Tire Replacement Conundrum
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 31
C43
Tire Replacement Conundrum
I am 2 years into a 3 year lease on my C300 4matic sport and need to replace tires. Fronts are an immediate need and rears are a couple months behind. I have ~22k miles so it appears I've faired better than most with regards to longevity...
I know the best thing performance and pocketbook-wise is to move to non-run flats and I'm tempted to go with the Pilot A/S 3+. I am certain that I would be happy with the performance, lack of noise and improved wear but I am 50/50 on whether I will keep the car upon lease end.
I'm fairly close with my MBZ salesman, having purchased 6 cars from him but don't know if he could finagle a deal on the lease return if it has non-OEM tires. If not, I'd hate to drop $1k+ right before lease turn-in.
Of course I should've made the swap shortly after taking the car so I could switch back to run-flats, but I didn't.
If I decide not to keep the car and turn it in with non-OEM or excessively worn OEM tires, I'll most assuredly get hit with the $1k+ cost anyway, so am tempted to tough it out with the OEMs for another year (they're not THAT bad...) but then again, the Pilots sound so great and I know I'd love the performance, etc...
Question to you all is...based on your experiences, what would you do?
I know the best thing performance and pocketbook-wise is to move to non-run flats and I'm tempted to go with the Pilot A/S 3+. I am certain that I would be happy with the performance, lack of noise and improved wear but I am 50/50 on whether I will keep the car upon lease end.
I'm fairly close with my MBZ salesman, having purchased 6 cars from him but don't know if he could finagle a deal on the lease return if it has non-OEM tires. If not, I'd hate to drop $1k+ right before lease turn-in.
Of course I should've made the swap shortly after taking the car so I could switch back to run-flats, but I didn't.
If I decide not to keep the car and turn it in with non-OEM or excessively worn OEM tires, I'll most assuredly get hit with the $1k+ cost anyway, so am tempted to tough it out with the OEMs for another year (they're not THAT bad...) but then again, the Pilots sound so great and I know I'd love the performance, etc...
Question to you all is...based on your experiences, what would you do?
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 613
Likes: 42
From: NYC
2014 C300
I am 2 years into a 3 year lease on my C300 4matic sport and need to replace tires. Fronts are an immediate need and rears are a couple months behind. I have ~22k miles so it appears I've faired better than most with regards to longevity...
I know the best thing performance and pocketbook-wise is to move to non-run flats and I'm tempted to go with the Pilot A/S 3+. I am certain that I would be happy with the performance, lack of noise and improved wear but I am 50/50 on whether I will keep the car upon lease end.
I'm fairly close with my MBZ salesman, having purchased 6 cars from him but don't know if he could finagle a deal on the lease return if it has non-OEM tires. If not, I'd hate to drop $1k+ right before lease turn-in.
Of course I should've made the swap shortly after taking the car so I could switch back to run-flats, but I didn't.
If I decide not to keep the car and turn it in with non-OEM or excessively worn OEM tires, I'll most assuredly get hit with the $1k+ cost anyway, so am tempted to tough it out with the OEMs for another year (they're not THAT bad...) but then again, the Pilots sound so great and I know I'd love the performance, etc...
Question to you all is...based on your experiences, what would you do?
I know the best thing performance and pocketbook-wise is to move to non-run flats and I'm tempted to go with the Pilot A/S 3+. I am certain that I would be happy with the performance, lack of noise and improved wear but I am 50/50 on whether I will keep the car upon lease end.
I'm fairly close with my MBZ salesman, having purchased 6 cars from him but don't know if he could finagle a deal on the lease return if it has non-OEM tires. If not, I'd hate to drop $1k+ right before lease turn-in.
Of course I should've made the swap shortly after taking the car so I could switch back to run-flats, but I didn't.
If I decide not to keep the car and turn it in with non-OEM or excessively worn OEM tires, I'll most assuredly get hit with the $1k+ cost anyway, so am tempted to tough it out with the OEMs for another year (they're not THAT bad...) but then again, the Pilots sound so great and I know I'd love the performance, etc...
Question to you all is...based on your experiences, what would you do?
My opinion is you are wasting your money by putting brand new set of AS3s on a car that you'll have for less than a year. They will allow you to pull ahead 4 months early into another car/lease when you get closer to your lease end date. Try to tough it out for the next 6 months or try to find some used RF tires to turn the car in with but you're wasting money getting brand new tires that you can't turn the car in with.
As you mentioned, you should have done the tire swap within the first couple of months now it's too late and definitely not worth it. Apply that $1,000 towards your next lease instead.
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Joined: Nov 2012
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A gaggle of MB's
Simple - if it was me - I would buy a set of Kumho ETSCA LX Platinum on TireRack for under $400 - apply for the $75 rebate - and put a can of TireFlat in the trunk.
Save the tires you have now - and put them back in for lease turn in.
If you plan to move to another Mercedes - remember to star shopping about 7 mo prior to lease end - gives you lead time to order something amazing for you !
Save the tires you have now - and put them back in for lease turn in.
If you plan to move to another Mercedes - remember to star shopping about 7 mo prior to lease end - gives you lead time to order something amazing for you !
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 31
C43
Simple - if it was me - I would buy a set of Kumho ETSCA LX Platinum on TireRack for under $400 - apply for the $75 rebate - and put a can of TireFlat in the trunk.
Save the tires you have now - and put them back in for lease turn in.
If you plan to move to another Mercedes - remember to star shopping about 7 mo prior to lease end - gives you lead time to order something amazing for you !
Save the tires you have now - and put them back in for lease turn in.
If you plan to move to another Mercedes - remember to star shopping about 7 mo prior to lease end - gives you lead time to order something amazing for you !
In researching pricing, I came across Bestusedtires.com and just picked up a set of fronts & rears w/10-11/32 tread depth left for ~60% of new cost. Shipping is free (they're only 45 mins from me anyway) and includes 90 day money back guarantee so I'll inspect closely upon arrival and if all is good, should be set until end of the lease...or at least 5 months prior so I can shop for another Benz.
