel Alignment. And yes the car can go straight and still eat tires.
I learned a lot about tires i didn't know and that was super helpful because it is one of the most important components on the vehicle. I have now checked the dates on my 2 Kia's and they are 2017 and 2018. the treads look ok on one but the other is getting worn and now will be replaced. Minnesota winters are not fun with poor tread.
Thanks for the lesson Ray!
Good morning! Your comment reminded me of why I enjoy Ray's channel so much. I usually learn at least one new thing, if not multiple new things by watching the content and by listening to Ray's associate commentary. This channel id chock full of great information for us DIYers. I love spending my morning coffee time watching Ray's videos as it really is continuing automotive maintenance/repair education for me. Fred
Best part was referencing Erik O's brake clean and sound effects; two best auto guy's on YT.
Thanks Ray though we may not have seen you swinging spanners and replacing parts we did get the brake cleaner and an oil change flashlight gravity and an excellent lesson on tyre wear and how each reacts differently depending on their quality. So Ty again mate appreciate it.
Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘
It’s an educational about the wear and tear about the tire. I learned something new about the year and weeks of the tire. Thanks for that video and info
20:03 oh my gosh. I Had a panic attack and literally rewound the video before you (almost) pressed the button. You got me. Worst part about all of this... I'm at home on my lunch break, after working on cars all day... watching you work on cars. Oh man, I have issues. I thoroughly enjoy your content and love all the little times you make me laugh. Like when you POWERED DOWN the new toy you got. haha. Love you dude.
He got me too. What were you thinking of !
One of the realities of dealing with the public is that repairs and diagnostics sometimes don't line up with the customer's wants. Still an interesting video, especially about the alignment and tyre wear, Mechanical Science With Ray is always interesting.
Hey Ray, Even though you didn't get to do the repairs, your videos are still GREAT! Talking about the process you do to explain the problems is a good learning experience for all that watch your videos. Keep up the great work and, Don't forget, to have a GREAT Day.
Nice shout out to SMA/thanks for your time and entertainment.
Thanks for the info about tire. Even when you don't do a repair, I always learn something from your videos. Thanks! If you ever get tired of being a mechanic, you'd make a great automotive instructor.
I liked this video because I gained knowledge about tires that I didn't know before. Sometimes just imparting a bit of info to your viewers is all that's needed for a video.
Ray, this is my first time chiming in. I very much enjoy your show. You say Many phrases that are reminiscent of Marine Corps lingo. I've been picking it up on it for months. Stand By, Hydrate, etc., Well, anyway, I think ya do fantastic work. You're light years faster than me for sure! I could toss in about twelve excuses including not having a lift, but like most of us commenting, don't do this professionally. I have wrenched for decades. But, lol, not hauling a camera around, inserting comedy, & getting even a fraction of the work done. Life Story Alert 🙄
It's actually your second time chiming in. The first time was about 8 months prior. Cheers.
@@allaboutroofing2 What an incredibly bizarre thing to point out, lol. Well.....Thank You? I can't imagine it matters really. But yes, as you were. This was my *Second Time* chiming in. Sorry everyone. Ray doesn't read my nonsense anyhow. Cheerio.
You know you’re a good honest man. A lot of people don’t know a lot of the things you said about tires. I’ve been wrenching most of my life. I had no idea some of the things you brought up about the tires. Except for the date code. In all fairness I never sold tires. AnyWho people think that mechanics lawyers business people in general are all out to get their money and that’s all that matters! Unfortunately there are a lot of businesses out there like that. So when they run into honest people that are in business they are just not sure. It was a great video and I learned a lot. Thank you
I just love the fact that people tell a mechanic on how to do his job. There’s a reason why your the mechanic.
People in general have a bad perception when I comes to tire ware and # of miles said tire company says the tire will ware too there are alot of different factors they don't see or understand how hard you drive through corners how hard you accelerate how hard you decelerate do you have any worn steering components good video Ray keep up the good and honest work you do
tire wear looks like a little too much speed around corners. 60 years ago my dad gave me a stern lecture concerning tire wear on the family car tires which were very low milage. Shortly after i got my first car and had the same tire wear problems. AFTER I bought new tires I slowed down and tire wear no longer was an issue. The Michelin tires on my new 2007 Ram 3500 lasted 99,600 miles before they wore out. Your advice on the correct tire for the car is spot on. The main tires on my work vehicle are around $6,000 each and there are 12 of them. Boeing 777. also Michelins.
that did look like someone takes the turns very hard. maybe their kid drives it hard.
your acknowledgement to Eric O is very classy, well done as always !
