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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Well, if you have 17" rims with low profile Z-rated tires, then the pressure values printed on the doorjamb are too low. That's what likely contributed to their early wearout. I have always inflated the tires to 32F/36R (as opposed to the recommended 29/32) and when it was time to replace the original Mich Pilot Sport tires at ~25 k mi, there still was some tread left (should have kept them for the track 
). I drive quite hard, always try to push it to the edge around corners (wherever possible and safe for others).
). I drive quite hard, always try to push it to the edge around corners (wherever possible and safe for others).
Last edited by vadim; Feb 10, 2005 at 01:09 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 1
From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
The Pilots wear for ****. Mine were dead at 13K. All the panoroofs make noise. The 3.2L motor gets pretty low mileage. Everything sounds normal. Raise the air pressure to at least 32PSI in all four...you'll get a little better wear and better mileage.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
2005 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 2004.5 C230 Sport Sedan, 2005 E320 CDI, 2008 C300 4-Matic Luxury
i've got over 14,000 miles on my tires and the tread seems fine on mine, i agree though, you should inflate around 2-4 psi more than what's on the inside of the gas tank door (especially if you drive faster), i've been doing this since i got my car and my tires are still in great shape 
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 911
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe
My rears have worn out very quickly. My fronts look like new.
The wear is completely even. The tire pressure has been dead on.
My service advisor says this is normal.
The wear is completely even. The tire pressure has been dead on.
My service advisor says this is normal.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Spicy - forgot to ask: have the tires ever been rotated (I assume the wheels are not staggered)? If not, then that explains it. To achieve even wear, the tires need to be rotated every 5-7 k mi.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
First the factory tires suck for wear! Mine lasted about 12000 miles. New ones I bought have lasted a lot longer. I have over 20K on them now. But I was stupid and did not rotate them in time so the fronts need to be replaced this year. As for the engine, the 3.2 gets crappy gas mileage if you don't drive it like an old lady all the time. Also it is a 90 degree V-6 design so it is not the smoothest of engine's either. As for sound, yeah the 3.2 is a little louder than you would think for a Benz engine but that is due to the sportier exhaust on the Coupe's. Roof creaks are due to a big hole cut in the roof and then filled with Glass. Some creak more than others. Mine really only creaks on really cold days though. Radio turned up a hair solves this issue for me. Sounds like the car is just normal to me. As for air pressure, 4 Psi over what is recommended on the fuel door is good for better gas mileage as well as better traction and tire wear. I think MB puts that lower pressure there for a little more comfort, less harsh ride, as well as so they can make more money replacing tires! I have noticed a significant drop in tire wear by raising the pressure. Good Luck! 
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
2009 E350 Sport Sedan AMG Package
I have 13,500 on my C230K Sedan and just had to replace mine. I was having quite a bit of road noise and a thumping noise coming from the front. When I went in I told the advisor I thought the problem was the front tires was out of round. When they checked they told me the tires needed replacing. After some discussing (Showing my disappointment) The advisor said if I would pay 1/4 of the cost 125.00 they would replace the front. He told me these tires will only get 10,000 to 15,000 mile on them. So I paid the 125.00 for 2 new fronts and then I replaced the rear on my own. I will not get the Pilot sports again. But I did get all 4 new ones for 575.00. Next time I will check around and get something that will last longer. My suggestion is stay qway from the Pilot Sports.
steve
steve
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
.
With sport tires, I expect replacement at 10-15k miles. FWIW, I am already salivating at the thought of buying Pilot Sport PS2 tires next year (I don't plan to mod the car, so this is about all I get to play with; maybe I ought to think of tires as the tie -- if you have to wear a suit, you spend a lot of time thinking about the tie :-) )
Questions to all who have replaced their tires. (i) What tires did you get as replacement? (ii) Anyone go for Goodyear F1-GS D3? (iii) Other than tread life, was there anything you did not like about the Michelins? (iv) How do the new tires compare?
Questions to all who have replaced their tires. (i) What tires did you get as replacement? (ii) Anyone go for Goodyear F1-GS D3? (iii) Other than tread life, was there anything you did not like about the Michelins? (iv) How do the new tires compare?
