I am a newbie to this forum and thanks a lot for the forum for all the userful insights.

I live in Germany and i am buying used C200 4matic Estate car . I need some suggestions regarding the winter tires.
The Benz Dealer told me that for winter tires, i can use All season tires . His logic was that a 4 wheel drive with all season tires is far better than a 4 wheel drive with winter tires.
I am not an auto geek and i still could not comprehend how that makes sense
Can you guys please throw some light on this ?


Regards,
Surya

 

His logic comes from the fact that your car has a better grip as its a 4matic therefore there is no need to have pure winter tires on it. In addition, these all season tires can be used in winter and in summer.

 

Make sure the all seasons comply with your laws though https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/blog/...-germany-when/
You're also still much better off with winter tyres during an actual winter as 4 wheel drive is definitely not 4 wheel stop (I mean it is always regardless of whether all wheels drive or just 2 so no benefit there) and the only thing that helps stop are proper winter tyres.
I've heard good things about Michelin CrossClimates, perhaps look into those if you don't want to change the tyres every year?

 

If you like doing 4 wheel burn out in snow, listen to the dealer moron. Sure your awd will have 2 more wheels for traction to get going, it still have 4 wheels like any other car when braking in snow.

Buy winter tires for safety of yourself and others unless you live in Greece or some southern euro countries where you dont see snow

 

Your dealer is completely wrong. get a set of summer and a set of winter tires.
The rubber used in the all season will give you a bad summer and a bad winter tire.
The rubber mix used in winter tires is much different to summer tires and made to get you the
best grip innthe different seasons.
Im located in sweden and can choose from eu-winter tires, nordic winter tires and winter tires with spikes that
is not allowed in germany.
Stay away from all one fits all tires.

//Dan

 

Why should he get 2 set of tires if it doesn't heavily snow where he lives.

 

The winter tires is adapted to get the best grip at specific temperatures, but i would not say i needed ones if you never had a temp below 0C. Although a winter tire have better grip when temps are low, just as they have much worse grip than summertires in a hot climate.