I was watching one of your old videos today and you were talking about giving up the click. I know you were probably just in a bad mood but please never give up the click. Also I really enjoy the dramatic music and brake parts cleaner. Keep up the great work from Marinette, WI and have your self a great day.
How are the pasties at the little brown place that sells them right across the boarder in Menominee? You ever try them?
As an (ancient) Audi dealer (Belgium) i can state that, in my case the Audi Q7, designed as a passenger car and high performing. It was completely normal that the 4 tires were used after 30-40.000 kms (:1.68) (and brakes and rotors as well)
Its called Driver error🤣🤣🤣
I enjoyed this. When I bought my 06 dirty max . I could believe the power . I tow everyday. Went to do oil change at 5000 miles. Rears tires were done. Ok next set lasted 30,000 mile. Now i get over 60,000 mile. There was a problem with drivers foot lol
When I've had my cars worked on I've always been able to talk to the mechanic or have him call me. Why does that not seem like a thing anymore? It would solve so many issues with customer to service writer/service writer to mechanic "issues". I would also go for test drives with the mechanic to point out what noise or job I wanted done
I belive the attitude is that mechanics are troglodytes who should be kept away from the delicate customers. But this adds another layer of communication problems, and the first layer is "customer doesn't have the vocabulary to express what the car was doing."
Usually in the shops I used to work at we were understaffed and they would slam us with work and ask us to do a “quick” test drive. I would turn down most of them but whenever we were slow I’d take ‘em. Depends on the shop and technicians in my opinion.
Its a waste of time to speak to everyone before working on their car. People just dont have a concept of time.
I learned the hard way that replacing a battery DOES require that the computer re learns values: idle-5-8 minutes, Put it on D and hold the brake for a minute, then In D, with foot on brake, turn AC on for a minute, these adjust idle values. Then drive normally for 20+ minutes. Love the channel.
As a Mercedes owner, tires are a frequent change item. I used to cringe at every service interval, but no more. I expect the worst news and usually get it. Great video.
I would guess a lot of performance cars are probably in that same category
Treadwear of 440 should give 44000 miles of life. These are sticky tires. I would look for something closer to 700
yeah those monster non rotation sizes are killers
@@73amx63 in my experience anything pretty much at or under 400 tread west dosent last more than 25k miles
@@73amx63 This is a more performance power vehicle. The person is probably more used to a lower power car with like 120hp where they moved up to this thing with 300hp. Some people get so into it they don't realize they're driving like an ass. I'm not surprised they only lasted 2 years.
Ray, that tire label infor was very informative. I had known some of it before, but it was nice to refresh my knowledge. Thanks.
Maybe when the battery died and the fuel trims and other params reset, the engine was worn so far out of spec that it needed to relearn the tune to run smooth. Especially if the O2 was sluggish because of the heater circuit and didn't go into closed loop mode.
Usually the PROM inside the PCM doesn't lose that info as it's stored in solid state memory and it requires a specific procedure to reset the programmable memory.
Usually have to drive 50 miles or so to relearn.
yep, happens with my corolla when the battery is off for an amount of time
My 2000 Aussie Falcon does this if you leave the battery disconnected for too long. Takes a couple of weeks to relearn the fuel settings. It does have 500k on the clock.
With my '95 Z-71, it was the exact opposite and didn't matter how long the battery was dead. The only way to actually reset the PROM was either w/ a scantool, or by driving consistently at 30 miles an hour for about 10 minutes without using cruise control or downshifting.
Ya'll have just too much fun!!! Thanks for sharing.
As you may also know, air pressure can also affect tire wear. Especially outer edges from low inflation
and overinflation causes premature wear in the center....
Wear on both shoulders is more indicative of under pressure.
YAY!! Brake Clean Sounds!!! Cheers Brother!!
I wish there were more mechanics like you in new Zealand
Love watching your content man
@@jamesc9327 keep your opinion to yourself theres no need for that shit I know plenty of RIP off mechanics and hes not one of them get a life
I did like this video. It portrays a typical day that one would experience as a tech. Complaints of nothing, user fault, normal wear, running around for nothing, and nothing gets done. Excellent!
