C300 Sport Tire life
#26
Here is the ContiSortContact 3 tire (removed). As you look at it, the thread is different on the left side than that on the right. So, if I switch them on the rear, the threads will be backwards from what they are now, and I don't know if that is going to affect the stability, drive-ability or the integrity or even the safety of the ride.
You are forgetting that there is a whole different group called asymmetric tires , mostly non-directional. These tires bias the tread pattern based on need ... square blocks on the outer edge for cornering, and another pattern on the rest of the tire for other needs, such as water shedding. The DWS tires are an excellent example.
ContiSportContact 3
READ the description, they are of the non-directional group. Click on the side view and click again to zoom in ... no directional arrow.
Potenza RE970AS
Originally Posted by Domm, answering flyboy
You're assumptions are right .... You're also completely correct on your understanding.
Originally Posted by Sportstick
Good conversation and well done to all!
.
#27
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, Central California
Merc C300 sport, arctic white, P1, MM/Navi, iPod kit, 20% Tint, C63 Grill, X-Pipe, HID DDM Kit
Aligned and rotated side to side, only twice. I guess I'm fortunate to live in Cali where the weather doesn't change too much and the roads here aren't too tore up. Other than that I'm a real stickler about tire pressure (I carry a digital gauge in my glove), but after 32K they really needed replacing. I wasn't down to nothing but pretty close to it. oh also I don't peel out or do a ton of heavy cornering. Also most are freeway miles too and from work which is a 20 minute straight shot.
#28
Ok, thanks for the clarifications. I needed to get to know more about tires, and that's why I'm here.
You do know it's safe to swap side to side. If it was not safe, you would see a big directional arrow on the sidewall.
You are forgetting that there is a whole different group called asymmetric tires , mostly non-directional. These tires bias the tread pattern based on need ... square blocks on the outer edge for cornering, and another pattern on the rest of the tire for other needs, such as water shedding. The DWS tires are an excellent example.
ContiSportContact 3
READ the description, they are of the non-directional group. Click on the side view and click again to zoom in ... no directional arrow.
No, these tires ARE directional, as the big V pattern suggests.
Potenza RE970AS
Just a little more reading and you would have been correct!
are you sure about that?
... must have missed his morning coffee
.
You are forgetting that there is a whole different group called asymmetric tires , mostly non-directional. These tires bias the tread pattern based on need ... square blocks on the outer edge for cornering, and another pattern on the rest of the tire for other needs, such as water shedding. The DWS tires are an excellent example.
ContiSportContact 3
READ the description, they are of the non-directional group. Click on the side view and click again to zoom in ... no directional arrow.
No, these tires ARE directional, as the big V pattern suggests.
Potenza RE970AS
Just a little more reading and you would have been correct!
are you sure about that?
... must have missed his morning coffee
.
#29
#30
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, Central California
Merc C300 sport, arctic white, P1, MM/Navi, iPod kit, 20% Tint, C63 Grill, X-Pipe, HID DDM Kit
#31
Hey KevinK2,
Thanks for all the info. Today, yes today, I realized how mistaken I was in the photos that I posted. For some reason, I forgot the simplicity of how the tires are actually rotated. I forgot that when you move the tire from the left to the right, you are actually turning it 180 degrees, thus the treads are still in the same position they were on the other side facing forward.
You'd think a college grad. at the age of 50 and driving a Mercedes Benz would know that, eh? Oh well...
Thanks again
Thanks for all the info. Today, yes today, I realized how mistaken I was in the photos that I posted. For some reason, I forgot the simplicity of how the tires are actually rotated. I forgot that when you move the tire from the left to the right, you are actually turning it 180 degrees, thus the treads are still in the same position they were on the other side facing forward.
You'd think a college grad. at the age of 50 and driving a Mercedes Benz would know that, eh? Oh well...
Thanks again
#32
Here's feathering wear felt on the top of the tire by using a light hand pressure on the outer ring of tread, stroked forward and back.
Top of tire, front of car to the right:
. .__ . . __
_/. ./__/../_
Not exact, but you get a rough feel when sliding hand back, and smooth forward. More like a hack saw blade, back vs forward thing.
rotate tires every 5K miles, 10K max. Staggared = side to side, equal size is cross pattern.
staggard with directional tires = no rotation, unless tire is dismounted (not recommended).
.
Last edited by kevink2; 04-25-2012 at 12:48 PM.
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Monterey Bay
2011 C300 Sport, 2007 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
#34
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Unless these indicators are present, there are no restrictions. The very old tale of not turning radials the other direction after break-in dates from the earliest days of Michelin radials and has not applied for decades.
My C300 on 18s, due to too much high speed cornering, is getting close to tire replacement time because the front shoulders are quite worn although the tires are still legal at 32500 miles.
I have been researching tires and require something close in performance to my Bridgestone RE-050As which are now NLA. After comparing three tires on Tire Racks's website followed by a 30 minute conversation with them, I have made my choice and will be ordering soon.
Too much is being made of this.
Last edited by RLE; 04-25-2012 at 05:25 PM.
#35
This may be a bit late, but, directional tires have a big arrow on the sidewall pointing in direction of rotation. Others, like mine, are marked "outside" which is self explanatory and means they may be switched side to side which I do twice yearly.
Unless these indicators are present, there are no restrictions. The very old tale of not turning radials the other direction after break-in dates from the earliest days of Michelin radials and has not applied for decades.
My C300 on 18s, due to too much high speed cornering, is getting close to tire replacement time because the front shoulders are quite worn although the tires are still legal at 32500 miles.
I have been researching tires and require something close in performance to my Bridgestone RE-050As which are now NLA. After comparing three tires on Tire Racks's website followed by a 30 minute conversation with them, I have made my choice and will be ordering soon.
Too much is being made of this.
Unless these indicators are present, there are no restrictions. The very old tale of not turning radials the other direction after break-in dates from the earliest days of Michelin radials and has not applied for decades.
My C300 on 18s, due to too much high speed cornering, is getting close to tire replacement time because the front shoulders are quite worn although the tires are still legal at 32500 miles.
I have been researching tires and require something close in performance to my Bridgestone RE-050As which are now NLA. After comparing three tires on Tire Racks's website followed by a 30 minute conversation with them, I have made my choice and will be ordering soon.
Too much is being made of this.
Thanks a bunch. I think I finally got my bearings on this...no pun intended
#36
....and the winner is?
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: NJ
ML 350-Black=Sold. New 08 C300 4Matic, Black/Black, P1, Ipod, Auto7speed, 10/10 hit 100,000 miles
I got around 60,000 miles on my Michelin staggered tires , mostly highway miles. Over due for my next set, I have 152,000 miles on my car now. it's an 08'