w203 New Tires
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
1999 E320 4matic Wagon, 2005 C55 AMG - sold, 1998 VW Jetta TDI - sold, 2006 C230 Sport - Totaled :(
w203 New Tires
I've got the original Continental ContiSport Contact tires that were on my 2006 c230 when I bought it. I've put about 16k on them and the rear tires are nearing the end of their life.
I looked at various other performance tires for my vehicle and can't decide which ones I should get. I am looking for something with extremely good dry grip, but still good enough wet grip that I won't be worried about driving it in the rain. I like to take my car on windy back roads and I drive aggressively. I'm not too worried about tread wear if it gives me the performance I want, but the longer they last the better.
Can anyone please help me out? Thanks.
I looked at various other performance tires for my vehicle and can't decide which ones I should get. I am looking for something with extremely good dry grip, but still good enough wet grip that I won't be worried about driving it in the rain. I like to take my car on windy back roads and I drive aggressively. I'm not too worried about tread wear if it gives me the performance I want, but the longer they last the better.
Can anyone please help me out? Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 11
From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
+1 these are the tire Glyn would recommend
I also recommend Yokohama S. Drive, Continental DW, Hankook v12 evo, Pirelli P Zero, Bridgestone RE-11, Bridgestone RE760, Dunlop Direzza Z1, Goodyear Eagle F1. Just do your research and see what kind you like, did you want asymmetric, directional, symmetric? It's all based on your preference.
I also recommend Yokohama S. Drive, Continental DW, Hankook v12 evo, Pirelli P Zero, Bridgestone RE-11, Bridgestone RE760, Dunlop Direzza Z1, Goodyear Eagle F1. Just do your research and see what kind you like, did you want asymmetric, directional, symmetric? It's all based on your preference.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Michelin PS2 - and you will find them a lot quieter than the Conti's. They are also non directional so you can rotate them to change rolling direction. Good for making sure they stay quiet for their entire life.
Just remember no good for snow. Excellent dry & warm wet.
Adequate life for the high level of performance. These are mine after 10,000Km
Just remember no good for snow. Excellent dry & warm wet.
Adequate life for the high level of performance. These are mine after 10,000Km
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jan 17, 2011 at 11:25 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 4
From: San Antonio, TX
'11 SL550 - '08 ML350
I have run the Michelin in the past and they were good. I went with the Yokohama S. Drive and really liked them. When I went from 17's to 18's they came with the Continental that I find to be very noisy. I'll go back to the Yokohama on the next purchase. That and they are about $100 cheaper each.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
1999 E320 4matic Wagon, 2005 C55 AMG - sold, 1998 VW Jetta TDI - sold, 2006 C230 Sport - Totaled :(
+1 these are the tire Glyn would recommend
I also recommend Yokohama S. Drive, Continental DW, Hankook v12 evo, Pirelli P Zero, Bridgestone RE-11, Bridgestone RE760, Dunlop Direzza Z1, Goodyear Eagle F1. Just do your research and see what kind you like, did you want asymmetric, directional, symmetric? It's all based on your preference.
I also recommend Yokohama S. Drive, Continental DW, Hankook v12 evo, Pirelli P Zero, Bridgestone RE-11, Bridgestone RE760, Dunlop Direzza Z1, Goodyear Eagle F1. Just do your research and see what kind you like, did you want asymmetric, directional, symmetric? It's all based on your preference.
Also, thanks everyone for the tips. I was thinking the PS2's or Bridgestone RE-11's would be good.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
1999 E320 4matic Wagon, 2005 C55 AMG - sold, 1998 VW Jetta TDI - sold, 2006 C230 Sport - Totaled :(
phister, is your c230 lowered? It looks sweet, I was thinking of doing something with mine. What did you use to do it?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 11
From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
I'm lowered on tein coilovers, I'm almost all the way lowered in the front and have about 1/2 inch left to drop in the rear if I want to
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
1999 E320 4matic Wagon, 2005 C55 AMG - sold, 1998 VW Jetta TDI - sold, 2006 C230 Sport - Totaled :(
asymmetric means you can rotate the tires but there is a specific inside and outside of the tire, directional is a tire that has a specific rotation that it can go, so if you have different width tires in front and rear then you cant rotate them, you'll have to remove the tires and reinstall them on the other side, but if you have same width tires all around you can only move front to rear and vice versa. symmetrical tires are tires that can be mounted any way and can be rotated any way.
I'm lowered on tein coilovers, I'm almost all the way lowered in the front and have about 1/2 inch left to drop in the rear if I want to
I'm lowered on tein coilovers, I'm almost all the way lowered in the front and have about 1/2 inch left to drop in the rear if I want to
I'm also looking at getting 18" wheels to replace the 17". Are there any issues with those fitting over the brakes and/or rubbing? This is considering both with or without the coilovers.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,265
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I just bought new Firestone Wide Oval Indy 500's.
