W203/CL203/S203 TIRE Discussion Thread - Every question on TIRES - Page 5

young · 03-18-2002, 08:14 PM

well, it's sort of random. some people got michelin pilot sports, others got conti sports. both Z rated.

i've been told by my dealer that when the cars arrive at the port, they put on the properly rated tires (Z) and so you aren't guaranteed a specific tire. but, he also said that they changed the tires for people that requested it. so it depends on your dealership.

here's a link to tirerack's speed ratings explanation

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VoyagerDude · 03-18-2002, 08:25 PM

Mine came with ContiSport Contacts but my dealer replaced them with Michelin PilotSports on my request. I liked that thread pattern much better.

KJ-TypeR · 03-18-2002, 08:31 PM

Contisports suck man...I don't know why some people get some decent Michelin Pilot Sports and we get some ****ty Conti Sports.

LarryB · 03-18-2002, 08:48 PM

I asked the dealer what tires the car had on when he called to confirm pick-up. My C230 came with Contisports. I asked and they swapped with Michilen Pilot Sports. No problem. Winter tires are pilot alpin's. great winter tire for ice. not so good for deep snow.

BlackC230Coupe · 03-18-2002, 09:58 PM

Mine came with the Z rated Michelin Pilot Sports i would have never even wanted the car with the c7 package if i got the Contisucks.

Flashman · 03-18-2002, 10:08 PM

TireRack rates both tires equally at 3.5 stars. However, they do consider the Michelin to be a "Max Performance" while the Continental they consider "Ultra High Performance" (a notch lower). The Michelin's also sell for $177 vs. $123 for the Continental (both tires are on 'special' sale).

young · 03-19-2002, 12:39 AM

where are those ratings (3.5)? i can't find them.

anyway, here's a list of user ratings.

max perf tires 8.5 for the michelins

ultra high perf tires 4.1

for the conti sports

KJ-TypeR · 03-19-2002, 02:43 AM

If I had known this when my girlfriend was picking up the car, I would've asked them to swap the tires! BOOOOOOOOOOOOo

C230Ken · 03-19-2002, 08:36 AM

Got Pilot Sports on my C7 pkg - happiness, wife got a flat at 600 miles, drove about 2 miles (not noticing because they're 'so low' already). When the tire was taken off, it looked like it snowed black snow inside from the sidewall breaking down. Called dealer - no happiness - no tire warantee on new car - cost $330.00 to replace it at local NTB.

Mike E · 03-19-2002, 11:15 AM

I got the Continentals on my C230. I picked up the car on Feb 28. I asked a week before delivery about swapping tires if the car came in with Continentals. The dealer said they would swap them for me if they had a car with the Michelins in stock at the time my car arrived. They said this was the only way they could accommodate my request. As my luck goes there were no C230's with the Michelins in stock and I had to settle for the Continentals. I say "settle" because I was going off the recommendations on this forum that there is some significant difference between the two and there may well be. As a result, I thought I was going to be somehow disappointed with the Continentals. However, that has not been the case. I've put 1500 miles on the car to date and haven't yet found anything to dislike about the tires. The grip and handling are better than anything I've ever owned before and they are also excellent in the rain. I have not noticed any problem with road noise. So, even though I couldn't get the Michelins that I would have preferred I am still satisfied. I throw this out there just in case you are unable to get the Michelins.

Enjoy your new car!!!

C230Komp · 03-19-2002, 02:15 PM

I called the dealer today to ask about swapping Michelins if the car comes in with Continentals. He said they don't do that, and whatever it comes with from the factory is what you get. Now I'm confused. I'm sure I'll get Continentals if that's the case, but where I live it doesn't snow much, so I hope traction and wear are good on dry pavement.

Mike E · 03-19-2002, 02:39 PM

C230Komp

Both the Michelins and Continentals are summer performance tires. Neither of them are intended for use in the snow. As a result they would both perform poorly in the snow. Summer performance tires use softer tread compounds to maximize traction but that also results in increased wear. Any summer performance tire will wear faster than a typical all purpose tire to which you are probably more accustomed. As for traction, again, I have been pleased with the Continentals on both dry and wet roads. As for wear, the tread wear rating will give you some idea as to which one might last longer when compared to the other. If eithter one has a larger tread wear rating number than the other, that tire would likely last longer than the other. However, it is likely that these tires will not last as long as other tires you have owned in the past. (You can find the tread wear rating for these tires on the tirerack web site)

PS: Just checked Tirerack - the tread wear rating for the Michelins is 220 and 280 for the Continentals. In theory the Continentals may provide about 27% longer tread wear.

