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Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Performance Tire Reviews

Performance tires do not only improve maneuverability and traction, but they also improve ride quality. This review compares the top brands of the E-Class performance tires for you to select from.

By Jared Hammond - May 28, 2015

This article applies to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class w211/w212 (2009-Present).

Many modern performance/summer tires are adapted from the racing tires used in F1 racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. These tires are designed to withstand punishment from harsh roads and aggressive driving styles. They will also give your E-Class better traction and responsiveness, while not losing out on the essential comforts necessary for daily driving. If this sounds appealing to you, then you're in luck. Below are four high-quality performance tires that have been reviewed and tested by MBWorld E-Class drivers as well as others in the Mercedes-Benz community. Each tire has something different to offer; so depending on what your needs are and what you expect, here's a little help on which to choose.

E-Class Performance Tires
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Continental ContiProContact
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position
Pirelli P Zero
Price (per set of 4)
 $758 $905 $654 $844
Size
 245/40ZR18 245/40R18 245/40R18 245/40ZR18
Treadwear Rating
 300 400 280 220
Best Suited For
 Road/Track Road Road/Track Road/Track
Warranty
 6 Years, 30K Miles 6 Years, 60K Miles N/A N/A
Best Quality: Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Best Value: Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position

Michelin Pilot Super Sport (Max Performance Summer)

Price – $758

Dry Traction – Great

Wet Traction – Great

Responsiveness and Stability – Great

Ride Comfort – Good

Michelin has made a name for themselves year after year with vast improvements in their racing tires. In recent years, the Le Mans championship winner was able to win on just 11 sets of Michelin tires, driving over 3,300 racing miles. The record speaks for itself, so Michelin decided to adapt the same technology into their high performance production tires. The Pilot Super Sport tire uses a bi-compound rubber with a dry compound on the outboard side, and wet compound on the inboard side. The dry compound was designed to withstand high speed cornering, while the wet compound to withstand high speeds and reduce hydroplaning.

This model is one of Michelin's most responsive tires and has the best traction (wet or dry) of any other high performance tire. The trade-off, however, is a reduction in ride comfort and an increase in noise. This tire is not as great for daily driving. Recommended for highest traction and control.

Continental ContiProContact (Grand Touring All-Season)

Price – $905

Dry Traction – Good

Wet Traction – Fair

Responsiveness and Stability – Fair

Ride Comfort – Fair

The ContiProContact was originally intended for only European luxury and performance vehicles driven in North America, but has now expanded to a wide range of other make and model cars. The tire is designed for performance, luxury, and versatility. Its tread has curved sipes for multi-directional grip, and is made of a silica compound that lowers rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency.

The ContiProContact doesn't perform as well as a dedicated summer performance tire, and users have found that the ride quality decreases as the tires wear down. Still, its high level of dry traction certainly makes it a competitor. Also, it features a warranty for 60k miles and has an astonishingly long tread life. Recommended for long lasting life and good performance in dry conditions.

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position (Max Performance Summer)

Price – $654

Dry Traction – Great

Wet Traction – Good

Responsiveness and Stability – Good

Ride Comfort – Good

Bridgestone's Potenza series tire is also inspired by racing tires. It's intended for those drivers looking for a thrill to break up the monotony of daily commuting. This tire is asymmetrically designed with a large stiff outboard shoulder, interlocking tread blocks, and a circumferential rib. The stiffness of the tire allows it to absorb medium and small impacts with ease, allowing drivers to be as aggressive as they want, even in tough road conditions.

The Potenza offers excellent traction in dry as well as wet conditions, and comes to a close second in performance to the Michelin's Pilot Super Sport. Bridgestone offers to drivers a much smoother and higher quality ride, making it feel the most giving and well balanced of the high performance tires. This tire is perfect for the driver looking to maximize performance without sacrificing ride comfort. Recommended for good balance of performance and comfort.

Pirelli P Zero

Price – $844

Dry Traction – Good

Wet Traction – Fair

Responsiveness and Stability – Good

Ride Comfort – Fair

The Pirelli P Zero offers an impressive reputation for being the factory-installed tire on many high class European vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz AMG series. It makes use of a special silica and black carbon compound that maximizes performance as well as handling. It's also designed to consistently give out high performance, even as the tire wears down. The patented asymmetrical design featuring circumferential and lateral groves cleverly prevent deformation.

While built to be highly durable in unpredictable road conditions, the Pirelli P Zero comes with the lowest treadwear rating of the tires listed. The expense of this tire makes it a much harder sell. It performs well at cornering, stability, and in dry conditions, but its performance in wet conditions and general ride quality are lower when compared to other tires. Recommended for high cornering and high durability on tough roads.

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