18" amg tires, vs 17" sport tires on w204
08-16-2008, 08:13 AM
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18" amg tires, vs 17" sport tires on w204
I think I saw on tirerack that the oem tire on the w204 sport model 17" was the michelin pilot hx mxm4 or contiprocontact.
I don't really care to spend $1000 extra for 18" rims if I didn't have to, as I don't really care about the wheel size so much, not to mention the harsher ride in crappy areas (I live near oakland the streets are terrible there), they tend to be easier to curb rash (yeah i know, drive better... but it does happen) and replacement tires options are not as plentiful, but I had mxm4s before on my acura and they were terrible tires (replaced with yokohama v4s.... i'm doubting thats a dealer option). Or maybe its not as bad in this application? I know some of you guys have driven both so is there a huge difference? I"m not some autocrosser but even on a curved onramp or something my previous experience with the mxm4 was pretty bad compared to better tires.
Do you guys know if dealers will trade tires (i'd really prefer all season performance, over touring or summer sports)? Or is it really just worth it to get the 18" amg pack with the lower tread wear sport summer tires.
I've never had contipro contacts , can anyone say if those are better? theres differing views on tire rack as to whether they are either very good or horrible.
I don't really care to spend $1000 extra for 18" rims if I didn't have to, as I don't really care about the wheel size so much, not to mention the harsher ride in crappy areas (I live near oakland the streets are terrible there), they tend to be easier to curb rash (yeah i know, drive better... but it does happen) and replacement tires options are not as plentiful, but I had mxm4s before on my acura and they were terrible tires (replaced with yokohama v4s.... i'm doubting thats a dealer option). Or maybe its not as bad in this application? I know some of you guys have driven both so is there a huge difference? I"m not some autocrosser but even on a curved onramp or something my previous experience with the mxm4 was pretty bad compared to better tires.
Do you guys know if dealers will trade tires (i'd really prefer all season performance, over touring or summer sports)? Or is it really just worth it to get the 18" amg pack with the lower tread wear sport summer tires.
I've never had contipro contacts , can anyone say if those are better? theres differing views on tire rack as to whether they are either very good or horrible.
Last edited by hans007; 08-16-2008 at 09:00 AM.
08-16-2008, 08:36 AM
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2009 C350W on EDP
Continental Tires
[QUOTE=hans007;3001125]I think I read that the tires on the w204 sport model 17" was the michelin pilot hx mxm4.QUOTE]
I think the OEM tires for US bound cars are the Continental ProContact 3, and ratings and anecdotal reports from users on the tire site blogs seem to favor the Continental, excepting issues of the small dealer network for warranty service and replacements. They also don't last very long as the original/new tread depth on the performance tires is fairly low.
The standard wheel on the 2009 C350 is a 6-spoke 17" AMG + all-season Continental tires. The 5-spoke 18" AMG option looks better and comes with summer performance Continentals unless you go for the newly offered option of all-season.
For me the 18" wheels and 5mm lower profile rims just did not leave enough rubber between the rim and the road surface to absorb the road chatter. The 18"/low-profile has a bit more grip in extreme cornering but sacrifices ride quality. I stayed with the 17" and all-season for my eastern Pennsylania (i.e. bumpy roads with potholes).
I think the OEM tires for US bound cars are the Continental ProContact 3, and ratings and anecdotal reports from users on the tire site blogs seem to favor the Continental, excepting issues of the small dealer network for warranty service and replacements. They also don't last very long as the original/new tread depth on the performance tires is fairly low.
The standard wheel on the 2009 C350 is a 6-spoke 17" AMG + all-season Continental tires. The 5-spoke 18" AMG option looks better and comes with summer performance Continentals unless you go for the newly offered option of all-season.
For me the 18" wheels and 5mm lower profile rims just did not leave enough rubber between the rim and the road surface to absorb the road chatter. The 18"/low-profile has a bit more grip in extreme cornering but sacrifices ride quality. I stayed with the 17" and all-season for my eastern Pennsylania (i.e. bumpy roads with potholes).
08-17-2008, 02:42 AM
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2014 C250 sport
I have a C300 with the stock 17's(same size as C350's), and it has the ProContacts. Honestly, I used to regret not getting the 18" AMG's, but now I'm completely fine with the 17's. The ride is perfect, firm but not harsh. The 18's would push it to the harsher side, although they do make the car look alot more aggressive.
However, the ProContacts are really quiet and smooth, but they don't have much grip. I don't really have a problem with it though because I rarely ever have the opportunity to drive the car that enthusiastically. But the times I have gone around a corner faster than I should, they definitely loose traction much quicker than a summer tire would. We have the Pilot HX's on our E350 and also our '08 Jetta Wolfsburg, and they aren't much better in the traction department. They're also a little noisier than the ProContacts.
However, the ProContacts are really quiet and smooth, but they don't have much grip. I don't really have a problem with it though because I rarely ever have the opportunity to drive the car that enthusiastically. But the times I have gone around a corner faster than I should, they definitely loose traction much quicker than a summer tire would. We have the Pilot HX's on our E350 and also our '08 Jetta Wolfsburg, and they aren't much better in the traction department. They're also a little noisier than the ProContacts.
08-17-2008, 07:08 PM
#4
Same here. The car looks better with the 18-inch wheels, but the 17-inchers look good too and the driver of an "18-incher" pays a significant cost in terms of increased harshness. I spend too much time on badly maintained roads to be OK with losing so much comfort (indeed, this is a key reason why my last two cars have been Mercs and not Bimmers)
08-18-2008, 11:52 PM
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2014 C250 sport
Same here. The car looks better with the 18-inch wheels, but the 17-inchers look good too and the driver of an "18-incher" pays a significant cost in terms of increased harshness. I spend too much time on badly maintained roads to be OK with losing so much comfort (indeed, this is a key reason why my last two cars have been Mercs and not Bimmers)
08-19-2008, 04:10 AM
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Same here. The car looks better with the 18-inch wheels, but the 17-inchers look good too and the driver of an "18-incher" pays a significant cost in terms of increased harshness. I spend too much time on badly maintained roads to be OK with losing so much comfort (indeed, this is a key reason why my last two cars have been Mercs and not Bimmers)
ideally the C300 would come with those, or the 5 spoke canadian rims (its like 5 single spokes). I think they are called the "proserpina" style. And with at least all season sport tires. Unfortunately it doesnt.
