Bowyer

My 2002 e430 has a set of Continental Extreme Contact DW on it now. They seem to be very noisy after 20k miles of driving. This is my second set of this particular tire and might try something new.

I live in west TN and don't drive in snow. Lots of rain and I do put a lot of miles on. I'm looking for good wet/dry traction, longevity and quiet.

I have done a dealer alignment, LCA and tire balance, but I have developed a noticeable wa,wa,wa sound at low speeds and it gets louder and actually causes some vibration over 60mph. current tires have about 20k+ miles. Perhaps a rim is bent, as the noise seems to come from the driver-side front. All 4 are wearing nice and evenly. Another note, I am pretty sure the front rotors need replacement and there is pulsing with high spread braking....and I just replaced the rear rotors/pads.

All that said, anyone found a tire you really like?

Thanks

livetodrive

I was very happy with the Bridgestone Potenzas on my E430. They are very quiet, smooth and handle well. I got about 40k miles out of them. I had the wheels refinished at the time of installation. One was bent on the inside. The car originally came with Pirelli P Zero Neros. I had two sets. They each lasted about 30k miles, and to me, seemed noisier than the Bridgestones. I just sold the car.

kajtek1

Tire topic goes way past oil choice topics.
Good thing you have nice selection.
Bad thing you will get a headache just by looking at the list.
I've been Michelin die-hard customer for long years as they deliver really long-lasting life and good handling in dry weather, but most of them suck in wet weather.
That said, after I bought 18" monoblocks for garage qeeen, I hesitated to spend $1500 for performance tires and I bought pretty cheap Triangle tires.
Triangle check out as reputable Chinese company that is trying to make it on US market.
Would have to check my records, but after putting about 20k miles on them, I don't think I will get promised 50k, but for the price I will be happy after making 30k.
Good luck on your research.

Bowyer

I looked online at the Potenzas....you're right kajtek1, the selection is just dizzying! Any model-specific tire selections I should look into? The Michelins not doing well in wet weather makes me nervous.

Thanks

kajtek1

Michelin overpriced their value lately IMHO. I was using them exclusively a decade ago and they last long are quiet and perform on dry weather we mostly have here.
For snow runs I liked Firehawsks.
So choosing Chinese I did not have any specific requirements and don't need long-lasting tires that will age before wear out.
In your shoes I would start with reading reviews on tirerack.com.
Reviews are still personal opinions and you know PO description (?) but tire racks seems to be most reputable site for tires.
Have fun shopping.

FlatlineEF9

Geez i wish my tires lasted that long. I am currently running Michelin PSS and love them. Wet and dry, amazing performance.

Spike00513

tell me about it.
I hear DW is meh in general, including lifespan.

Got Hankook H457 VentusV2 Concept2 back during rebate promo (maybe it was a newly-released model then?). Seems quiet, smooth, linear/predictable, decent in rain, not really low treadwear rating, not the highest price, and balanced easy. Not sure what the sidewall is like (but the load rating is high). I recall Conti DWS seeming stiffer, at least when mounting it (flexing the rubber with a pry bar).

Not an expert, just saying. I hear it's like other rivals but lower price due to lack of manufacturer mileage warranty.

kajtek1

That brings us to the point how we make final decision.
We have lot of good tires to choose. Some are better in handling, some last longer, but it all comes to value.
The reason why I switched from Michelins to Firestone was becouse at the time Firestone offer good discount.
That was years ago, but from what I remember my choice was to spend $900 of Michelin with 60k warranty, or $500 on Firestone with 50k warranty and Firestone dropped free alignment check.
Drove on Firestone for 52k as due the negative camber one side start showing low.

Reanimation

Ive been looking in to new tyres for months now and I will buy buying FULDA SportControl, made in Germany and get a good reviews from Auto Bild, also nearly half the price that of conti/goodyear. Depends on how you drive?

Spike00513

this should help you choose

kajtek1

Do you read the comments from left to right, or from right to left?
Those guys are crazy. Even 100lb truck tire @ 120 mph is deadly and they had people standing at the end.
The bulldozer tire destroy the jump and everything else for next mile. Good thing the guys at the bottom had good reaction time.

