stever500

Which wheels did you go with?

Are you driving your car all winter in the snow and ice with this combo?

My dealer has a set up with OEM 18" wheels with tires for $2560 vs. $1551 for the ST3 wheel (I think that's what it's called) and tires from Tire Rack. Will be buying them in the Spring for this coming fall/winter 2015/16 so I can safely drive in the winter.

What I have on the car now is not safe. Would love to see some pics and hear about your driving experiences.

Cheers,

Steve

stever500

Posted here a few days ago but no one responded. Does that mean that no one in the snow belt (I'm in Maryland) uses their car in the winter in snow and ice?

My car literally won't go anywhere if it's snowing. It's the poorest handling car I've ever driven in the snow (I must have really bad summer tires so I'm sure snows would be light and day difference).

I would have to get snow tires and different wheels. No one here uses different wheels and tires in the snow? Any pics?

triniexr

I used my stock 20" AMG wheels and I put Bridgestone Blizzacks on them. I went 255 35 20 all around. A thinner tire is better than a wider tire for snow.

stever500

Thanks... a response! Yeah!!! I appreciate it. So, I just called my dealer and they said that your suggestion will not work on the 20" AMG Twin 5-Spoke Forged Wheel (Black) that I have. My rears are 275/35/20 not 255/35/20, the blizzaks aren't available for this car.

They also said that even if I went to 19" snow tires and a dedicated wheel for the winter, my car will not handle in the snow well AT ALL and that I should stay home and drink hot chocolate or buy another car for the snow. Dang...that blows.

They also said that anything but 20" wheels and tires will throw off the settings of the car - speedometer and some other stuff. Really?

He said that 18" wheels from MB that they initially said WOULD WORK will probably not clear the brake calipers after all and they won't work now.

So... do I dare even think I'll have to sell my 1996 911 C4S and get a Jeep Wrangler instead, for the winter? Nah, can't do that. A 3rd vehicle like a 2001 Jeep Cherokee that costs about $5k? To drive it 10 days a year in the winter? Rent a car that's AWD each time it's about to snow? A total PITA. I'm not going to do that. Uber? Not practical for me at all. I live way out in the suburbs and when it snows, I couldn't get a car anyway.

Hmmmm....

triniexr

I'm confused.....that is the setup i'm running. I used to stock wheels I had which are the staggered 20" twin spoke 5 stars. Stock size in the rear is 275 30 20 but i just replaced it with 255 30 20. If you really wanted to stick with 275 Pirelli Sottozero is the only brand you can go with. It's not the best handling car in the snow but if you take your time you should be fine. I think you should speak to a tire shop because those guys don't know what they are talking about. You can go 18's or 19's, you'd just have to tire match the rolling diameter of the stock wheels which will not throw off the speedo. The 20's are an upgraded wheel on the S63, normally it comes with a 19".

WHPH28

I'm in Maryland and I don't change my tires. I'm running 255/35/20 Falken all season....gets me through the snow perfectly fine. I see a few S63's out in it also with their same oem set up. I guess it just comes down to driving slow and taking your time.

I would just buy a cheap 4wd explorer, cherokee, or anything just to have for winter...look online and you can buy something for 2-3k....you're only using it for bad weather, not to look pretty.

stever500

Yeah, that's not a bad idea to buy a SUPER CHEAP used Jeep or Ford. It's just that the insurance on it, the maintenance on it, having to drive it a few times a month to keep it lubricated, I'm not sure I'm up for that. I'll really have to think about this pretty hard. We're getting a foot of snow today so ... well, I'll have to think about it.

For right now, Mercedes will just rent me or loan me a car before a snow storm. I have a lovely red MB GLK today with AWD of course - from them (brought my car in last night for some slight, ever so slight, issues).

Your S550 4MATIC is doing well in the snow since you have AWD! My S63 wil not go ANYWHERE in snow or ice. Tires just spin like a plastic, hockey puck. I will try new tires next fall, the most aggressive all season tires that tire rack recommends.

I have 275's in the rear, and they're telling me at the dealer and Tire Rack that I ABSOLUTELY can't run 255's in the rear with my 20" wheels. I'd have to get a second set of wheels.

WHPH28

Yup. If I step on the gas like it was a sunny day it will spin in circles. Yeah...the weather right now is pretty bad and it's coming down out there. It's really all of the side roads that get bad, 95 is usually always pretty clear...luckily, if it snows I don't have a real reason to go out in it until everything clears up.

triniexr

I have the same rims as you have in your sig. Stock it takes a 275. Ill try and take some pics this weekend of my car for you. Its a 9.5" rim in the rear and 8.5" in the front so 255 will fit.

triniexr

If you do want to stick with the 273 35 20 then this is the only tire I believe you can get:

PIRELLI WINTER 270 SOTTOZERO SERIES II

They make 255 35 20 and 275 35 20 in that series. They also come in run flat but are a lot more.
http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Pirel...rie+II/1821500

desired_speeds

I recommend picking up some S550 18" non staggered wheels for cheap on craigslist and putting some 255/45/18 snow tires on them. I've seen sets selling for $500-700 not to mention you can't go wrong with factory wheels for durability.

Quick search on cl and I found these: http://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/4879619838.html

make sure they fit over your S63 brakes before purchasing

triniexr

Here are the tires on my car