Tom P.

I ordered a set of Continental ExtremeContact DWS's from Tire Rack the other day after getting a pretty strong recommendation from several fellow members of this forum. They are currently $94 per tire at Tire Rack for 205/55/ZR16's. I think I got the last set as I see they are on back order now. My set will arrive next week.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....emeContact+DWS

Question: What air pressure are users of this tire running? My OEM stock Conti ProContact's are 30 front and 32 rear as stickered on the C280. Will this apply to the DWS's as well? I assume so but just curious to hear from those with experience and some significant mileage with this tire.

Thx.

i_am_amused

when I got my DWS last year, the installer set them at the max of the recommended range, and I left it there for better mileage and the fact that I carry my family from time to time. When I went to the dealer for service, which included some TPMS diagnostics, they set the pressures to the minimum of the recommended range.

Long story short (too late, I know), set them anywhere in the recommended range for your car.

LILBENZ230

My Sport is staggered and different than your 4Matic but I found that the factory recommended settings of 28F 32R just aren't ideal. The shoulders of the front tires and center of the rears wear quickly that way. I ran mine at 33 all around for a while, then at 41F 30R, now at 35F and 30R. At 20k miles on them so far they're still good for probably another 20k miles.

phister

Just play around with the pressure to see what you like but anything under 40 psi is what I recommend. You never really want to put max psi in your tires. I have 35f and 32r but when I go on long trips I go up to 40 all around for better mileage

LILBENZ230

40PSI isn't the max on the DWS tires. They're perfectly fine to run it.

Glyn M Ruck

Matt - I see your signature - Yes - I was living in Marin County, Bay Area on 9/11/2001

This was indeed a very sad day! I'll never get it out of my mind. Good for you.

Tom P.

Just got back from having my new Continental ExtremeContact DWS's installed ($18 per tire incl. new valve stems, balancing). First impression... quiet! These are way less noisy than the TouringContact's I had on (OEM). I am currently running 32 F / 34 R. Looking forward to seeing how they will perform this winter. We get lots of snow up here in Canada! (I probably didn't have to mention that).

- Tom

johnand

Nice. you might find the rears are a little high and the fronts are a little low after a bit. Had mine at 34 in the rear to start, and now down to 31 for even wear and temp readings. Matt if I remember correctly is close to 40psi in front. Yes they are quiet, even when pushed to the limit, they don't cry very much

LILBENZ230

I went down to 30PSI rear.. still wearing mostly in the center.

I went down from 40PSI to 33PSI fronts for a while. Then I noticed the shoulder wear starting so I freaked out and went to 45PSI front and I intend to leave it there. Max pressure is 51.

They have 20,100 miles so far. They should last 40,000 at the current rate.

Tom P.

Isn't center-wear an indication of under-inflation? If so, I am confused by your statement above.

Based on your observations, I will bump the fronts up a few psi but need clarification on the rears.

Thx

91RS

No, center wear is over inflated. Edge wear (BOTH inside and outside edges) is under inflated. If only one edge is wearing you have an alignment issue. I would recommend an alignment done when new tires are installed.

I'd probably start with 32 all around and make sure to rotate front to back every 5-6k miles and you should see pretty even wear since you're 4matic.

LILBENZ230

On these cars, though, shoulder wear on the fronts is unavoidable.

Glyn M Ruck

Cars that understeer always scrub shoulders. Benz geometry scuffs the inside wheel shoulder in a corner. To a lesser degree the outer. You can improve this with the correct tyre construction & dialing in some negative camber.

Driving technique plays a part, as does inflation. I get almost flat wear on my fronts with the right tyres, right pressures & driving technique. No shoulder ripping, cupping & feathering at all. If you drive badly your front tyres will show it on a W203. If you adopt a technique that tries to induce some oversteer i.e. into the corner cleanly & swiftly - maybe a minor flick, allowing the suspension to settle, maintain high mid corner speed & accelerate out is best. If you brake late, run in deep & swerve across the apex of the corner you will chew up the front shoulders. Any time that entry speed is too high & the car wants to understeer at the limit will chew shoulder. Controlled in, maintain mid corner speed, fast out is correct & the quickest too. You are not scrubbing off energy.

e24kgold

Does anyone have snow experience with the DWS? I hear its a good performer in the white stuff. Just thinking how they would perform on a 2005 VW Passat with 4motion?

i_am_amused

center wear is also caused by running tires on a rim that is not wide enough. It pulls the tire in at the rim, and that forces the tread to bow out, causing excessive center wear.

i_am_amused

I had a fresh set of DWS for 2009-2010 triple-blizzard (quadruple?) winter that we had here in NoVa. My daily driver S55 (RWD, 493hp, 516 ft-lbs) did great on everything except *ice*, and no all-season will win that fight. I was never stuck, only had one instance of excessive wheel spin standing start. I just put it in C mode for second gear starts, used a gentle touch, and off I went. Cornering and braking took a little more planning than normal (meaning slow down much earlier and more than normal). Of course, I had to stay out of the deep stuff, up to about 5-6" was all I tried.

I had a FWD 2002 Passat and it was great in snow. Don't drive like an @ss and with a set of DWS you'll be able to go through anything in a 4Motion Passat until the snow is so deep it floats your vehicle (been there, done that, in a 4x4 ).

Just remember that 4/all wheel drive does not help you turn or stop in snow. Duh?

LILBENZ230

My DWS tires were new when the rare snow hit GA on my C230. They performed flawlessly.

Glyn M Ruck

Correct - but that is not Matt's problem. He has 8.5" on the rear.