Yep, and the videos where the wrong part gets delivered 3 times. All part of a day.
@@brnmcc01 Don't even get me going on that lol
Ray I’m sure your tired of your video’s being dissected every day by all these people who think they are gods gift to auto mechanics. But your doing it and they aren’t! Keep it up Ray. Your a hell of a good mechanic and your clips are very well done!
YEAH!! Leather seats and summer days don't go together ; I had an experience where the temp was up and my mom's car was locked the entire day till 2:00pm when I got in the car with a tank top and shorts; have you ever heard the term "you went in fast and got out faster" that was me!! I enjoy the care ,time and patience you take in doing your job , I miss it .
Drape a blanket over the seats in such a way that it only touches the headrest and the front of the seat, stops the sun from directly heating the leather, just remove when getting in. Then you just have to deal with the steering wheel, only touch the lower part till things have cooled down.
Hey Ray, I think you made a mistake with the way you said the traction and temperature ratings. AA for traction is the highest rating for DOT approved automobile tires. A for temperature is also the highest rating for the way a tire resists heat buildup before failing. I'm sorry you had a bad day. Some customers are so set in their opinions, that there is no way to convince them that there is something wrong with their car. Keep up the great content. Guy Franks
@@jamesc9327 he is a pretty darn good mechanic...
@@jamesc9327 And you are James, after 20 years of my own experience as an automotive technician working on and for BMW and Mercedes dealerships he was spot on I would assume if it was on the alignment rack it would have needed front camber bolts and a rear toe adjust. But long story short don't be a dick
@@jamesc9327 Nice straw man. Ray has never claimed to be a master mechanic or claimed to work at a great shop.
@@jamesc9327 You're a legend in your own mind. Anyone who is a real professional doesn't need to pump up his own ego by trying to convince the internet he's something. Just another troll.
A day in the life a mechanic (and Ray). I like seeing the mundane stuff, too! Rock on!
I would have a close look at the lower control arm bushings on that Merc. When the rubber bushings get worn, they allow a lot of extra movement, which means the alignment numbers are moving around on you.
Fluid filled, aren't they?
@@deanwoodward8026 I think they are simple rubber bushings. Probably original on this 2014 vehicle, so it is probably time to do a refresh on the front suspension. When the bushings get worn and sloppy, so does the handling and steering.
Mr. Ray that oil filter cup you have there has one notch at 6 o’clock and 3 at 12 o’clock. The filter housing has the male end for those notches machined into it, the metal Toyota filter housings aren’t as bad as the plastic ones but they can strip or crack. Happy wrenching brother
Being g a "tire guy" myself, I love your technical terms! And yes it is called tread chunking and Michelin is notorious for it. The condition of these tires should be referred to ask "excessive tread wear", and it may be premature if the car is not aligned properly or rotated often enough. "Secondary rubber" is actually called the "casing layer rubber". Love your videos BTW.
May also be caused by a teenage son driving the car.🤣
The tires are not Michelins, but Yokohama's
Just a Note--the Higher Mileage New Tires, more expensive ones are, the stiffer the Side Wall's are, this stiffness makes tires ride not as smooth but keeps rubber that is touching road from Flexing as much, thus you should get better Tire Mileage. The Mercedes Tire Spec. with with Tire Tilting In is strange to me. I have always gotten at least 40,000 to 50,000 out of my tires but I do rotate them every other oil change and keep them Inflated Properly....
I have a malibu that went through tires like that. Except it was more to one side than the other on the front. It got to the point I would only rotate on the same axle. Then we realized it was burning through the tires about every 4 or 5 months but i put almost 500 miles a week on it. Plus I had the added advantage of the car handling like shit anytime it rained or snowed.
Long story short, despite the car not pulling or wondering and remaining straight if you let go of the wheel, my tire guy put it on the alignment rack and sure as shit, it was out. Fixed it, handles great in weather now, and I'm still on the same set for 2.5 years before I parked it and purchased a new Toyota.
@@dotar9586 That was my first thought!
Love the metal playing in the background!
For the Mercedes - back (way back) in the days of my "high speed driving" we controlled edge wear with tire pressure (among all the afore mentioned items being correct). Edge wear meant too low pressure, center wear too high pressure. The "softer" the tread compound, the more critical the tire pressure was. This was most evident on the front tires. So was there any indication of (in)correct tire pressure and perhaps exuberant driving style? Just noticed others mentioned tire pressure and edge wear.