Hope this helps!!!

Spyke · 03-19-2002, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike E
PS: Just checked Tirerack - the tread wear rating for the Michelins is 220 and 280 for the Continentals. In theory the Continentals may provide about 27% longer tread wear.

Hope this helps!!!

In that case I hope I get the Contis on mine! I plan on springing for winter wheels/tires anyway, and don't plan on any club racing anytime soon...

Lynn · 03-19-2002, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike E
PS: Just checked Tirerack - the tread wear rating for the Michelins is 220 and 280 for the Continentals. In theory the Continentals may provide about 27% longer tread wear.

Hope this helps!!!

You can't use wear ratings to compare tires across brands. Each tire manufacturer selects one of its own tires as as the base line from which all its other tires are rated. There is no gorvernmental tread wear standard, so it is almost imposssible to compare tread wear between manufacturers.

slcvr6 · 03-19-2002, 04:11 PM

I have a set of staggered AMGs waiting for my C230K and will have the dealer remove the stock C7 package before it even gets cleaned up for delivery. If they come with the Michelins, cool, they'll go home and sit in my basement for future use. If they come with the Continentals, they will stay at the dealership until another C7 car comes in with the Michelins and they do a swap for me. I will not take the Continentals...I've had them in the past and think they are very over-rated. Enthusiastic drivers can notice a difference between the 2.

Ted · 03-25-2002, 11:35 PM

The spare tire when stored is flat. Does the car come with an electric compressor or canned air ?

o2bsurreal · 03-25-2002, 11:51 PM

If you remove the spare tire from it's hiding place, you'll find an air compressor hidden underneath.

young · 03-25-2002, 11:52 PM

in the coupe, there is an air compressor. and i'll be sure to not read on how to use it until i get a flat...

btw, i'll bet some people will say call mbroadside...

Lynn · 03-26-2002, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by young
i'll bet some people will say call mbroadside...

m broadside sounds good. When the tire goes flat, just shoot it full of holes.

young · 03-26-2002, 08:41 PM

for those of you that don't venture out of the c-class forum, luke has posted a sticky w/ the tirerack best tires lists...

i have the michelin pilot sports but i'm willing to try the other brands when i get a chance... at 15000 miles per set (i'm totally estimating that figure...)

here's my order...
1. bridgestone S-03s
2. toyo Proxes T1-S
3. yokohama AVS sports
4. kumho ECSTA Supra 712

Goggles Piasano · 03-26-2002, 08:43 PM

yes there is an electronic air pump that is included in the package. The outlet plugs into the ciggarette lighter. I'm probably repeating some other persons reply, oh well.

Buellwinkle · 03-26-2002, 08:53 PM

Has anyone used MB Roadside Assistance? I heard they charge for this service. I would call AAA as they probably get someone to me quicker. Heck you may be on hold with TeleAid for a long time.

Besides, who wants to change a tire that you have to go back inside your car and plug the compressor into a cig lighter after you handled a dirty tire. You car is going to have fingerprints all over the interior (in my case Oyster).

Goggles Piasano · 03-26-2002, 09:03 PM

That's why I got Charcoal

BrabusCClass · 03-26-2002, 09:15 PM

I pick #4. Thats what Im getting next.

Buellwinkle · 03-26-2002, 09:16 PM

That's why I got AAA.

View Poll Results: What Tires are the best?
Goodyear	18	8.26%
Toyo	19	8.72%
Michelin	87	39.91%
Continental	20	9.17%
Falken	21	9.63%
Pirelli	24	11.01%
Other	29	13.30%
Voters: 218. You may not vote on this poll

03-18-2002, 08:25 PM	#102
VoyagerDude Super Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 552 Drives: 2002 C230K, Silver, 6-speed, Evo, Roof, Leather, CD, Staggered C7 Wheels	Mine came with ContiSport Contacts but my dealer replaced them with Michelin PilotSports on my request. I liked that thread pattern much better. __________________ VoyagerDude '02 MB C230K/Silver/6-speed/Evo/Panoramic/Leather/CD/Bel985/StaggeredWheels '05 Ducati Superbike 749S/Red

03-18-2002, 09:58 PM	#105
BlackC230Coupe PREMIUM SPONSOR Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: South Florida Posts: 11,168 Drives: 08' Viper SRT10 & 08' S550	tires Mine came with the Z rated Michelin Pilot Sports i would have never even wanted the car with the c7 package if i got the Contisucks. __________________ Phone 1-866-950-7779 Website www.EuroteckMotorsports.com E-Mail info@EuroteckMotorsports.com

