We were traveling home and our TPMS indicated a tire failure. The PSI starting dropping rapidly. We took the tire off and found that only 4 " of rubber holding the back sidewall together on the tire. I then inspected the other tires on the car (which were purchased and installed at the same time) are showing signs of failure as well. All of the tires are 255-40-r19 We had a family of 4 in…
2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class tires problems
moderate 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
When does it fail?
Of the 4 tires complaints filed for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The tire tread on the michelin pilot sport a/s plus shreds or crumbles. Michelin calls it "chunking" and said it was due to the compound used to make the tire. The compound has since been modified. This problem occurred on my girl friend's 2009 Mercedes c-series sedan and all four tires were replaced in or about november 2012. I noticed the same problem occurring to the front tires on my…
I purchased 4 new 255/45/zr18 extremecontact dws about 13 months ago and now all 4 tires have a bulging bubble on the sidewalls. Of course I brought it back from where I purchased it from and they blame it on pot holes, road hazards. I currently cannot drive the vehicle in fear that I might have a blow out. I have purchased many tires before that were not continental and never experienced what im…
Michelin pilot sport a/s plus 255/45zr18 99y as+ installed on 2008 Mercedes s550. Tires tread is "chunking" with 18,000 miles of use. Purchased from costco. I have contacted costco. Was told it was "normal", complained it cannot be, we negotiated back and forth on an adjustment. It wasn't satisfactory. I was offered for a discount price the "new" version of the tire, I.e. Pilot sport a/s 3. I…
Had tires trouble with your 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, tires issues most often appear around 73,455 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.