Quote:
Originally Posted by hrothgar02
Considering that my last set (Continental ContiSports 2's) only lasted around 11,000 miles, I went cheap and went for the General UHP's (now made my Continental). I am running stock rims 225/45/17 front and 245/40/17 rears. I will keep you updated after the install (going to do some smoky burnouts on the old tires before replacing!). All told, my cost was $390 + $50 shipping - $50 rebate = $390 net! Holy moly these were cheap. Does anyone have experience with these tires (good, bad, ugly)? For this price, I have nothing to loose!
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I think you're going to regret this. The phrase "You get what you pay for" comes to mind.
I have an old 1989 300E for a daily beater, along with my Beast. When my Michelin MXV4+'s went to tire heaven I went your route and bought the Generals.
Big mistake.
Immediately afterwards I noticed a strong front end vibration at speed that was never present with the Michelins. At 80-85+ I could actually see the entire hood vibrate!
I went to the tire installer and told him, we went out on the freeway and he saw (and heard) it for himself. Took it back, jacked it up, said "Your front-end suspension is shot, all the arms have loose joints" (or somesuch). So I replaced all those bits (control arms, etc.). That made it better but it was still there - anything above 73-75 or so, back came the vibration.
Because the car was realigned after the suspension bits were changed, I thought I should have the Generals rebalanced. So I did.
That helped the front hood shake a little - only to be replaced by bad vibration in the steering wheel at anything above 60. Whereas before I could avoid the whole problem by driving at 73 or below, now I have to deal with the vibrating steering wheel at any freeway speed! I just traded one problem for another
I don't know how to fix this, but all I know is that I made a big mistake not getting another set of MXV4's for that car.
I sure as heck wouldn't get Generals for my Beast.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hrothgar02
Also any other W209 owners out there with issues with the front tires wearing out on the outer edge?
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Mine's a W208, but still ...
That issue is exactly what brought me here and to your post - I just took my Beast in today (2002, 11,000+ miles) for a regular lube, oil & filter and the dealer service guy pointed out that my tires all had fine cracks on the sidewall at the curvature point. At 11,000 miles! The car is garaged all the time, covered all the time, never driven in rain ... yet the tires are cracking?
So now I'm wondering whether to replace them with more Continentals or if there is something better. I am perusing Tire Rack as we speak ...