BabyBenz6spd

The main reason I want to invest in snow tires is when I'm going up a incline hill.....about 35degrees and I come to a stop and its snowing and icy on the winter road. When I start to accelerate from a dead stop.......I don't want to be there spinning my tires and go no where......or even worest....slide back and hit the car behind me if I lose traction or something.

If couple hundred dollars can keep me from wrecking my car in the winter........I will be happy to spend it.

Narcissus

Then get some true winter wheels, if you have a lot of ice and snow don't go with dunlops m3, get some real ice tires....

elchinocache

unfortunatly studded tires are illegal here to my knowledge

Snoopygis

Which Nokians do you use? I plan on getting the studless Hakka 2's.

Narcissus

I had the Hakka 1 but studded....

BabyBenz6spd

Just got back from the local Discounttire store.

Here's what I got and need some opinions:

I needs wheels and tires.....so they agree to give me a discount if I get both (Don't know how much discount yet...)

I basically just told them I need some cheap wheels and good snow tires for the winter.

He offered me MB Classic wheels at $111 per wheel.
Second one on the first row.

I like the design.....but don't know what to watch out for when buying wheels.....Perhaps I can get some pointers on "how" to buy wheels...Or I'll just get myself a book of "Wheels for Dummies" ......Does this look like a decent wheel for winter tire?

Then I got offered some Michilin Pilot Alpin PA2 @ 172 each

or

Yokohama Ice guard @ $165 each for front (225/45/17)
$175 each for rear (245/40/17)

I also asked about Blizzak LM-22, but he said unless I want to be getting new tires every winter, he would not recommand them, because of their short thread life.

I guess now, I just want to know are these MB classic wheels any good, in terms of useability ( I don't need flashy wheels, or chrome for winter wheels) and if they will last long?(Something I need to worry about?)

and anyone know if I can get cheaper tires else where?

Thanks for the help!

Narcissus

Never seend those wheels before, it's not a MB wheels, probably a replica of some sort, you might be better off buying used MB rims for the same price but higher quality...

BabyBenz6spd

Here's a better photo.

Here is also another one that I can consider for about $200 a wheel

Mille Miglia MM-S Sport


When you pay more cash for the wheels......what are you actually paying for? The name, quality?

Narcissus

Both usually.... Why don'T you get some nice C7 wheels instead? they are original Mercedes and great quality...

BabyBenz6spd

I've consider that, but I think C7 wheels are a little too common(However, I agree is very nice wheels!) and if I was going to purchase wheels....I want to have my own style in the looks department.

Since this is going to be my "Winter wheels" I don't want to spend too much money on wheels. Preferrably within $600-$700 range, I will spend as much as $800 on wheels But only if I really like them.

xerxesbane

you are thinking about this waaay too much! I know winters and have the same conditions as you have here in cleveland. Here's the setup: Buy a used set of stocker wheels, and only only only use nokian tires (I use hakka 1's). There is a reason that all serious winter autocross racers use nokians. Buy a fifty lb bag of sand and pour it into ziplock bags and place them into all the empty spaces in the spare tire well (so you dont loose any trunk space) keep your fuel tank full (6 lb/gallon weight). I can get to my hospital in emergencies in any weather, at any time, plowed or not and this includes steep hills.

BabyBenz6spd

Thanks! I guess I'm a bit paranoid with winter coming and my first RWD~

ayilar

I received four Bello's (17x8) and matching Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 tires (225x45R17) last week, and had them installed this afternoon (frost forecast for tonight and the next few days).

My first impressions for the wheels can be found in this thread. As for the PA2's, they are not any more comfortable than the Pilot Primacy's that they are temporarily replacing, but they do seem less noisy (though this may be due to the smaller width -- 225x45 rear vs. 245x40 rear OEM).

BabyBenz6spd

Thanks for the comment~ After sugguestions from numerous members..I've decided to go with better quality wheels.....so I'm currently looking for best prices for

ASA ST4 17x8

$179 per wheel

and

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2

$145 per tire

Both prices are from Tirerack.com

Anybody know where I might find them cheaper?

I'm thinking about getting them as soon as next week.

Snoopygis

I'm going to be buying the Hakka 2's on Friday, non studded tho.

kentom

I might have something for you guys if you are interested in a set of Dunlop M3's and rims.

Dunlop M3 and rims FS

BabyBenz6spd

That looks like a awsome deal. But I don't know if 16" wheels will clear these brake calibers on 05 C230.

and you are in NJ.....a little far from me

hanke

I chose to go with Blizzak LM22's 225/45/17 fronts and 245/40/17 rears on the OEM wheels (these will become my winter wheels).

I am going to sell the Contisport Contact 2 tires that came with the car (less than 1000 miles on them) and after the winter I will get a new set of summer wheels/tires (a good quality staggered 18" setup with Pilot Sport 2's).

If anyone is interested in the 225/45/17 and 245/40/17 Conti tires let me know.

nRo

ice driffiting

ImportAlly

are you guys sayign that the car will be bad on the stock rims and tires in the winter?

i live in CT and spens alot of time in canada in the winter

respdoc

Basically yes, and the RWD setup doesn't help much either. (I remember have to get out and physically push my car around 180 degrees because my car had no traction even with ESP button pushed off last winter.) Yes, the tires was also part of the problem (ContiExtreme's) but still....

My thought is to get a budget (FWD or AWD) winter car and put snow tires on that. Not only do you save on the price of smaller tires and rims, you save the wear and tear on your MB and maybe some costly accident repair bills.

Aurora

this has been discussed before... 17s are the minimume size you can go on the 05s b/c the brakes won't clear otherwise. sucks b/c 17s cost more but what can you do. i believe if you get an o/s of 35-40 it should be fine.

Narcissus

Forget about coming over here with your stock summer wheels... you'll either crash and kill someone or get your car seized by the first officer who sees you

summer wheel on ice have NO traction

elchinocache

do cops in canada hassle you if you dont have winter tires?

Narcissus

If you have summer tires they will f*ck you up