Jun 26, 2015, 11:36 AM
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What winter wheels/tires are you installing soon?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Unless you have no need for money, do not buy at the dealer! I paid less, 1300, for the rims and tires than I would have paid for only the rims at the dealer, plus the rims are good looking alloys, not "steeles". Tire Rack of course.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
2013 650i GC
I don't have the car yet. But I already had a set of Michelin X ice 3's with rims delivered to the dealer. That way as soon as the car arrives they can swap them and I can be on my way. They have excellent snow and ice traction (blizzacks are a little better on snow but not ice) and they have superb dry road manners, almost as good as all seasons (this is the part where blizzaks suck).
Unless you have no need for money, do not buy at the dealer! I paid less, 1300, for the rims and tires than I would have paid for only the rims at the dealer, plus the rims are good looking alloys, not "steeles". Tire Rack of course.
Unless you have no need for money, do not buy at the dealer! I paid less, 1300, for the rims and tires than I would have paid for only the rims at the dealer, plus the rims are good looking alloys, not "steeles". Tire Rack of course.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
Michelin X-Ice xi3 are excellent. But, also read the review on tirerack.com for the new Blizzak WS80, a new tire model this year. These top two performers continue to leapfrog each other with each new model, which is good competition for our benefit. Tire Rack will also find wheels which fit, or you can also find excellent MB style aftermarket wheels at powerwheelspro.com. I've bought a few sets from them and quality and service have been excellent.
None of these choices have any effect on warranty as long as your choose the proper sizes.
None of these choices have any effect on warranty as long as your choose the proper sizes.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
That is the only winter tire available for the 19 inch rims. Which is the reason I went with 18's. It not a bad tire, but the combo of ultralow profile and wide tires limits their performance in deep snow considerably. They'll be better the all seasons but not as good as they can be with a higher profile tire thinner tire. In fact what MB recommends is four rims of the same size as the front in 18's (per manual).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Michelin X-Ice xi3 are excellent. But, also read the review on tirerack.com for the new Blizzak WS80, a new tire model this year. These top two performers continue to leapfrog each other with each new model, which is good competition for our benefit. Tire Rack will also find wheels which fit, or you can also find excellent MB style aftermarket wheels at powerwheelspro.com. I've bought a few sets from them and quality and service have been excellent.
None of these choices have any effect on warranty as long as your choose the proper sizes.
None of these choices have any effect on warranty as long as your choose the proper sizes.
The new improvement on both the blizzak and X'3s is H (130 mph) speed rating. They are otherwise very similar to their predecessors in design, Blizzaks still have the knobby edges Michelins are rounded:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....l=Blizzak+WS80
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=X-Ice+Xi3
Check the head on view of the tread and you will see where the big difference is.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 96
From: Northeast USA
AMG CLE 53
That is the only winter tire available for the 19 inch rims. Which is the reason I went with 18's. It not a bad tire, but the combo of ultralow profile and wide tires limits their performance in deep snow considerably. They'll be better the all seasons but not as good as they can be with a higher profile tire thinner tire. In fact what MB recommends is four rims of the same size as the front in 18's (per manual).
The C Class is not the vehicle of choice for driving through deep snow no matter what wheel/tire combo you choose.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Again the 19 sotorezzos will be better than any all seasons on the same rims but worse than they would be on 18in higher profile tires. If you live in an area where there is only occasional snow they will do just fine. If you live in an area where snow is a 5 mth or more ordeal there are better choices.
In my area (north central WI) we don't get big dumpings of snow, in general they are 6 inches or less, however, the snow rarely melts, in fact snow happens when things get a little too warm. The snow that falls in November sticks around till March or April, plus, the other 20 other snowfalls in between!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Tires are not meant to be dismounted once they go on a rim, the next place should be the dump. Mounting and dismounting repeatedly greatly increases the chance of damaging the tires bead or chaffer. BTW the damage my not be visible leading you to possible (though rare) catastrophic tire failure. If you are going to use winter tires always have them on a spare set of rims. Much safer and much easier
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
I haven't tried the new blizzaks but their sidewall design makes me think they'll be similar to the past. Its the reason Blizzaks are a little better in deep snow handling but much worse in the dry. The issue is the knobby high and straight outside edge of the tread, its good for chomping into the snow but it also has no "rollover" when you turn on dry roads thus affecting handling very negatively. On our previous odyssey (FWD) they affected handling so badly I had to get rid of them after one season. They made the steering follow every rut and groove on the road, they were horrible. On my F150 (RWD) they were torpid but otherwise fine. The X ice has a more rounded edge, that does limit their deep snow cornering slightly compared to the blizzak but it makes a positive world of difference in all other situations.
The new improvement on both the blizzak and X'3s is H (130 mph) speed rating. They are otherwise very similar to their predecessors in design, Blizzaks still have the knobby edges Michelins are rounded:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....l=Blizzak+WS80
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=X-Ice+Xi3
Check the head on view of the tread and you will see where the big difference is.
The new improvement on both the blizzak and X'3s is H (130 mph) speed rating. They are otherwise very similar to their predecessors in design, Blizzaks still have the knobby edges Michelins are rounded:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....l=Blizzak+WS80
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=X-Ice+Xi3
Check the head on view of the tread and you will see where the big difference is.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Yes, I see to what you are referring and I don't doubt your experience. And, X-Ice xi3 are great tires, as my son experiences on his BMW X1. Perhaps because I "put away" my enthusiast driving persona for the winter, I never had the same experiences as did you with the WS70 I had on the W204. I just sort of assume winter is something I have to "grin and bear" until civilization rolls back around in Spring and I drive much more sedately (for example, no hunting for empty traffic circles!). The WS70 served me well for several seasons as my priority was every bit of snow capability I could get with rear wheel drive for my sloped driveway...and they never failed me! My long-term solution is called San Diego....that's not a tire model....the city!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 667
Likes: 8
From: Boston 'burbs
2018 E300 Lux, 2006 Corvette Z51, 2015 Mercedes ML350 (wife's)
Considering that the C300 comes stock with 17in wheels, why is everyone going 18? I have a set of wheels and blizzaks from my C Coupe that I'd want to use on the W205 next season.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
2013 650i GC
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 53
Likes: 11
From: Ontario
2023 EQE 500
i am in canada , the dealer initially quoted me a 17" package for my C400 (downsize) but called me to say they noticed brake clearance issue and switched my order to an 18" package (Pirelli Sotozero & original MB wheels).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
No way, the more sidewall the more effective the tire! Its just that we all want to maintain the look of the car as much as possible. 19 might be too extreme to get the full benefits, 18 are a better compromise and 17 are the best.
For maximum snow effectiveness the trick is skinnier and taller! You want to dig into the snow.
