mat2hu

I feel like my car gives out like no other... I have a 2008 C350. I have the 17" wheels with Michelin Pilot MXM4 tires(****). 225/45/17 front and 245/40/17 rear. I was thinking of changing my tires to Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's even though it costs alot, i think it will DRAMATICALLY improve my handling. I feel like when my car gives out, it just has 0 traction to the ground and the tires are doing NOTHING to help gain back control of the car. it doesn't even skid, its just sliding like its bald tires!! also I wanted to get H&R sport springs because I think lowering would help a bunch as well. and should i get sport or supersport springs?? what's the difference?

micropower99

Really? Mine's the complete opposite. I push my car hard and it just hugs the road. Are your tires completely worn out? I have 22,000km on mine and still got great thread.

ctgilles

They have the worst dry traction ever And they squeel just from looking at them, I agree that the Michelin Pilot MXM4 is not a good aftermarket replacement. I'd say get an 18" wheel with PS2's and keep these as winter (sell the tyres)

edit: Get the H&R Sports, the SS are lower but S is recommended to retain ride quality.

peabers

Like Micro, I have been happy with my MXM4 so far. 19,000 km on the car, 11,000 km on those tyres. Maybe it's a Euro vs NA thing

But I would go with ctgilles's recommendation on PS2 on 18" if I upgrade.

ctgilles

I have the Contis on mine and they're not good either. I really loved my Toyo T1-R rubber, it really bites the road They are softer, mine were gone after 20,000km on an Audi TT 1.8T 180hp Quattro with a very sporty driving style

spoolIT85

depends on how much improved handling you really want... im from chicago and since you are in vancouver, nothng beats out a fully dedicated summer/snow tires combo. again, how much NVH are you willing to take-in for better traction?

Other than tires, you can always go for lighter wheels- our cars are pig enough and could benefit from some weight reduction.

sways & bushings will do wonders as well...

tanktube67

1. Get good tires and go a little wider fronts stead of 225 go with 235 rears stead 245 go with 255
2. Lowering will improve dramatically
3. Sway bars
4. Strut brace

mat2hu

I don't have the money nor do I even want to change my rims. I like my rims so I have to work with what i've got. Should I go 235 front and 255 rear on my 17" rims or should i just stay stock size of 225 front and 245 rear. Either way the tires will be PS2's. I talked to many tire shops and they said not to change original sizing and just by getting these tires will make a dramatic change in itself. Whoever says that Pilot MXM4's handle well, its probably because you haven't pushed your car past 70 MPH on a turn before(don't try it, its scary with these tires) I've lost control of this car MANY times and the only thing that's saved my *** is the amazing traction control. and also what brand sway bar and strut brace? how much? and will it void my warranty??

spoolIT85

you need to pay to play...

i just get the impression that you are all over the place. sounds like you need to invest in some track days and learn to drive your car on its limits...(70mph is not even close to the cars limits) this will give you better idea of what changes you ill need.

if you really want to be cheap- just upgrade your tires

mat2hu

NO the car cannot handle it.... when my car gives out, it has NO traction to the ground and practically hydroplaning on dry ground. My car is a lease so I don't want to waste too much money on it. But how much are the other recommended mods gonna run me?

spoolIT85

the car is more than capable... i think you need a better driver mod

jamaicakevkev

I agree, seriously lacking in traction, but then I am coming from an evo 8 on yokohoma advan's that car was seriously glued wet or dry and at any speed... the w204 lets just say be very careful feels like something that will through you in a ditch just because.

C300Sport

The Michelins are all around good tires but they don't offer a ton of grip. They do seem to let go pretty progressively though...

Sportstick

This whole thread has been premised on insufficient information based on this above quote. "Gives out" has no clear meaning...is this understeer, oversteer, a balanced drift? The solutions are different depending on the symptom because the root causes will be different.

For example, if the complaint is actually understeer (although the W204 chassis is actually fairly well balanced), and you tighten up the front end with a thicker sway bar or higher rate springs, the problem will only worsen.

The only contact the car makes with the outside world is through 4 small contact patches on the tires. That is the first place to start. The chassis may actually perform to your preference, but that capability is masked by the tires' ability to hang on. Get some excellent tires, such as PS2 or Pilot Sport A/S Plus and then re-assess the handling and note if the front end is "plowing" (understeer), or is the rear "swinging out" (oversteer). Are you inputting too much steering angle for the speed and radius of the turn? You don't comment on body roll, so I assume the issue is likely (in some manner) the ability of the tire not to slide on the concrete.

I also agree that you might want to find your way to Skip Barber, Bob Bondurant or similar to polish up high speed handling skills. It will also help in describing the behaviors you are observing.

mat2hu

OVERSTEER/ FISHTAILING!!! i feel that the suspension is excellent and i know my inputs are good, but the tires just can't hang on to the ground and the back just spins wildly out of control.

micropower99

Get New Tires. There problem solved. Yours are obviously worn out.

Sportstick

Agree about tires, but I would also think about technique. You may be braking too long into the turn, causing weight transfer forward as you turn, unloading the rear tires. You should be accelerating through turns, which transfers weight rearward, increasing downforce on the rear tires. Under acceleration, on a dry surface, if the rear seems to be kicking out with the amount of torque the C350 has, tires are the major suspect here. Other than some historical BMW or Porsche models, oversteer is quite uncommon, and even they have taken actions to move their products toward neutrality many years ago. TIRES FIRST!

akbro93704

Just quickly burn through the Pilot HX's, then youll have a good excuse to get the PS2's

I have the Continental ProContacts on my C300(same sizes as yours), and they're no better in the traction or handling department. They feel mushy. But they're smooth and pretty quiet.

mat2hu

the sad thing is my tires aren't even worn out... they still have ALOT of tread. they just DON'T GRIP! like at 50 or 60 is its limits and you feel the tires giving their all to try to stop it. But ya should i go for a 235 255 setup on my 17" rims with PS2s or just OEM 225 245??

havacgar

according to your other posts about "youngest" owner, I'd still have to lean towards inexpierienced driver.....

Sportstick

I was also struck by the thread on age.....could you please tell us what have you driven before the C Class which is the basis of your comparison?

axhoaxho

One of my DE instructors once told me, "The most important thing to improve your car is to tighten that loose nut behind the wheel."

He was referring to that loose nut 'me' behind that steering wheel

Try to sign up for some good local track days, for driver's educaion (DE) trainings with experienced instructors. Not only we will have a blast on the track, also a proper way to improve our driving skills and explore the limitation of our cars.

Modern cars, like our W204, are quite capable even in stock form. When driven by some good DE instructors, we will be surprised how well our cars can perform.

Regards,

ColoradoDriver

+1 Find a good performance driving school

mat2hu

well i've driven my sister's 330i 2005, which is INCREDIBLE!!! She got PS2's on her car as her replacement and man does that car grip! it literally feels like as if like those railings on rollercoaster rides how they have wheels on both sides connected to the rail so its tightly connected. My sisters car i have tested would take about 90MPH before it has ever given out on me on a turn. I feel like the old body BMW's handled better than the new ones but ya thats what i am mainly comparing my car to. its nowhere near as fast though but i feel like im a pretty capable driver but if anything you guys have benefit of the doubt by saying im young and inexperienced. Technically i shouldn't even be doing this stuff anyway...

FrankW

+1.

sounds like he just cannot drive at all. when I had my stock 17"...sure they pretty much sucks because I hate touring tires, but never once I "lost" control not know how the car is going to react from my input.