I like watching your channel and Eric O's channel you two are great to watch it helps with learning how to repair many vehicles. A shout out to both you and Eric O.
My work car goes through a set of tires every year no matter what bc I put a lot miles wise a year so I just plan on a set every year just bc a tire says 45 k miles or 60 k miles you rarely get the mileage the tire says it lasts
Eric is a real kick at S.M.A.
Yes life is easier when it is broken visibly and the mechanical repair is obvious or visible. I can see how a string of rejects can make the day really long. Enjoyed Ray, cheers!
You are a awesome mechanic and you make great videos but the most exciting part about the videos is the shop phone ringing
Hi Ray, quick question, have you ever had to use your video's you do to either show a customera vehicle needs parts or prove that you have done the work/ you didn't break a part that was already broken and the customer tries to blame you? Thanks for the video's as I really enjoy them, keep up the great work 👍🏻
If that's a quick question, how many words would a slow question be?
@@dans_Learning_Curve Dan your statement was helpful in what way? It accomplished what other than to show how petty you are? I hear your mom calling you as it’s time to take your meds.
Many many more 😂
Ray's to busy to answer questions 😂
Speaking as a technician who is not Ray, I've taken pictures and videos if there's something I think the customer should see or if I suspect something is going on. We have had to use our shop security cameras to prove our innocence several times as well.
finally someone listening to some decent music in the shop and not radio garbage.
After driving WV for over 10 years with same angle system. I never experienced uneven wear, smells more like wrong pressure.
even more so when it's the edges it hints to low pressure .. center wear would be overpressure obvsly
@@Laurelinad I agree with you and I was resigned to the same diagnosis. Then Ray showed the rear tires' condition and I then realized that they (rear tires) had even wear across both of them, so that observation forced me to dismiss my original belief that underinflation of the tires was the culprit. I wish for a good day to both you and Ray. Fred
@@electronicengineer i See the possibility for just the Front tires being "flat", but Yeah, it's strange ...
same to you 👍
My heart fell when you went to much the start button!!!!! Funny....guy!!!
6:28 my per-diagnostic guess why it was running rough. The battery died and the ECU needed to relearn how to manage the engine idle. At least that's what happened with my 3rd gen RAV4 after the battery was swapped without a mem saver. Ran rough and then after a little while the ECU figured it out and it was fine from there
yeah they do the same on fords, let sit and warm up for 10 mins for the TB, then drive around town easy for maybe 20 more for trans.
Yup
Dude. Absolutely love your channel. Been in the auto repair biz all my life. Keep up the awesome content!
Just a few quick notes on tire ratings ...
AA is the top / best rating for traction. Ratings for traction are AA, A, B, C. (This is wet traction rating). Temperature ratings range from A, B, C. This is the ability for your tires to disperse heat. Living in the South, I only buy a temp rating of A tires.
Tread wear rating ranges from around 30 (or so) to 900 (or so). The lower the rating the softer / stickier the tread compound and faster wear. The higher the rating the harder the tread compound and slower wear. Your Yokohama's had a 440 rating which is a fairly soft compound. If the tires were super well maintained (tire pressure, rotations and alignment) you might get 60K out of the tire. 40K to 50K would be more typical. On side note each manufacture tests tread wear differently. Therefore, you can't really compare this number between manufactures. Yes, you can say a 900 rated Goodyear will probably wear longer than a 600 Michelin. But no one can say if a 600 Goodyear will wear longer than a 500 Michelin.
My guess, the owner and his mechanics have been under under inflating his tires for years. He likes a nice soft / floaty Mercedes ride. Only knowing the DOT date code, he got fair life out of those tires. (considering his probable need for a soft ride.)
Just my .02 .... and have a nice day
We had excessive wear on some front tires on a Jetta. Contributing factor was the side load garage. All the turning from stop to stop while backing the car out was hard on the front tires. After the tire shop mentioned it I went and checked the driveway. You could see a pattern of where we were turning the steering wheel while the car was not moving.