Banned
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 189
Likes: 1
From: Delaware, United States. (First ~little~ state)
Mercedes-Benz
That is just about right... I loved getting new tires every ten thousand miles. I called 1800-For-Mercedes and they told me that was correct. Have fun, you don't have a cheap car to deal with. You just have the cheapest model the company offers in the USA.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,737
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
That is just about right... I loved getting new tires every ten thousand miles. I called 1800-For-Mercedes and they told me that was correct. Have fun, you don't have a cheap car to deal with. You just have the cheapest model the company offers in the USA.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Cupertino, CA
2004 C320 SC
Originally Posted by vadim
Spicy - forgot to ask: have the tires ever been rotated (I assume the wheels are not staggered)? If not, then that explains it. To achieve even wear, the tires need to be rotated every 5-7 k mi.
As for the left (rear?) tire showing more wear than the right side, she said I probably tend to make a lot more left turns than right turns (???).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by SpicyC320
Tires have never been rotated. I inquired about tire rotation at around 7k and then again at 9k (this time). Both times I've been told by my service advisor that it is not necessary. She just told me the best tires are at the front and that's where they should be so there is no reason why I need to rotate them. I will just need 2 new tires to replace the rear ones and quoted me around $550.
As for the left (rear?) tire showing more wear than the right side, she said I probably tend to make a lot more left turns than right turns (???).
As for the left (rear?) tire showing more wear than the right side, she said I probably tend to make a lot more left turns than right turns (???).
)If they rotated your tires each 5k mi, you would not have had this problem, regardless of which tires are wearing out faster.
Uneven wear between left and right could be because of different tire pressures, bad alignment or screwed up suspension. The latter, however rare, has happened to one of the board member's coupe. The symptom was suspiciously similar to yours. See the thread below:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...highlight=tire
Last edited by vadim; Feb 10, 2005 at 05:24 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 911
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe
Originally Posted by vadim
More left turns? When going places, you obviously have to return, thus making just about the same number of right and left turns, no? (unless, of course, you deliberately drive in circles for some reason )
If they rotated your tires each 5k mi, you would not have had this problem, rerardless of which tires are wearing out faster.
If they rotated your tires each 5k mi, you would not have had this problem, rerardless of which tires are wearing out faster.
It seems like the power of the 320, combined with the engine braking of the manual transmission, is contributing to the unacceptable wear of the rears.
An alternative is to select lower speed rated tires, with a touring tread. The factory tires "give their all" to maximize performance. There are lots of other choices, to extend tread life.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by wingless
The entrance and exit ramps in my area are predominately right hand turns. When having fun and testing limits of adhesion, on these right hand turns, it feels like the left rear wheel is loaded more than the right. In that instance, the left rear would wear more than the right without spending an excessive amount of time driving in circles.
It seems like the power of the 320, combined with the engine braking of the manual transmission, is contributing to the unacceptable wear of the rears.
An alternative is to select lower speed rated tires, with a touring tread. The factory tires "give their all" to maximize performance. There are lots of other choices, to extend tread life.
It seems like the power of the 320, combined with the engine braking of the manual transmission, is contributing to the unacceptable wear of the rears.
An alternative is to select lower speed rated tires, with a touring tread. The factory tires "give their all" to maximize performance. There are lots of other choices, to extend tread life.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 1
From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Have fun, you don't have a cheap car to deal with. You just have the cheapest model the company offers in the USA.
#1 - The price of his car has ZERO to do w/ tire wear
#2 - The cheapest model offered in the US is the C230 hatchback. He has the C320 hatchback.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by CitronC230K_03
i bought my last set from tires.com, had them shipped to my local installer and had them installed. i saved about $150 total doing it that way.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Bay.Area
'02 c230k coupe
lol,.. he just want to save some money by doing a lil canvass.....
and maybe installation.....since tires.com got their own i think
the america's tire.co or discount tire?. ...iono
and maybe installation.....since tires.com got their own i think
the america's tire.co or discount tire?. ...iono
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
.
Originally Posted by PsssTkiD
i need to get tires asap haha....but im still undecided wut tires i should get.....too many in the market, the harder to make a decision
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
C320 Coupe
The Michelin Pilot Sports are ver good, very sticky tires. The price for such a good tire (besides price) is a very short life span. I got 12,000 out mine with 32 and 36 PSI presure and proper rotation. Mine are not stagard. I wore them down to the nubs, yet the dealer was telling me to replace them at 9800 miles.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Cupertino, CA
2004 C320 SC
Originally Posted by TNblkc230wz
The Michelin Pilot Sports are ver good, very sticky tires. The price for such a good tire (besides price) is a very short life span. I got 12,000 out mine with 32 and 36 PSI presure and proper rotation. Mine are not stagard. I wore them down to the nubs, yet the dealer was telling me to replace them at 9800 miles.
