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
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Canada
'05 C230 kompressor
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Canada
'05 C230 kompressor
Hi again,
No sport package on my car and stock rims are 16x6.5 with +37 offset and 205/55/16 tire
getting snow tires off a old 98' E300 rims 16x7.5 with +41 offset and 205/55/16 tires
I'm just worried if the wider rim with different offset will rub on anything and have enough clearance? TIA everyone!
No sport package on my car and stock rims are 16x6.5 with +37 offset and 205/55/16 tire
getting snow tires off a old 98' E300 rims 16x7.5 with +41 offset and 205/55/16 tires
I'm just worried if the wider rim with different offset will rub on anything and have enough clearance? TIA everyone!
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
IMHO the PS2s & the Exalto PE2s are the best tyres for these cars. The Conti's are a disaster - noisy, crap turn in, poor grip etc. Threw mine off under half worn at 17,000Km in disgust!
I think the F1 Asymmetric's (which are a Michelin copy) are a darn good cheaper option. I will personally only run Michelin.
I think the F1 Asymmetric's (which are a Michelin copy) are a darn good cheaper option. I will personally only run Michelin.
I can't say the price because you have to go into the cart to see it and I don't want to break any 'rules' for them, but check it out, it's a great deal right now.
I've gotten 22K out of my brand new PS2's up front, and about 10K from the used PS2's in the rear. Very aggressive driving, especially cornering, and the shoulders of the front pair went past the threads already. The shoulders wore very much on the front.
As far as F1's vs PS2's, ive read a few posts that the PS2's handle slightly sharper. I'm really tempted to try them since they are so aggressively priced right now.
The PS2's are great, but between the price and the rapid wear, I may have to 'settle' for something else.
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
Don't laugh, serious question folks. hear me out.
Michelin has a great tire called the Hydroedge. My girl's car has 4 on right now. They are great tires, and supposedly have even better traction and are quieter than PS2's. AND, they are about $115 each brand new. So what's the catch? Well, they are 'R' speed rated (106 MPH).
Speed ratings are calculated for 10 minutes, so technically, this tire could operate at 106 MPH for ten minutes.
Yes, I know that my car is supposed to have 'Y' rated tires, and yes I know (personally) that it can go 155MPH. But that was the first year I owned it. I drive at 70-90 all the time now.
Yes, I may get squirrelly one day and hit 120 momentarily, but I don't see myself doing 105+ for ten straight minutes..do you see where this is going?
Brand new Michelin Hydroedge's for 115 each, that are reviewed as quieter and stickier than PS2's, provided I stay under 100 MPH continuous...
.02c anyone?
(tell you the truth, now that I wrote it out...it see it really is a stupid question, but I leave it up anyway)
Michelin has a great tire called the Hydroedge. My girl's car has 4 on right now. They are great tires, and supposedly have even better traction and are quieter than PS2's. AND, they are about $115 each brand new. So what's the catch? Well, they are 'R' speed rated (106 MPH).
Speed ratings are calculated for 10 minutes, so technically, this tire could operate at 106 MPH for ten minutes.
Yes, I know that my car is supposed to have 'Y' rated tires, and yes I know (personally) that it can go 155MPH. But that was the first year I owned it. I drive at 70-90 all the time now.
Yes, I may get squirrelly one day and hit 120 momentarily, but I don't see myself doing 105+ for ten straight minutes..do you see where this is going?
Brand new Michelin Hydroedge's for 115 each, that are reviewed as quieter and stickier than PS2's, provided I stay under 100 MPH continuous...
.02c anyone?
(tell you the truth, now that I wrote it out...it see it really is a stupid question, but I leave it up anyway)
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
In South Africa if your insurance company catch you running tyres with a lower speed rating than the car came with they will not cover a accident claim.
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
Good point , Glyn.
My other option is used tires, and I have had good results using used tires in the rear so far. I put a pair of used PS2's with 5/32nd (half life) on the rear, and I got about 12K out of them, which is half of the 22K I got out of the new PS2's I put on up front.
Used are about 80-90 a pair vs 440 a pair (rear) new; so a quarter the cost vs half the life.
However, I did come across some interesting facts about tread life vs wet stopping.
British report in PDF format:
http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info...read_depth.pdf
Dry stops aren’t affected as much, but wet is affected almost as soon as they start to wear.
Here’s the alarming wet stopping video:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/249831...h_do_you_need/
All of the reviews I find put the GY F1 on par with the PS2's, and I'd be saving about $100 for the front pair...ever use F1's?
My other option is used tires, and I have had good results using used tires in the rear so far. I put a pair of used PS2's with 5/32nd (half life) on the rear, and I got about 12K out of them, which is half of the 22K I got out of the new PS2's I put on up front.
Used are about 80-90 a pair vs 440 a pair (rear) new; so a quarter the cost vs half the life.
However, I did come across some interesting facts about tread life vs wet stopping.
British report in PDF format:
http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info...read_depth.pdf
Dry stops aren’t affected as much, but wet is affected almost as soon as they start to wear.
Here’s the alarming wet stopping video:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/249831...h_do_you_need/
All of the reviews I find put the GY F1 on par with the PS2's, and I'd be saving about $100 for the front pair...ever use F1's?
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Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
I sprung for the F1's for the front: under $300, delivered. Great deal. Tirerack.com rocks.
I spoke to the alignment guy at a benz shop. He said the no matter how aggressive I turn, these cars have excellent camber as you turn, so the the wear should be even. However, my shoulders on the front are gone, below the belts, and I still have about 4/32 in the middle. I've had the alignment checked several times, and tirekingdom says it's within spec, but I think those guys are clueless at this point ( i probably made a mistake when I purchased the 5 year alignment package for $260).
