BabyBenz6spd

1. As of now, I'm considering to buy new wheels, perhabs 18's w/ Summer tires and take the Michilin Pilot sports off my 17" wheels. Sell the tires, then put snow tires on my OEM 17".

2. Or the other way around is buy a set of 16" inch wheels and put snow tires on it and use that for Winter instead. Keep the OEM 17" and tires for summer.

3. Or just buy another set of 17" wheels and put snow tires on it.

Also, I was wondering if its possible to survive the winter on OEM Michilin Pilot sports? I like to hear what are you guys with similar situations doing to prepare for winter?

BTW, I like to go with the Safest route, I'm the type that is willing to spend necessary money to save the life of my car, me, and people in my car~ So Money is not a problem.....as long as its worth it.

CitronC230K_03

i start using the heater in the morning, but usually cruise with the pano roof open! snow tires, whats that??

dmatre

You didn't mention what year your car is.

If you have a 2005, then you need to stay with the 17's for snow tires (16's won't clear the brakes).

If you have a 2004.5 or older, then you can use 16's.

Going to a 205/55-16 is a better choice if you are in a lot of snow. The tire is narrower, so it will 'float' less, and will dig down through the snow better than the 225/45-17.

I've driven the Pilot Sports in the snow. It's not much fun at all. Even with the ESP/ABS, it's a pure white-knuckle ride. The tires just don't stick at all. No starting, no stopping, no turning.

I definitely recommend getting dedicated snow tires if you drive in the white stuff more than one or two times per year.

Saprissa

not all 2004.5's are on 16"s. Actually, since almost all 2004.5's are SPORT models, they're all on staggered 17" wheel set ups, and 16" won't clear the brakes either. Identical to 2005 SS models.

---------

BabyBenz,
I would say keep the 17" for summer wheels/tires,
and buy another set of 17" with winter tires.

Everyone says: MICHELIN Pilot Sports I or II are not good in snow at all !

but, that's where my knowledge ends. Living in SoCal, no idea what a snow tire even looks like.

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

DiamondNoir2K5

Snow? What snow?

I just put in 5 coats of Zaino. Hopefully that should last through the winter.

dmatre

My bad . . . you're right

CitronC230K_03

stock brakes are like 11.4". 2004.5 brakes are 12.8". AMG brakes and 2005 WZ brakes are 13.6".

2005 WZ brake size was increased to AMG size in 2005. as far as i know AMG wont clear, bot sure about the 04.5 rotors.

hanke

Interesting you posted this today as I was just now contemplating the same 3 options. I am in Chicago and know that I will need dedicated snows for my 05 230K SS. My preference at the moment is to keep the original setup for the summer and buy 17" wheels with snow tires for the winter.

I like the look of the 5 spoke original wheels for summer and I would like to stay at about $1,200 for a good set of wheels (17") and tires for winter.

Any recommendations for roughly $1,200?

Kev04C320

See the Tire fourm, Luke is offering some Mille Miglia Bello with Dunlop M3s for around that price. I'm thinking of getting the M3s too, but I might put on ASA rims.

Outland

16's make better snow tires. More sidewall, absorbs winter heaving and potholes better. Tires are cheaper too.

Turbo2

hanke-
As noted, Luke does have an offer in the Wheel and Tire forum with Millie Migalos and Dunlop M3 snow tires. However, Im going go with the Dunlop M3 snow tires and the ASA ST4's that are listed on TireRack's website, they are about $20 more per wheel (I believe the total for wheels and tires comes out to $1280) but they look much better. The ASA ST4s are very similar to the C55 wheels. Check out TireRacks site...hope this helps.

Lowell

BabyBenz6spd

Thanks for the reply~~ I have a 2005 C230 Sedan, and I'm in Chicago Area~~ But most of the time in West Lafayette, Indiana (Schooling at Purdue University, home around Chicago area during weekends)


I guess 16"s would not clear the brakes. I don't want to spend too much money on wheels... If I have to.......then I'm going to spend it on a set of BBS 18"s and use my current 17"s as my winter set.

Really no point of having two sets of 17" is there?! :p

Kev04C320

My suggestion would be to get a set of Dunlop M3s and replace your stock tires with those. Save your money for a nice set of rims + Michelin PS2 in the summer. You will feel alot better.

respdoc

My solution was buying a winter-only car and garaging the Benz :p

Biznatch

My Mercedes will spend the winter in the garage next to my 3000GT. My Jeep will get alot of use again.

nycjohn

Please forgive me because this is totally unrelated to this thread but.....I'm a new member and I can't seem to figure out how to start a new thread.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

CitronC230K_03

when you are on the main screen for the W203 forums, there is a button labeled, NEW THREAD, located above all the threads. click that.

Outland

I'm about 90 minutes north of you. The sand, salt, and other flying debris on the road way in chicago is going to make you wish you parked your baby by spring.

BabyBenz6spd

I wish I could, but I don't have the luxury of owning a second car, being a student and all~

Turbo2

BabyBenz6spd-

Actually, you do have the luxury of owning a second car, you just decided to buy one. $30K+ can buy you two nice cars!

BabyBenz6spd

You mean like buying two Isuzu Aero's or something? One with AWD and one with just FWD.

Wow if I did that I would be set for Winter. ~~ But.................I'll keep my C230 Thanks! I'll settle for a lot of car washes and sets of winter tires.

respdoc

My 2 c's if your looking for a winter budget vehicle get almost any FWD car you can get for cheap that is reliable and keep the Benz garaged. I bought a '96 Corsica from a retired guy that bought it himself near new and has 35K original miles and it's in great shape. Ya, its not going to pick up Paris Hilton but for $1,000 and with some snow tires (14'' are quite a bit cheaper then 17'' or 18'') ...unless you have a winter storm like the one in "The Day after Tomorrow" it will get you anywhere you want to go..

BabyBenz6spd

lol.....Ok Back to my ultimate question....... I'll make it a simple....for those of you with RWD and Summer tires.....and in areas that snows...or is going to be snowing........


Do you all have another set of winter or all-season tires with wheels reading to go?

Assuming you don't have another vehicle like me. :p

hoyabob2003

Get snow tires! I live in Minnesota and can attest to the importance of snow tires. Prior to getting the C230 this year, we had two A4s, both with the sport package (and dunlop sp sport 8000 tires); even with quattro the cars were terrible in the snow with those tires. One set of Blizzak WS-50 and one Set of Dunlop Winter Sport M2s later, the audis were unstoppable.

Remember that while AWD cars will get you moving and corner better in the snow, all cars are equal under braking. There's no getting around friction (or lack thereof) regardless of drivetrain.

If you want a tire that is great in the worst weather, go for the Blizzaks. If you want a pretty good compromise between dry weather handling and snow traction, the Dunlop Winter Sports can't be beat. I put my new set on the C230 last week and while they're softer and less responsive, they're nowhere near as terrible in dry weather as those Blizzaks, which turned my A4 into an '84 Licoln Towncar when there wasn't snow on the ground.

Just my $.02. Sorry for the long post.

OhioC230

I live in Cleveland, next to the lake and snow tires are a must. You'll really regret it if you don't.
You can get really cheap steel wheels/tire packages from tirerack or wherever and then you can swap them yourself whenever you want. Even with snow tires, a c230 isn't the best but way better than w/out. I found my snow tires/wheels in the classifieds of this forum actually. Just keep your eyes out.