I can’t remember a time when I had a tire last to the mileage indicated by the manufacturer. Sticky (softer compound) tires lose rubber quicker and need to replaced more often. Driver input is a contributing factor as well and not rotating regularly will cause premature wear. Funny thing is when I was younger, I would often do work on the car myself because I didn’t have the money to go to a shop (I’m talking in my teens). The car I had was older and had issues, so I needed to make lots of repairs to keep it road worthy. I grew up about a mile from a road that was nothing but junk dealers end to end. So I had a parts supply that was cheaper. I would go and get parts on my ten speed (even a drive shaft once). The car would often have all four tires off and when I was done working I’d just put them back on to get the jack stands away. I was rotating my wheels constantly without knowing it. Now granted, the intervals were probably too short between…but it was getting done. That first new set of tires lasted me close to 50,000 miles or just under 4 years. Not bad. Most sets now last 2-3 years and I always do a four tire replacement with a wheel alignment at purchase. I used to use tire shops, but now I use my mechanic. Tire shops will nickel and dime you on other things like air cleaners and fluid swaps. Heck I even had four struts done at one and then within a week they were starting to fail. The tire shop (it’s a national chain, so not mentioning the name) said there was nothing wrong with them, but my mechanic stated otherwise. Not only that, they were unbranded struts and my mechanic would have replaced with Monroe struts for less money. So for the other readers, stick with your local mechanic for any maintenance or repairs. They know your car better than you do and better than the tire shop guys.😁
Michelin XZX radials. I sold a Volvo at 66,000 miles on the original set of tires that still had plenty of tread. They wore evenly, never rotated them, nor performed an alignment, speaks well for Volvo suspension.
Goodyear Wranglers 275/65/18 LT oems over 63k on my '19 F150
I'll second the goodyear Wranglers on trucks. Had a set on my 92 F150 that lasted just under 60k miles of very hard driving. that's when the outer edges started getting very bald. I was a teenager back when I had it and ran the heck out of that truck trying to impress friends. It was originally my dads truck before I bought it from my dad after I graduated. The stupid things we do when we were young... lol
@@nomebear I love on Long Island, NY. We have some of the worst paved roads in the nation. Nearly every road has a pothole or a road patch (with the exception of the freshly paved, but that will change in a few months). Most municipalities used cold patch to fill potholes and that lasts a couple of weeks at the most. The roads need to be nearly impassable before a re-pave is done. Even off-road trucks get a workout on the pavement.
Hey, Thanks for that tip about tires. I'm learning!!!
Toyota running rough could just be the transmission relearning shift points after dead battery. Customer may think it’s the engine
Once in a while I do a reset the automatic transmission logic. The shifts will feel strange until it relearns my driving habits.
I once thought the car I was driving had a sudden engine noise. It was the first time I had driven on a concrete highway in upstate New York, and it was just road noise.
I say this to wonder how many "My car is making noise all of a sudden!" are from road and/or tire conditions.
@@MonkeyJedi99 A young boy jumped in front of my car triggering the accident avoidance. I did not recall the car having such a system. Scared the pee out of me as the car slammed to a hault...and then I read the manual.
Hey Ray: One thing not mentioned about the benz's tires , the excessive wear on tire shoulders like what was shown "according to tire care manuals" could most likely be from to low tire pressure. even 4 psi over time will cause that condition, and it might not be enough to trigger the "tire light". My expedition placarded for 34 psi, I run 38 psi and am now getting more even tire wear.
Maybe I missed it, but didn’t hear that tire pressure was checked. Under pressure could be a factor for outside tire wear, too.
You could check the tire pressure at that exact time, however that doesn't tell you the tire pressure history of the tires over their 2.5 year history on that vehicle.
My wife only drives German cars and they wear tires and they are expensive, especially if they are run flats and staggered ( no rotating them). Your analysis is spot on, it’s the owner. Also, I’m glad you touched on LT tires, I replace a set of tires on my Superduty every 30,000 miles. I have owned 13 trucks in my life and have never got much more than that on a set of tires. I know others that get 50-60k on a set of tires, however I don’t… towing, off-road and skinny petal input I guess pays off on tire wear. For now I’ll stick to replacing skins every 30k
Good info about the tires, but are the pressures correct ?
Nailed it bro - the most obvious thing to check was not discussed.
Teacher Ray is the best
"Lost on translation" is one reason I prefer to use small, independent workshops when I can. There's something to be said for actually talking to the block who's going to be doing the work, rather than a service advisor who acts as a go-between.
Yup. You got me Ray. Well played, sir.