While they are quiet, and ride nice, they don't track well
on high speed corners. With higher performance, ie more expensive
short life tires, you just point the car and she goes and digs into the corner.
With these Firestones it oversteers you have to correct through the turn.
Longer wear was my priority this time.
I'd stay away from General Exclaims as well. Same thing.
These are both UHP tires vs. the max performance etc.
I only hope they last longer and make it worth it.
OK for daily driving, sucky for fast back roads.
If they also burn out at 10K then they're just a crappy tire that doesn't track,
or last long.
Tires I've had they gripped and rode well
were Bridgestone RE050A PP's but they only lasted 10K miles.
While a lot of people don't like Fuzion ZRi's they do grip well, especially for the money.
Sumitomo HTRIII grip like crazy, lasted 5K miles on the rear.
Re760 was my other choice. I'd like to hear how they work out.
They were offering 70 off a set around Christmas but I missed the special.
Of course, Michelin PS2's are the best if you got da do.
Lesson to be learned. I have 2K into my suspension.
I can definately feel it with a good high performance tire.
But with crappy tires, you might as well save you money than spending it on
suspension.
While they are quiet, and ride nice, they don't track well
on high speed corners. With higher performance, ie more expensive
short life tires, you just point the car and she goes and digs into the corner.
With these Firestones it oversteers you have to correct through the turn.
Longer wear was my priority this time.
I'd stay away from General Exclaims as well. Same thing.
These are both UHP tires vs. the max performance etc.
I only hope they last longer and make it worth it.
OK for daily driving, sucky for fast back roads.
If they also burn out at 10K then they're just a crappy tire that doesn't track,
or last long.
Tires I've had they gripped and rode well
were Bridgestone RE050A PP's but they only lasted 10K miles.
While a lot of people don't like Fuzion ZRi's they do grip well, especially for the money.
Sumitomo HTRIII grip like crazy, lasted 5K miles on the rear.
Re760 was my other choice. I'd like to hear how they work out.
They were offering 70 off a set around Christmas but I missed the special.
Of course, Michelin PS2's are the best if you got da do.
Lesson to be learned. I have 2K into my suspension.
I can definately feel it with a good high performance tire.
But with crappy tires, you might as well save you money than spending it on
suspension.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Jan 17, 2011 at 06:16 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 8
2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Best tires I ever had were the Toyo T1R (wore out too quick though but gripped like crazy. Hardly got a traction light). Those ***** gripped crazy even in rain too. Right now I got Diamondback tires looool hey you can't beat $105 out the door for a 265/30/19.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,265
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I have to laugh when I see these cheap chinese tires, and they say they're rated to like 170 mph. What, and at 171 you die?
tires-easy has pages of them.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 11
From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
this all depends on the offset of the wheels and the width of the wheels and what size tires youre gonna get. Just post the specs of the wheels you're looking at and we'll chime in to say if they fit or not. Also the official wheel and tire thread will help you out here. Its in your DIY thread.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
1999 E320 4matic Wagon, 2005 C55 AMG - sold, 1998 VW Jetta TDI - sold, 2006 C230 Sport - Totaled :(
Here are some that I like the style of:
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ms-p-1492.html
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ng-p-1355.html
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand
I also like the ones sb.legacy has cause I think the black would contrast well with the white car.
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ms-p-1492.html
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ng-p-1355.html
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand
I also like the ones sb.legacy has cause I think the black would contrast well with the white car.
this all depends on the offset of the wheels and the width of the wheels and what size tires youre gonna get. Just post the specs of the wheels you're looking at and we'll chime in to say if they fit or not. Also the official wheel and tire thread will help you out here. Its in your DIY thread.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Okatie, SC
2006 c230 mars red 2010 GLK 2007 Porsche C2S all gone 2007 CLK550 current
I replaced the originals at about 25m with Kumho Ecsta SPTs. they are directional in the stock sizes 225/45 and 245/40-17. I purchased from Tire Rack and they were inexpensive, I think $94 front and $105 rears. Probably not the performance of the Kumho Ecsta XS but are very good in the rain and seem to be wearing well. I don't drive it that aggressively and put on mostly highway miles. They are about two years old so there might be a newer model in their lineup. Check Tire Rack web.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 11
From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
Here are some that I like the style of:
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ms-p-1492.html
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ng-p-1355.html
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand
I also like the ones sb.legacy has cause I think the black would contrast well with the white car.
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ms-p-1492.html
http://www.usarim.com/mercedes-wheel...ng-p-1355.html
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand
I also like the ones sb.legacy has cause I think the black would contrast well with the white car.
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
2003 c230k
I just bought these. They a little louder then my last set of Kuhmos but for the price I dont care. I will let you know how they wear....
https://www.tiresavings.com/tireShop...season=Regular
https://www.tiresavings.com/tireShop...season=Regular