03-18-2002, 10:08 PM	#106
Flashman Super Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 644 Drives: 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe	TireRack rates both tires equally at 3.5 stars. However, they do consider the Michelin to be a "Max Performance" while the Continental they consider "Ultra High Performance" (a notch lower). The Michelin's also sell for $177 vs. $123 for the Continental (both tires are on 'special' sale). __________________ Rick Flashman 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe - Landspeeder (LNDSPDR) Magma Red C5 C7 (Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45ZR-17) - Philips BlueVision Lights (Low/Hi/Fog) - X-Pel Clear Bra 93 Octane Performance Mode - Escort Passport 8500 - Ericsson TrueDuplex Handsfree - Cosco Baby Car Seat Pioneer XM-Radio FM-Tuner

03-19-2002, 12:39 AM	#107
young MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Earth Posts: 3,600 Drives: C-Sportcoupe; 230K	where are those ratings (3.5)? i can't find them. anyway, here's a list of user ratings. max perf tires 8.5 for the michelins ultra high perf tires 4.1 for the conti sports __________________ Y O U N G

03-18-2002, 08:31 PM	#103
KJ-TypeR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 307 Drives: M3	Contisports suck man...I don't know why some people get some decent Michelin Pilot Sports and we get some ****ty Conti Sports.

03-18-2002, 08:48 PM	#104
LarryB Newbie Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 6 Drives: 1983 380 SEL	I asked the dealer what tires the car had on when he called to confirm pick-up. My C230 came with Contisports. I asked and they swapped with Michilen Pilot Sports. No problem. Winter tires are pilot alpin's. great winter tire for ice. not so good for deep snow.

03-19-2002, 02:43 AM	#108
KJ-TypeR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 307 Drives: M3	If I had known this when my girlfriend was picking up the car, I would've asked them to swap the tires! BOOOOOOOOOOOOo

03-19-2002, 08:36 AM	#109
C230Ken Almost a Member! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 28	Got Pilot Sports on my C7 pkg - happiness, wife got a flat at 600 miles, drove about 2 miles (not noticing because they're 'so low' already). When the tire was taken off, it looked like it snowed black snow inside from the sidewall breaking down. Called dealer - no happiness - no tire warantee on new car - cost $330.00 to replace it at local NTB.

03-19-2002, 11:15 AM	#110
Mike E Almost a Member! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: north Philadelphia suburbs Posts: 50 Drives: 2002 C230 coupe	I got the Continentals on my C230. I picked up the car on Feb 28. I asked a week before delivery about swapping tires if the car came in with Continentals. The dealer said they would swap them for me if they had a car with the Michelins in stock at the time my car arrived. They said this was the only way they could accommodate my request. As my luck goes there were no C230's with the Michelins in stock and I had to settle for the Continentals. I say "settle" because I was going off the recommendations on this forum that there is some significant difference between the two and there may well be. As a result, I thought I was going to be somehow disappointed with the Continentals. However, that has not been the case. I've put 1500 miles on the car to date and haven't yet found anything to dislike about the tires. The grip and handling are better than anything I've ever owned before and they are also excellent in the rain. I have not noticed any problem with road noise. So, even though I couldn't get the Michelins that I would have preferred I am still satisfied. I throw this out there just in case you are unable to get the Michelins. Enjoy your new car!!!

03-19-2002, 02:15 PM	#111
C230Komp Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: DFW Posts: 155	I called the dealer today to ask about swapping Michelins if the car comes in with Continentals. He said they don't do that, and whatever it comes with from the factory is what you get. Now I'm confused. I'm sure I'll get Continentals if that's the case, but where I live it doesn't snow much, so I hope traction and wear are good on dry pavement.

03-19-2002, 02:39 PM	#112
Mike E Almost a Member! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: north Philadelphia suburbs Posts: 50 Drives: 2002 C230 coupe	C230Komp Both the Michelins and Continentals are summer performance tires. Neither of them are intended for use in the snow. As a result they would both perform poorly in the snow. Summer performance tires use softer tread compounds to maximize traction but that also results in increased wear. Any summer performance tire will wear faster than a typical all purpose tire to which you are probably more accustomed. As for traction, again, I have been pleased with the Continentals on both dry and wet roads. As for wear, the tread wear rating will give you some idea as to which one might last longer when compared to the other. If eithter one has a larger tread wear rating number than the other, that tire would likely last longer than the other. However, it is likely that these tires will not last as long as other tires you have owned in the past. (You can find the tread wear rating for these tires on the tirerack web site) PS: Just checked Tirerack - the tread wear rating for the Michelins is 220 and 280 for the Continentals. In theory the Continentals may provide about 27% longer tread wear. Hope this helps!!! Last edited by Mike E; 03-19-2002 at 02:57 PM.