Looks like low tire pressure to me. Love the sticky Yokos on my Lotus. Always check the manufacture date when buying tires. A buddy was upset when tracking his 350Z as chunks were breaking off. Plenty of tread, but old tires!
The owner drives the car hard.
@@nomebear I did say it is a tracked vehicle.
I used to wrench on my free time as a hobby on my cars, but now I suffer from a herniated disk in my column and cannot wrench anymore without suffering from pain! This channel and the SMAC helps me compensate the lack of wrenching!
More wear on outer edges and less wear in center of tread means too low air pressure. Mfgs spec lower air pressure than the tire mfg spec for comfort. Usually, adjusting air pressure a few pounds above the mfg recommendation will improve handling, fuel economy and tire life. But too much air pressure will cause the tire to wear faster in the center of the tread. Driving sporty with lowish pressure will cause this kind of wear. TPMS warning light flashes when tires are severely under inflated, so waiting until then to check tire pressure causes faster wear. Air diffuses through rubber fast enough to warrant checking air pressure at least every 2 months.
Yep tyre pressure has a big effect on tyre wear
That Mercedes is suffering from under inflation and cornering wear. I have seen this in my tyre shop quite often. We would replace the tyres and inflate them between 36 to 44 PSI depending on tyre size and vehicle weight and tell the client that the pressures need to be checked every month. The car runs a little firmer over bumps with the higher pressures but that is a small inconvenience for the benefit gained. Provided the checks are made we found tyre wear was improved considerably. Unfortunately most people do not check tyre pressures often enough resulting in the Mercedes example. 😀👍🇦🇺
MB owners easily afford nu tyres , not to worry.
@@peted5217 I wish, 21 inch tyres are dam expensive, I drive with wear in mind ! 🙂
@@GG-gotr6 Ya to that. No secret most lux vehicles eat parts lots kwiker than avg camry. Just pt of game..
If U Wants 2 Play, U Gots 2 Pay
"Oh a chimney" - That's gold mate. Keep up the great work.
That was certainly an in-depth look at tire ratings! I'm certain my tire dealer doesn't consider all that when I go in for a set of tires, and after the last time I bought tires I was almost unable to get 2 of the lug nuts off. Ended up replacing the studs and nuts. I don't know what to do, though. I don't want to make them mad, because things may get worse. It was worse at the tire dealer I used before that. I wish I could just do all the stuff myself, so I don't have to keep going back and asking for help.
A long time ago I went to Sears to get 4 new tires. The tires were fine. One day, about a year later, I had a flat and found when I changed the tire that the lug nuts were on so tight that when loosening two of the five lug bolts that metal thread particles were falling to the ground. Straining to unloose those lug nuts is something I still remember. I checked the other three wheels and found unloosening those lug nuts just as hard. After I put on the spare tire I took the car back to Sears and 'vigorously' complained. Sears replaced the two of the stripped lug bolts and readjusted the torque settings on the lugs for the other three wheels. Over a couple of years I think I replaced two more lugs bolts as a result of their technician's incompetence. After that event I bought a torque wrench and have checked the lug bolts' tightness settings anytime our cars wheels need to be removed by a shop I'm not familiar.
In this world one often needs to be their own advocate to get something done right, and if you can't do it yourself then it's important to find someone you can trust (or a shop) that you know will do it right.
@@bearpuf yeah...even using "torque sticks" on an air impact I wouldn't trust an installer-some of those I bet are wore out......torque sticks arnt a "forever tool"..I ALWAYS check torque after having a tire removed n replaced...a good torque wrench isnt very expensive
Got the exact same fountain/dispenser at my work. So much better than the old fountain.
No, this comment has no real purpose, so I'll say I learned quite a bit watching your videos.
Oh, my wife knows everything about tires. She knows every tire I have had put on every vehicle she has ever owned are defective, that is why the outside edges of all of the front ones wear out. I thought it could be high speed turns, but she knows I am just a jerk for suggesting that.
Had a wife like that. Tire abuse was one of her most favorable traits. Right front tire on every car she drove was low from hitting the curb
@@wardscottcpa i also buy terrible brakes for her vehicles ( or so she had told me). She needs new front ones every yr.
I will say being a michigan native and having lots of pot holes the road surface is pretty smooth. When I visit Florida the roads don't have pot holes but they are rough like gravel.
Your Lumens said, "No!" Ray said, "But, my 'Tubers!" And Lumens said, "No, and quit asking!!"
