Mismatching Summer and All Season Tires?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 473
Likes: 15
From: SF bay area
C300 sport
Mismatching Summer and All Season Tires?
Hey all, I have a 2009 C300 sport and my rear tires are starting to wear out. I have continental extreme contact DW summer tires on the fronts that I replaced before it got rainy this past winter. I have some old Continental contipro contacts all seasons on the rear.
Since it doesn't snow in California, I opted for the summer tires in the front for improved performance and since the fronts don't wear as much as the rears, tread life isn't as much of an issue. I drive pretty spirited, so my rear tires take more abuse than normal. I understand that putting all seasons on the rears will increase over steer, but I don't feel that with 228 hp it's really an issue. I just want your opinions on whether I should replace my rear tires with DW summer tires or DWS all season tires.
The DWS cost $40 more for a set of two, but have almost twice the tread life of DW. Tire rack stats shows they are almost identical in terms of performance, despite being in two entirely different classes of tire.
Will overall handling be affected, aside from over steer? Will the tread life be much different? Would it affect the overall stability of the car? I've been driving with a mismatch setup for months now, albeit on garbage rear tires, but the car seems fine unless I punch it on a turn with ESP off
I'm currently leaning more towards all 4 DW, for pure grip and performance.
Thanks for any input guys
Since it doesn't snow in California, I opted for the summer tires in the front for improved performance and since the fronts don't wear as much as the rears, tread life isn't as much of an issue. I drive pretty spirited, so my rear tires take more abuse than normal. I understand that putting all seasons on the rears will increase over steer, but I don't feel that with 228 hp it's really an issue. I just want your opinions on whether I should replace my rear tires with DW summer tires or DWS all season tires.
The DWS cost $40 more for a set of two, but have almost twice the tread life of DW. Tire rack stats shows they are almost identical in terms of performance, despite being in two entirely different classes of tire.
Will overall handling be affected, aside from over steer? Will the tread life be much different? Would it affect the overall stability of the car? I've been driving with a mismatch setup for months now, albeit on garbage rear tires, but the car seems fine unless I punch it on a turn with ESP off
I'm currently leaning more towards all 4 DW, for pure grip and performance.
Thanks for any input guys
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 704
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From: NY, NY
2004 C240 4matic, 2009 C300 4Matic
I mean its always better to match all 4 tires if possible. if not two and two would suffice. Since you are in Cali you don't have to worry too much about snow grip which is the biggest issue. Rain, probably not a problem either way. At the end its your call
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 473
Likes: 15
From: SF bay area
C300 sport
Thanks for the response, I just wanted opinions on what would be the better setup given the price, tread life and performance. I'll probably actually go with the DWS for the tread life.