03-19-2002, 04:11 PM	#115
slcvr6 Super Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 615 Drives: Awaiting a new arrival...	I have a set of staggered AMGs waiting for my C230K and will have the dealer remove the stock C7 package before it even gets cleaned up for delivery. If they come with the Michelins, cool, they'll go home and sit in my basement for future use. If they come with the Continentals, they will stay at the dealership until another C7 car comes in with the Michelins and they do a swap for me. I will not take the Continentals...I've had them in the past and think they are very over-rated. Enthusiastic drivers can notice a difference between the 2. __________________ -Robert 2001 ML320 Sport, Brilliant Silver/Charcoal <--SOLD 2002 C230K, Brilliant Silver/Charcoal 6spd - C1/C4/C5/C7/COMAND/CD Changer/17" AMG 203s <--SOLD

03-25-2002, 11:35 PM	#116
Ted Almost a Member! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 62 Drives: Current : '91300D Turbo (124) & 89 190D Past: 240D / 300SD / 300D Turbo(123)	what's the story on the spare tire ? The spare tire when stored is flat. Does the car come with an electric compressor or canned air ?

03-25-2002, 11:51 PM	#117
o2bsurreal Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 130 Drives: C230 Sport Coupe	If you remove the spare tire from it's hiding place, you'll find an air compressor hidden underneath. __________________ C230 Sport Coupe \| Black C2 \| C7 \| 6-Speed Manual

03-26-2002, 09:03 PM	#123
Goggles Piasano Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 190 Drives: C230 K coupe Orion blue, Evo, prem leather roof, premium sound and cd changer, auto.	That's why I got Charcoal __________________ There are three kinds of mathematicians, those that can count and those that can't. "The Fifth Limb is Still Intact" Newest- Benz '08 C300 SS, Pd-Ag 4Matic-Premium Package with Al inserts+ Sun Roof.

03-26-2002, 09:15 PM	#124
BrabusCClass MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,850 Drives: 1999 C43 AMG	I pick #4. Thats what Im getting next. __________________ Lexus SC300 Porsche Boxster GT3 RS Kleemann C24k (sold)

03-25-2002, 11:52 PM	#118
young MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Earth Posts: 3,600 Drives: C-Sportcoupe; 230K	in the coupe, there is an air compressor. and i'll be sure to not read on how to use it until i get a flat... btw, i'll bet some people will say call mbroadside... __________________ Y O U N G

03-26-2002, 08:41 PM	#120
young MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Earth Posts: 3,600 Drives: C-Sportcoupe; 230K	best tires for the c-class... for those of you that don't venture out of the c-class forum, luke has posted a sticky w/ the tirerack best tires lists... i have the michelin pilot sports but i'm willing to try the other brands when i get a chance... at 15000 miles per set (i'm totally estimating that figure...) here's my order... 1. bridgestone S-03s 2. toyo Proxes T1-S 3. yokohama AVS sports 4. kumho ECSTA Supra 712 __________________ Y O U N G

03-26-2002, 08:43 PM	#121
Goggles Piasano Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 190 Drives: C230 K coupe Orion blue, Evo, prem leather roof, premium sound and cd changer, auto.	yes there is an electronic air pump that is included in the package. The outlet plugs into the ciggarette lighter. I'm probably repeating some other persons reply, oh well. __________________ There are three kinds of mathematicians, those that can count and those that can't. "The Fifth Limb is Still Intact" Newest- Benz '08 C300 SS, Pd-Ag 4Matic-Premium Package with Al inserts+ Sun Roof.

03-26-2002, 08:53 PM	#122
Buellwinkle MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 6,183	Has anyone used MB Roadside Assistance? I heard they charge for this service. I would call AAA as they probably get someone to me quicker. Heck you may be on hold with TeleAid for a long time. Besides, who wants to change a tire that you have to go back inside your car and plug the compressor into a cig lighter after you handled a dirty tire. You car is going to have fingerprints all over the interior (in my case Oyster).

03-26-2002, 09:16 PM	#125
Buellwinkle MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 6,183	That's why I got AAA.

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