As for the Mercedes E350's tires, a traction rating of AA is top of the charts...for road rated tires. This generally translates to a softer tire for better traction (especially when aggressively maneuvering & cornering), which matches up with being in "sport" designation/name by Yokohama. Unfortunately, being of slightly softer rubber also means faster tread wear. With 89K on the odometer and the tires being that worn, I wonder if the owner just drives aggressively? Furthermore, I think the owner has unrealistic expectations of the tires. We all want tires that last 100K miles. I wished that of my F350, my wife's Cadillac SRX, her 3-series BMW, and the three cars before that. The reality is that you have to balance out tread life vs. road noise vs. traction vs. road/weather conditions to match your needs. A sport/track tire will allow you to slingshot around corners & brake like a champ, be abhorrible in rain/snow, and only give you 10K - 20K miles of tread life. A highway touring tire won't corner or brake nearly as well, but you will get okay rain/snow traction and great tread life. It's all a balancing act.
Hello Lyle, you sound like someone who knows about tires. You're spot on! I worked for GoodYear tires for 13 yrs. and learn a bit about carcass, plies, compounds and then some more. If you have a softer compound you'll get grip but not longevity. The shoulder wear on the Benz it could be aggressive cornering on the driver, it doesn't matter what tire you have you cannot escaper that. Drive like and old lady from Pasadena and they'll last you longer. Cheers
I was thinking the tyres would wear like that if they were slightly underinflated but I bow to your superior and experience based knowledge. Can't be easy telling a customer his tyres wear is because the car is driven too fast on the corners. No BMW driver wants to be told that.
I hope you will answer a question that I’ve wondered about for years
When lifting a car on your hoist - how do you know when to stop before hitting the ceiling (have you ever hit the roof???
Great videos thank Paul F.
There's a safety bar that's over the top of the lift that prevents the car from being lifted too high.
@@veroa1985 ofcourse that's the basic answer, but a keen eye is key when a vehicle has say racks on the roof or the hoods up, hell even had a pickup with a cap on it then had kayak racks on the cap, lol the standard safety bar wouldn't catch that before sticking through the roof xD
my favorite two mechanics, Eric O @South Main Auto Repair LLC, Ray from right here
Without the heater, it will take longer to go into closed loop.
I could see where it might run poorly after a battery replacement in open loop.
Customers think they know more than the actual mechanic who does the work everyday Hope your day gets better Ray!
Those little pieces of rubber on the track are called marbles... the tires are marbeling.
Yeah, believe it or not at the end of an F1 race (the one with all the corners) the drivers were told by their teams to drive over the marbles slowish to add weight to make sure they were’nt under weight. Not heard it recently though, looking forward to Spa in Belgium, next race, they’re on summer break now
Excellent commentary on tires and tire wear!!
WHAT did you call the engine cover, a bonnet? have you become all British Ray ? Maybe cornering at flat out speeds contribute to the Merc tyre wear. Maybe ask the customer if they have a teenage son :)
I am from the UK as well. Am desperately wishing that fenders were called bumpers and trunks were called boots as well !
@@vulgivagu Nope, fenders that aren't in any way connected to Leo, would be wings. Maybe Ray will start using spanners and split-pins, you never know. . . . . . . . .
@@572Btriode I agree. A wrench in my part of the world (South Africa) is something a plumber will use to fix a water leak. A wrench is more commonly known as a "baboon spanner". Don't ask me where that name came from 😂😂
@@Ghost63123 Yep, to me they're simply "Stillsons", and that is actually an American term !!
Great overview of tires. Most people think everyone is trying to screw them when they have little knowledge. Read up on cars people and we'll all get as long better.
The tire wear on the Mercedes is usually a sign of underinflated tires.
I love the suspense sound being played when the brake cleaner is busted out lol. Now I can’t get it out of my head whenever I have to use it myself.
isn't there a tool that goes in the center of that oil filter housing to drain the oil from it...before you loosen it???
There is but it's just an extra step. It's faster just to clean the oil off when your done.
Great video
You are a top notch mechanic pardon me technician.
I was very educated on how long tires last I did not realize how often I should actually be changing tires.
I wish Toyota would make all the vehicles maintenance light reset the same. Some are trip A, or the odometer. I always end up inadvertently resetting trip meters and I found out that really bothers some customers.