NationalTyres destroyed my car

Bogdan10

sweetsand said:

Many years ago we bought a brand new MB Class - it dorve well but always pulled slight to the left compared to the bmw 5 weries we had before but a tyre change made it worse - we even got suspension bits changed and rechecked and the tracking etc and then paid someone else -  Mercs, as they get older some pull and new tyres make a difference to this. The machine that prints out like the one you used is almost fool proof unless they forget to tighten up unless machine is fault. However, Mercedes are odd cars even never ones the S class we have, same tyres from new but now pulling slightly more to the left we note it but they tell us tracking is spot on - the tracking people could have easily said it was off and charge us 70 odd quid.
Our son has a MB GLE bought brand new about 18 months ago - potholes bad roads has gadully made that car pull slightly to the left and MB looked at it said nothing wrong but driving it like our S sclass you get that little niggle at times having to weigh down on the steering more to the right

We are thinking of getting a GLS, Merc but will test drive that in a few months - we have a range Rover, quite new, had to get a new front try after about 5k miles, car pulled to the right so we had the new tyre that cost us 600 moved to the back now drives like new.

Personally I don't think the garage is to blame but it was your car on old tyres that may have worn unevenly making it drive straight - good luck

ATB

Thank you for your reply with your experiences.
In my case, in the family we have a similar experience. My partner she had an MB A Class and in March, I think, we change the tyres (at ProTyre) + wheel alignment. Since then, her car is going straight, not pulling at all (apart of the camber of the road).
As I understand, from Mercedes, they built the cars in that way, to pull slightly to the left for preventing collision (in case drivers are falling asleep).
Regarding the old tyres, what you said, it makes me to understand a bit better, because the old tyres was quite worm, but the car was going straight. It could be how you said, the car, the alignment, took the shape of the tyres and car drive straight. 
Now, is very annoying, because I get in touch with an Mercedes Benz Specialist, and he told me he can fix it, but I need to buy some camber bolts and castor bolts + new alignment.  All together, will cost around £300.......
Unfortunately, I'm not very rich, so, this need to wait until pay day  end of the month   

John_

couriervanman said:

As above why get it done when fine

It’s something that it’s worth getting checked, as even though it’s not necessarily bad enough to notice, if the settings are off it can feel much better afterwards, and it can and does go off in some cars.
I had an S1 Elise years ago, and the tracking was critical to it feeling as it was supposed to, and would also just go out of alignment over the course of about six months of normal driving.

clive0510

I've known national tyres for many tears, as i work in the trade, or should that be tread! ok sorry but they are one of the best in the trade.

fred246

When I was young I always thought it was good to have your wheel alignment checked. I asked a garage to do it and the car was never the same again. Once they have messed with it you can't go back. The last car I had never had wheel alignment done in 17 years. My current car hasn't had it done in 16 years. It would take a big problem for me to ask a garage to check my wheel alignment. I suspect that there are a few experts around that know what they are doing. Most garages don't seem to have a clue.