GDawgC220

I'm most likely picking up a '05 C230 SS at the end of this year, probably November. I know it comes with summer tires, but I'm wondering if with some negotiating, would the dealer swap them out for Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (ultra high performance all seasons) because of the winter time and such...

anyone have experience with dealers swapping tires or something like that to be included with the deal?

Guest0001

isnt he A/S a non certified MB Tire?

Junbug

If other C230 or C320`s came with a/s tires as an option, I can see a dealer swapping them out with a car that they might have in stock, but since they all come with summer tires, I have a hard time thinking that a dealer will swap tires only.

My dealer tried to sell me winter tires for $900 and offered to store it for me until winter and swap them out at the change of season (only two seasons in Chicago - winter and construction seasons) when I bought my car. I decided to get 16 inches on ebay and had tire rack mount snows on them. However, 2005 brakes will force you to get 17" winter set up tho.

GDawgC220

so whaty you guys are saying is that most likely, i'll have to get a 17" wheel and winter tire setup?

moa4r

no I don't think most dealers will throw in a set of all seasons for you, just MHO, mainly since it would involve extra effort on his part;

moa4r

but it also probably just depends on the dealer and you negotiating skills!!

GDawgC220

the dealer we'll be getting it from is the same dealer we've been dealing with in the past...all of our cars have been bought from them, so i'd hope customer loyalty will play a part in the tires :p

tonewheel

Don't count on the customer loyalty issue.

And yes, just go buy a winter wheel/tire package.

GDawgC220

or i could just buy the winter tires have them mounted on the stock wheels?

tonewheel

You can certainly mount and remount tires twice a year on your single set of wheels, but I would really discourage that. It's not great for the tire beads to be broken that often, as I have been told bt many tire dealers (and the Tire Rack). And, of course, you increase the risk of scratching your wheels when subjecting them to mounting and dismounting and balancing that often.

mountaingirl

You can do whatever you wish, but MB has a list of "certified", acceptable tires. If you use any other tires you could be denied service/work under warranty that in any way can be seen to be related to the use of those specific tires.

The Michelin A/S tires are not certified MB tires. I believe there was a bulletin released earlier in the year that references the A/S tires specifically -- that they cause "tracking" problems that MB will not deal with. They'd prefer that you put only certain "winter" tires on 16" rims, and summer/Z tires on the MB stock or similarly sized 17's. I don't think MB approves ANY A/S tire for use on the "sport" tuned models. Of course the reality is that many owners are using the Michelin A/S and other non-"certified" tire types on their cars anyway.

Mounting and remounting different tires on the same set of rims because the seasons change is, IMO, just a hassle, and you'll definitely get damaged rims (eventually) due to the handling involved. Some shops don't have the right equipment to easily change and balance 17" or larger wheels. I think most folks with meaningful snow and ice to deal with just invest in a set of winter rims with true winter tires -- I know some people in harsh winter areas with lots of road salt and gravel (or to just save $$$) that actually use steelies in the winter. A dedicated set of winter wheels will last you through several seasons. That assumes you keep your cars for more than a year or two.

As for getting a set of tires "thrown in" (there is rarely a true "freebie" when buying a car), if you actually find an MB dealer that does that I'd, for one, love to know about it.

GDawgC220

would steel wheels really make a difference with winter tires vs a set of nice looking wheels with winter tires?

how long do winter tires last? i've never used winter tires before...every winter, my all seasons handle just fine. This would be our first "sport" type car purchase, so many questions.

I'm also looking on tirerack.com...the only tire available for the '05 c230 ss "all season" is the michelin sport pilot A/S. I guess I could just order a set of these and just keep them as my year round tire, skipping the summer tires that come with the car...ahhhh...this is not good

GDawgC220

ok, someone suggested to me that I try and see if I can have the dealer swap the rear two wheels for the same sized ones up front and go with low profile all seasons that way, doesn't have to be freebee, maybe discounted or something cuz I am planning to buy it during the winter time :p

GLisella

I would ask the dealer, no, tell the dealer. You obviously have a bunch of MB's, so they should do it for you.

GDawgC220

lol and they're all from the same dealer. My family has been buying from them over 15 years now :p

i'm just hoping it'll work out in the end

dunno why i'm stressing over it this early...i'm not buying for another 5 months

CitronC230K_03

worth a try, whats the worst they say, "no"?

GLisella

That's what I'm saying. And if they really **** you off, buy a benz from their rival dealership. GUARANTEED you will get better deal next time.

GDawgC220

that's true. if it is a no, then i guess i would have to get mich sport pilot A/S myself and throw them on instead of the summer tires.

be interesting to see what kind of tires they got on the cars during the winter when you want a test drive...i'm surely hoping it's not summer tires.

viguera

Exactly. We went to Nanuet when I was looking for my CLK and the dealer made a big deal out of something... I think it was the changer. I ended up going to the dealership in the city and got it thrown in for free.

If you're gonna let me walk out of the store over $600 when I'm buying $50k worth of merchandise, then you don't deserve my business. YMMV, of course.

GDawgC220

that's true...if they're going to lose a $32k deal over $600 in low profile all seasons, then they shouldn't get my money, lol.

so far in our past experiences with the dealer, they've been accommodating