Benz guy also said that if the alignment is in spec, a slight pull can be from the tires, and I shuld put the new ones on first, then take it to him. I spoke to him about the eccentric pin kit to adjust the caster, and he said to put the tires on first and take it to him. The car has developed a few slight clunks whenever I go over dips at an off angle, like pulling in to parking lot, but not if I go over a bump straight on, like speed bumps. I think the other bushing are worn now ( I already replaced the front bushings, but there are actually two sets on each side, a front axle front, and a front axle rear bushing).
I spoke to the alignment guy at a benz shop. He said the no matter how aggressive I turn, these cars have excellent camber as you turn, so the the wear should be even. However, my shoulders on the front are gone, below the belts, and I still have about 4/32 in the middle. I've had the alignment checked several times, and tirekingdom says it's within spec, but I think those guys are clueless at this point ( i probably made a mistake when I purchased the 5 year alignment package for $260).
Benz guy also said that if the alignment is in spec, a slight pull can be from the tires, and I shuld put the new ones on first, then take it to him. I spoke to him about the eccentric pin kit to adjust the caster, and he said to put the tires on first and take it to him. The car has developed a few slight clunks whenever I go over dips at an off angle, like pulling in to parking lot, but not if I go over a bump straight on, like speed bumps. I think the other bushing are worn now ( I already replaced the front bushings, but there are actually two sets on each side, a front axle front, and a front axle rear bushing).
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
The F1's are awesome, great substitute fro the PS2's, and about 30% cheaper now that they are on sale. After mounting and balancing yesterday they developed a slight vibration at 65-75 that would slowly come and go. I took it back to the tire place today and the discovered that the tire had rotated on the rim, because the weights were about 60 degrees from were the tire was marked for balancing. Now, all good, and they are as quiet, if not (believe it or not) quieter than the PS2's. And just as most reviewers on TR stated, they have a slightly sharper driving turn-in, which is a nice benefit to compensate for the way these cars are set up.
The uneven wear was probably due to the sway bar links that are worn, discovered yesterday during oil change. I still got 20k miles out of the PS2's with spirited driving.
The uneven wear was probably due to the sway bar links that are worn, discovered yesterday during oil change. I still got 20k miles out of the PS2's with spirited driving.
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
The F1's are awesome, great substitute fro the PS2's, and about 30% cheaper now that they are on sale. After mounting and balancing yesterday they developed a slight vibration at 65-75 that would slowly come and go. I took it back to the tire place today and the discovered that the tire had rotated on the rim, because the weights were about 60 degrees from were the tire was marked for balancing. Now, all good, and they are as quiet, if not (believe it or not) quieter than the PS2's. And just as most reviewers on TR stated, they have a slightly sharper driving turn-in, which is a nice benefit to compensate for the way these cars are set up.
The uneven wear was probably due to the sway bar links that are worn, discovered yesterday during oil change. I still got 20k miles out of the PS2's with spirited driving.
The uneven wear was probably due to the sway bar links that are worn, discovered yesterday during oil change. I still got 20k miles out of the PS2's with spirited driving.
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
Pleased you are happy with F1's. I just ordered a new set of PS2's today - Will be fitted on my new rims Saturday.
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
Yep, new up front, and half used in the rear is the way to go for me on this car. Found a used (6/32 tread left) PS2 for $40 for the passenger rear that was worn slick already, mounted and balanced perfectly; just can't afford new rears, rather spend it on new fronts before the fronts get below 4/32, the fronts being so much more important. That video above was a real eye-opener.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 18
From: So Cal... In between LA and OC
2005 CLK320 Vert & 2005 CLK55 AMG
Have any of you with rear wheel size 19x9.5 ever run a 245/35 as opposed to a 255-265/30???
What are your thoughts or opinions about doing this?
Thanks.
What are your thoughts or opinions about doing this?
Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
They'll probably go on, but be stretched a bit. I'd be more concerned about traction. Even 245's don't give enuf bite. I use 255-40-17's as it is. I'd use a 265, but it rubs sometimes.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 8
2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: NE. TN
06 C350 sport 6MT
i know goodyear f1 are good tires but they have a big problem making them out of round. i bought 2 fi tires and had to send tires back 3 times before i could get 2 that were not out of round . the tires were out of round with herrendous road force numbers. an out of round tire can NEVER be balanced. u will drive yourself crazy cause the wheel will vibrate and u will take it back to get balanced 2,3,4, times and it will never balance. when mounting tires ALWAYS get them road force tested , if your shop can not do this, go to one that can. Goodlaughs, never again, there are many other comparable choices with better quality control.
Last edited by mlg; Feb 19, 2011 at 12:58 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: NE. TN
06 C350 sport 6MT
no, but my tire guy said it is a common problem w goodlaughs , tire rack was cool enuf to replace them w/o question, but it was a pita, and just trying to save some headaches, ill bet if you ask some who have f1s a significant number will tell u that they had a hard or impossible time balancing them. always, always road force test and reject any tire that is over 20, zero is perfect ,and the higher the number the more the tire is out of round. ie.the two circles that represent the outer and inner tire do NOT have the same center point.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
05.C230K.SS
Just reviving the thread and throwing my two cent out there...
ran only about 10,000 miles on my rear 19" Falken FK452 rubber before having to switch out to new tires, but granted that I have minor rear camber from lowered suspension, random burnouts, and aggressive driving on LA roads.
now looking back this thread for a longer thread life tire without having to spend too much (i.e. Michelin PS2's)
ran only about 10,000 miles on my rear 19" Falken FK452 rubber before having to switch out to new tires, but granted that I have minor rear camber from lowered suspension, random burnouts, and aggressive driving on LA roads.
now looking back this thread for a longer thread life tire without having to spend too much (i.e. Michelin PS2's)
