W203/CL203/S203 TIRE Discussion Thread - Every question on TIRES

[Karo]

If you are only getting tires, offset and bolt pattern shouldn't matter (bolt patterns are all same)

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[sexyklammy]

yup the tires and rims are coming from an old E300 (98') so just hoping they fit before I purchase them

Originally Posted by Karo

If you are only getting tires, offset and bolt pattern shouldn't matter (bolt patterns are all same)

[sexyklammy]

Hi again,

No sport package on my car and stock rims are 16x6.5 with +37 offset and 205/55/16 tire

getting snow tires off a old 98' E300 rims 16x7.5 with +41 offset and 205/55/16 tires

I'm just worried if the wider rim with different offset will rub on anything and have enough clearance? TIA everyone!

[t1n0]

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

IMHO the PS2s & the Exalto PE2s are the best tyres for these cars. The Conti's are a disaster - noisy, crap turn in, poor grip etc. Threw mine off under half worn at 17,000Km in disgust!

I think the F1 Asymmetric's (which are a Michelin copy) are a darn good cheaper option. I will personally only run Michelin.

I was considering the F1's and guess what? TR has a price break right now on the fronts, 225/45/17's.
I can't say the price because you have to go into the cart to see it and I don't want to break any 'rules' for them, but check it out, it's a great deal right now.

I've gotten 22K out of my brand new PS2's up front, and about 10K from the used PS2's in the rear. Very aggressive driving, especially cornering, and the shoulders of the front pair went past the threads already. The shoulders wore very much on the front.

As far as F1's vs PS2's, ive read a few posts that the PS2's handle slightly sharper. I'm really tempted to try them since they are so aggressively priced right now.

The PS2's are great, but between the price and the rapid wear, I may have to 'settle' for something else.

[t1n0]

Don't laugh, serious question folks. hear me out.
Michelin has a great tire called the Hydroedge. My girl's car has 4 on right now. They are great tires, and supposedly have even better traction and are quieter than PS2's. AND, they are about $115 each brand new. So what's the catch? Well, they are 'R' speed rated (106 MPH).
Speed ratings are calculated for 10 minutes, so technically, this tire could operate at 106 MPH for ten minutes.
Yes, I know that my car is supposed to have 'Y' rated tires, and yes I know (personally) that it can go 155MPH. But that was the first year I owned it. I drive at 70-90 all the time now.

Yes, I may get squirrelly one day and hit 120 momentarily, but I don't see myself doing 105+ for ten straight minutes..do you see where this is going?

Brand new Michelin Hydroedge's for 115 each, that are reviewed as quieter and stickier than PS2's, provided I stay under 100 MPH continuous...
.02c anyone?

(tell you the truth, now that I wrote it out...it see it really is a stupid question, but I leave it up anyway)

[Glyn M Ruck]

In South Africa if your insurance company catch you running tyres with a lower speed rating than the car came with they will not cover a accident claim.

[t1n0]

Good point , Glyn.
My other option is used tires, and I have had good results using used tires in the rear so far. I put a pair of used PS2's with 5/32nd (half life) on the rear, and I got about 12K out of them, which is half of the 22K I got out of the new PS2's I put on up front.
Used are about 80-90 a pair vs 440 a pair (rear) new; so a quarter the cost vs half the life.

However, I did come across some interesting facts about tread life vs wet stopping.
British report in PDF format:
http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info...read_depth.pdf

Dry stops aren’t affected as much, but wet is affected almost as soon as they start to wear.

Here’s the alarming wet stopping video:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/249831...h_do_you_need/

All of the reviews I find put the GY F1 on par with the PS2's, and I'd be saving about $100 for the front pair...ever use F1's?

[Glyn M Ruck]

I have not used F1s but friends have & they won tyre of the year in Europe last year.

[t1n0]

I sprung for the F1's for the front: under $300, delivered. Great deal. Tirerack.com rocks.

I spoke to the alignment guy at a benz shop. He said the no matter how aggressive I turn, these cars have excellent camber as you turn, so the the wear should be even. However, my shoulders on the front are gone, below the belts, and I still have about 4/32 in the middle. I've had the alignment checked several times, and tirekingdom says it's within spec, but I think those guys are clueless at this point ( i probably made a mistake when I purchased the 5 year alignment package for $260).
Benz guy also said that if the alignment is in spec, a slight pull can be from the tires, and I shuld put the new ones on first, then take it to him. I spoke to him about the eccentric pin kit to adjust the caster, and he said to put the tires on first and take it to him. The car has developed a few slight clunks whenever I go over dips at an off angle, like pulling in to parking lot, but not if I go over a bump straight on, like speed bumps. I think the other bushing are worn now ( I already replaced the front bushings, but there are actually two sets on each side, a front axle front, and a front axle rear bushing).

[t1n0]

The F1's are awesome, great substitute fro the PS2's, and about 30% cheaper now that they are on sale. After mounting and balancing yesterday they developed a slight vibration at 65-75 that would slowly come and go. I took it back to the tire place today and the discovered that the tire had rotated on the rim, because the weights were about 60 degrees from were the tire was marked for balancing. Now, all good, and they are as quiet, if not (believe it or not) quieter than the PS2's. And just as most reviewers on TR stated, they have a slightly sharper driving turn-in, which is a nice benefit to compensate for the way these cars are set up.
The uneven wear was probably due to the sway bar links that are worn, discovered yesterday during oil change. I still got 20k miles out of the PS2's with spirited driving.

[t1n0]

The F1's are awesome, great substitute fro the PS2's, and about 30% cheaper now that they are on sale. After mounting and balancing yesterday they developed a slight vibration at 65-75 that would slowly come and go. I took it back to the tire place today and the discovered that the tire had rotated on the rim, because the weights were about 60 degrees from were the tire was marked for balancing. Now, all good, and they are as quiet, if not (believe it or not) quieter than the PS2's. And just as most reviewers on TR stated, they have a slightly sharper driving turn-in, which is a nice benefit to compensate for the way these cars are set up.
The uneven wear was probably due to the sway bar links that are worn, discovered yesterday during oil change. I still got 20k miles out of the PS2's with spirited driving.

[Glyn M Ruck]

Pleased you are happy with F1's. I just ordered a new set of PS2's today - Will be fitted on my new rims Saturday.

[t1n0]

Yep, new up front, and half used in the rear is the way to go for me on this car. Found a used (6/32 tread left) PS2 for $40 for the passenger rear that was worn slick already, mounted and balanced perfectly; just can't afford new rears, rather spend it on new fronts before the fronts get below 4/32, the fronts being so much more important. That video above was a real eye-opener.

[Glyn M Ruck]

Yes - a new set of decent tyres is an expensive ordeal these days. Ouch! My wallet is lighter.