Tyres on B170=Michelin 205/55/R16 Energysaver 91H ZGA 186.

When looking at ordering a C350 I nearly missed the Advanced Agility Package option, in fact the 1st dealer told me it was not possible to order this option with AMG pack. I then bought it from a dealer who said I can.
However wheather it would ride soft as I expected/hoped nobody could confirm. After getting the car I phoned 1st dealer and they still maintained I cannot order such a car, surprised when I told him I got it. Actually I noticed this option on Mercs website. I am very delighted with this choice.

 

I wrote this very basic message for a 203 forum member

This is a known quiet tyre on the W204/W203s – Michelin Pilot Exalto PE 2. (As is the Yokohama AVS db2.) Similar tread is now used on the Pilot Sport 2. Note rotary bands of tread without blocks that cup & feather creating air pumping noise from the tread. Tread only has minor sipes. This tyre is non directional & can be rotated to change rolling direction which is required to keep it quiet over its life. Note that the shoulder tread blocks are staggered in size to break up harmonics from the tread on the road.



This is your Bridgestone Potenza RE 760 Sport. They get it half right. That outer band is going to generate a bit of noise with the W204/W203 suspension set up.



This is the Pirelli P Zero – see those blocks on the rotary tread bands. They will generate noise & as they feather & cup with wear it will get worse.



Here is an example of the P Zero Nero Series. This construction is somewhere in between & fairly quiet on a C Class



Here is the Yokohama AVS S1 that seems to have replaced the db2 for the American market. Should be quiet on a C – the AVS db2 was ultra quiet & designed that way hence the “db”



Here is the Yoko S Drive. Stay away from this tyre. It is directional which means it’s only designed to rotate in one direction. This means you can’t rotate your wheels on the car corner to corner or if staggered – across the same axle to change rolling direction. This is no good for keeping tyres quiet with the Benz C Class suspension which transmits tyre noise due to design & fairly hard bushings to improve handling. This is a pity because in other respects its design should start quiet but if you can’t change rolling direction every 6000 to 8000 miles it will likely become noisy.



Carcass design & tread compounding also effect noise but nowhere near as much as tread design. Also don’t confuse directional tyres with Asymmetric tyres. Directional tyres will have an arrow on the sidewall saying “ROTATION” where as Asymmetric tyres will merely say “OUTSIDE” & can rotate either way.

Hope this helps – Unfortunately some tyres that might look good do not work well on the C Class.

Hope the text editor handles this. No rude comments please - I was explaining to someone that knew nothing about tyres in very basic language. THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION OF GOOD OR BAD TYRES - It's about noise & harshness on specific vehicles.

 

Excellent info Glynn---thanks! You already did me huge favor my making me realize that going down to 17''s would make a big difference.

 

I'm delighted you have stopped the tramlining - sorry you still have noise but it is a Conti problem on these cars & Benz keep fitting the damn things - Drives my service manager wild.

 

Gotta call out the negative comments on the Yoko S.Drive tyres.

If my experience was bad with this tyre I would share it but my experience with over 10,000 miles has been nothing short of exceptional. Smooth, quiet and absolutely awesome. This tyre was not my choice through my research on this forum but my mechanic who has been tuning Mercedes for over 20 years specifically recommended the tyre to me for a 4matic staggered setup. We have a great relationship and knows I will call him out on it if the tyres were bad.

Superb tyre but to each their own.

 

No negative comments were passed about the S drive - I said it could not be rotated to change rolling direction WHICH IS A PITY. It is a very good tyre otherwise. If it feathers & cups though - it will become noisy & there is nothing you can do about it because it is directional. I recommend against directional tyres on these cars for this reason. If you are not sensitive to noise none of these things are an issue.

Unfortunately due to Benz alignment settings on the 203/204 all tyres feather & cup to a degree - even on the rear due to toe in. So if you are noise concious you need to change their rolling direction before this becomes an issue.

 

Fair enough... hopefully they stay this quiet for as long as I use them! Or I'll be cursing Glyn M Ruck as I drive down the road lol.

 

Continental Tires ?

 

Compared to the 05-07 C230/350 sport sedans, the 08+ C's do ride noticeably harsher. It feels like a "cheaper" ride quality if that makes sense...more of the smaller bumps are felt throughout the car. I have the stock 17's with Continental ProContacts.

 

AKbro, I definitely agree! good choice of words. The ride quality is noticeably better on the 17''s but yeah the C230 (I had an '05) just rode a lot better--barely noticed bumps at all.

 

Hello Glyn,

While we are on tyres , I am surprised that my Bridgestone Turanza 205 55 16 tyres are not wearing too well on the rear . They have done 20,000 km & look as they will be well & truly down to the limit at 30,000 km. I would have expected more as I drive conservatively although they have to contend with a steep sharp gravel track & poorly tared roads.
I would welcome your advice on my next set of tyres. My priorities are safety ,but not performance, good wearing & ride. They need to be robust to manage the sharp gravel.
What do country people in SA use on their MB ?

 

Hi John, Yes - the diesel produces a lot of low down torque & is a little hard on rear tyres as a result - I'm sure you are quicker away from the lights than you expect to be. Country people in SA use the Michelin Primacy HP for long life. Very good compromise tyre & tough. The Energy range is also long life but you are restricted on size availability.

 

Thank you Glyn.I did not know I was a HOON but looking at my Turanzas I must be . JC