C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe
View Poll Results: What Tires are the best?
Goodyear
21
5.92%
Toyo
28
7.89%
Michelin
140
39.44%
Continental
43
12.11%
Falken
25
7.04%
Pirelli
43
12.11%
Other
55
15.49%
Voters: 355. You may not vote on this poll

W203/CL203/S203 TIRE Discussion Thread - Every question on TIRES

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Old 12-25-2008, 02:17 AM
  #2676  
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Huh! Mike - Merry Christmas & ditto - our posts crossed.
Old 12-25-2008, 02:21 AM
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Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
BTW, I did get some used Conti's about a month ago.
They were $85 for a pair of 245/40/17's (rear) with about 5/32nds of tread (half life), no patches, no sidewall scuffs.
I've been riding them for a month with no problems whatsoever; they balanced easily, and ride smooth at all times.

I had UHP's on the rear before, and I was not happy. See earlier post here:
Originally Posted by t1n0
...
I was, and still am very happy with the PS2's I put up front, but just couldn't afford them for the rear at the time, so I took a chance on these used ones. Except for the fact that they are SC2's, with the inherent road noise that is easily noticeable compared to both the PS2's and UHP's, it worked out ok. Just make sure you do a thorough inspection of what your are buying.

I guess what I am trying to provide is an option to those who wish to use an expensive tire, but for one reason or another, can't afford them right now.

I know some will say used tires are out of the question, and I probably wouldn't put them up front, but it is going to get me through to the spring when I'll probably match my front PS2's with a new pair in the rear.

...or maybe another good used pair.

Last edited by t1n0; 12-25-2008 at 02:31 AM.
Old 12-25-2008, 02:41 AM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes - I can't live with the Conti SC2 or 3 noise - but if they get you out of a tight spot fine. They are not a bad tyre - it's just the damn noise.
Old 12-25-2008, 03:14 AM
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03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
Huh! Mike - Merry Christmas & ditto - our posts crossed.
merry christmas glyn and to everyone else.
Old 01-09-2009, 08:41 PM
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'08 CLK320CDI AMG// '13 E500 Coupe AMG// '17 E350d AMG
No one here with the new Pirelli "P-zero"?

I had the "old" Pirelli P-zero Rosso and also had Michelin PS2, and now I have the new P-zero... its way far the best tire I had till today!
Old 01-10-2009, 01:47 AM
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CL203
anyone with 2007 sport rims who have upgraded tires from stock michelins? (the ones that are wider in the back... i hate that i can't rotate tires)

my treads are gone and i want something that outperforms stock and is still all weather. (am i asking too much out of a tire?)

thanks!
Old 01-10-2009, 04:13 AM
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2004 C230K SS
I just wanted to share my experience with one of the "ultra high performance" summer tire. I ran the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs over the summer because I didn't want to go to r-compounds and another set of wheels at the time. The Direzza's are a PHENOMENAL tire and I would recommend them to anyone that needs a very sticky street tire that can hold it's own with some of the other "proven" sticky street tires (reo1r's for example). The tires have a fairly stiff sidewall so they aren't the smoothest riding but if you want a street tire that grips like hell, this is the one for you and you probably don't care. I put 10k miles on them and 15-20 autocrosses before i wore them out. They tended to like very high pressure to keep the sidewall from rolling over a bit (45+psi). I was faster than some of the guys on r-compounds and I took fastest time of the day on street tires (indexed) a couple of times throughout the season. If i had to say something negative about these tires it would be trying to find the "sweet spot" for tire pressure. It usually took 1 run on warm days until they were warmed up to a temp that was consistent, 2 on cooler days.

On the street, they were noisier than most conventional all-seasons (expected) but i wouldn't consider them annoying at all. The grip is unlike any other street tire that i have ran. Braking is improved drastically over the all season tires (i was running P-Zero Neros before these) and it was a HUGE difference. I ended up paying about $140 for each tire (average because i have staggered)
Old 01-10-2009, 07:24 AM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Originally Posted by gaiex
No one here with the new Pirelli "P-zero"?

I had the "old" Pirelli P-zero Rosso and also had Michelin PS2, and now I have the new P-zero... its way far the best tire I had till today!
I'm a Michelin fan but the new P Zero gets great reports from actual users. I'm very sensitive to tyre noise on the W203 - It has a suspension set up that is noise sensitive. The only tyres I know that are quiet to my liking are Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2s, New PS2s with the Exalto non directional tread (minus some sipes) & Yokohama AVS db - all rotated to change direction of rotation every 10,000 Kms.

How are the P Zero's for noise? what mileage have you done on them? how quite are they with mileage on them?

I started badly with Conti SC2's as OE - noisy from day one and noisier as they wore - SC3 same. Threw off Conti's at 15,000Km
Old 01-10-2009, 10:19 AM
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'08 CLK320CDI AMG// '13 E500 Coupe AMG// '17 E350d AMG
Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
I'm a Michelin fan but the new P Zero gets great reports from actual users. I'm very sensitive to tyre noise on the W203 - It has a suspension set up that is noise sensitive. The only tyres I know that are quiet to my liking are Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2s, New PS2s with the Exalto non directional tread (minus some sipes) & Yokohama AVS db - all rotated to change direction of rotation every 10,000 Kms.