FireMechanic

I run a staggered set up on my E430 Sport. I've always run Michelin's. I run pilot sports front and rear at 235/40 ZR18's up front and a 285/35 ZR18 out back. They've always been the best tire I've ever owned and it rains a lot here in Miami and these things always perform perfectly in dry and wet weather. I'd never run anything else! One tire company I have heard that was decent and are pretty cheap are the Velozza tires. My brother runs a staggered setup on his 202 and he runs the Velozza's and they are actually really good tires. I think he paid about $100 a piece

ItalianJoe1

The high end Bridgestone offerings are all great. I've had good luck with the RE760's on some of my cars and friends cars. The S-04 is a great tire but a tad noisy. RE970as is probably the highest performing all-season they offer. Depending on size, the new RE97AS that replaced the RE92 is spectacular but isn't available in as many sizes, it's largely an OEM tire used on high end Japanese produced luxury cars, but we sell them retail also.

I have RE-11s on my CL for serious traction, but they aren't the longest lasting tire and they do flat spot when cold, so they're a little bumpy for the first mile or two of driving.

Tall Giraffe

I have the DW in the 19" variety, staggered. This is my first round with them on the AMG.

My impressions of them are that they are generally good tires but I ate the rears alive- within 13K miles. The fronts are hanging in there nicely Other notables are that against my previous S04, the S04 sidewall seems stiffer and had better cornering hold but the tires seemed heavier and had a wider shoulder.

I have ran 970 and 760 on other cars but not Merc so while I liked them there, I really cant say much about them here.

I debate whether I would come out ahead buying PSS at $1300 with warranty for a set is better than paying $900 with no warranty if I go through tires every year and a half.

Would like to try Vredestein or a Hankook.

FireMechanic

Shoot! I run a staggered setup and I go through rear tires like no ones business. I drive relaxed and even with the camber bolts and adjustment they still wear bad but look so good at the same time lol

Tall Giraffe

Are you lowered?

My rear pass. wears on the inside pretty good but not so much the driver rear. I am working on lowering mine and getting rear kit to hopefully adjust better.

I just ordered a pair for the rear for installation tomorrow, this time a little wider at 285/30-same Continental DW since I had so much left up front.

FireMechanic

Yes I am lowered. I also run a 285/35 out back and I don't have any rubbing issues. Even with the camber adjustment bolts I still wear the hell out of the insides of the tires. That's the price to pay to sit pretty and have a big fat tire out back lol

kajtek1

There is Australian limo driver who has 300 tires on W210 without rubbing.
Obviously looks for limo is everything.

nelbur

I just bought a set of Nexen's, which Walmart says are Michelin's value brand. The tread looks like the Michelins on my neighbors Mercedes. At about $425 they are right in my price range.

I just went through a set of Bridgestone Potenzas in about 30K miles. My drivers rear wears on the inside even after an alignment. Camber and toe are fine. I have decided it is a rear shock problem because when I hit a bump with the pass. rear I could feel the rear jump to the right briefly, possibly dragging the left side. I have replaced the shocks and the tail wag has gone away. I thought 30K was rapid wear, but my indy says it is normal for cars with this rear suspension.

kajtek1

What was the thread warranty on Bridgestone?
I seldom keep a car to wear set of good tires, but I made 53k on 50k warranted Firehawks regardless higher inner wear and I have been making 60k on Michelins in Volvo.
Per my experience 4W are the only who have even tire wear.

nelbur

The tire wear warranty on the Bridgestones was 50K but the wear pattern was such that I did not expect they would do much, and I didn't really want another set. I felt that the tread thickness was substandard when new. In my experience, tire wear warranties are like battery warranties. They are a scheme to get you to come back so they can pretend to be giving you a good deal, while selling another set of tires. The Nexens are 60K tires, but I don't expect anything near that. With an old fashioned straight live axle I would have no trouble getting this sort of mileage. I have thought about getting adjustable camber bars for my Mercedes to get rid of the degree of negative camber, but with the cheap tires I run, it is likely not worth the effort.

kajtek1

But think that excessive tire wear indicate not only improper alignment, but beside additional tire cost, also higher fuel cost, longer braking distance, poorer handling and I could keep on going...

Tall Giraffe

To the OP wa wa wa may be a bent rim. Also check out the front suspension along with the front bearings for tightness to reduce wobble and tire wear that way.

Just did mine while I had my new rears installed. Made a huge difference in the feel of the car.

Bowyer

I need to have the rims looked at, I'm starting to think it's a real possibility. Same with the bearings, although there isn't any 'play' when lifted and rocked back and forth.

djantlive

Switched out the Michelin mxv to kumho TA71. The kumho has similar tirerack review as the Michelin premier as for abt 40% less.

The kumho did not disappoint. Very capable for an all season tires that has deep treads which should last years.