How are the P Zero's for noise? what mileage have you done on them? how quite are they with mileage on them?

I started badly with Conti SC2's as OE - noisy from day one and noisier as they wore - SC3 same. Threw off Conti's at 15,000Km
I also had OEM SC2 and went for RE050 next and PS2 after, now I have P-Zero and Rosso on my cars.
The Rosso's are noisy in the end of the thread, and a bit when new.
About the P-zero I don't notice any more noise than the Rosso, a bit less actualy, but not quiet as the PS2.
I only run 3000-12000km on the P-zero, so not know if they will going to last


PS: 12000km in the R8 and the rear tires are still at 50% so...
Old 01-10-2009, 10:37 AM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Thanks - R8 is huge fun - Yes?
Old 01-10-2009, 10:49 AM
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'08 CLK320CDI AMG// '13 E500 Coupe AMG// '17 E350d AMG
Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
Thanks - R8 is huge fun - Yes?
Ohh yess
Old 01-11-2009, 01:45 AM
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CL203
Originally Posted by midnight kompre
anyone with 2007 sport rims who have upgraded tires from stock michelins? (the ones that are wider in the back... i hate that i can't rotate tires)

my treads are gone and i want something that outperforms stock and is still all weather. (am i asking too much out of a tire?)

thanks!
anybody?
Old 01-11-2009, 06:36 AM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Originally Posted by midnight kompre
anybody?
Pilot Exalto AS - All season is always a compromise but even Splinter runs AS
Old 01-11-2009, 12:38 PM
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03 c320 coupe
depends on ur budget,
i am very happy with my falken ze912...
Old 01-11-2009, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
Pilot Exalto AS - All season is always a compromise but even Splinter runs AS
hmmm... thanks, i'll look those up at tirerack...
Old 01-11-2009, 05:26 PM
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BMW E90 320d
I use Mitchellin sport cups.
Old 04-13-2009, 02:10 PM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
This thread needs to be a sticky!

Damn, my offset rims eat rear tires like they're going out of style.
Only like 6K miles and they're shot.

What is the deal? Any suggestions? I wonder if perhaps I need to be using different alignment specs since the wheels are from a CLK? Anyone know?

Either I switch back to rims I can rotate, or maybe I start using the cheapest tires I can find on the rear.
Anyone use Nankang NS-1's?
Only like 50 each new.
Old 04-13-2009, 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by mercftw
I use Mitchellin sport cups.
I'm calling bull**** right now. there's no need for those kinds of tires on such a ****ty car like a 320d. plus, those are essentially track tires that you'd get no traction in in the rain.
Old 04-13-2009, 02:30 PM
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I'm using Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric's on the w203 and PS2's on the M5.

I love PS2's, but for the price, the Goodyears are just as good. There's no point in putting the PS2's on the w203 for me.
Old 04-13-2009, 05:29 PM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Hey man, make this a sticky....
Old 04-13-2009, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Hey man, make this a sticky....
it's on the OEM/DIY Sticky up above already!
Old 04-13-2009, 06:43 PM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Originally Posted by nlpamg
I'm calling bull**** right now. there's no need for those kinds of tires on such a ****ty car like a 320d. plus, those are essentially track tires that you'd get no traction in in the rain.
Hey Phil - good for you. Amazing the way this idiot pops up from time to time with his nonesense
Old 04-14-2009, 12:02 AM
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S550, R350, GL550, ML63 AMG
Make sure you get an alignment every time you replace your tires. (20-30k miles) A rear adjustable camber arm would help as well. Never got one for my rears but I get pretty good life on my rears just with the alignment. I used to have 19x10's on my rears, Now I'm on 19x9.5.



Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Damn, my offset rims eat rear tires like they're going out of style.
Only like 6K miles and they're shot.

What is the deal? Any suggestions? I wonder if perhaps I need to be using different alignment specs since the wheels are from a CLK? Anyone know?

Either I switch back to rims I can rotate, or maybe I start using the cheapest tires I can find on the rear.
Anyone use Nankang NS-1's?
Only like 50 each new.
Old 04-14-2009, 01:18 AM
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Originally Posted by nlpamg
I'm calling bull**** right now. there's no need for those kinds of tires on such a ****ty car like a 320d. plus, those are essentially track tires that you'd get no traction in in the rain.

+1 I dont know much about tires but I remember my buddy got this for his C6. All I know (but I might be wrong) is that these are DRY TRACK ONLY and once these puppies get heated up they grip like no other.

Aren't these tires close to 600 each?


Anyone recommend the Pirelli Pzero Nero? I got a quote for 235/35-19 and 265/30-19 = $936 balanced and mounted.


Edit


I use Michelin tires with PAX System on my old BMW 318

Last edited by W203E35; 04-14-2009 at 01:32 AM.
Old 04-14-2009, 04:23 AM
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10 GLK350/ 15 Accord/ 94 Supra Turbo
for my old rx7
NITTO NT555R for street/grip (still spins through 3rd gear)
MT ET Streets, spins through 1st and a bit in 2nd
Bridgestone Pole position, spins through 1st three gears
--285/35 in the rear
All are all pretty good in normal situation but only the mickey thompson are good with dry traction but is hell in the wet.

for all around street tires on low hp cars i use General UHP or Kumho espta(sp?)


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