Tire Options
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
E320
Tire Options
I am about to purchase or lease a new C43 AMG and have some questions about tires. Have identified a car that suits my needs with the exception of the fact that it has "Summer Performance Tires." I live in Northern California but do travel to the Sierras on occasion in the winter. Am wondering what the difference is between these tires and the all-seasons, in general winter conditions and also in the snow. How much difference does it really make, and also would there be a cost-effective way to swap tires on a new vehicle soon after buying it or would you essentially be wasting that cost?
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 8
From: Lake Tahoe
2017 C43 AMG
Summer tires
I live in Lake Tahoe and we had a dusting of snow a few weeks ago and summer tires WILL NOT WORK. Hence the name Summer, if there was a real snow storm I doubt I would make it out of the driveway. I have a lot of experience with Mercedes in the winter up here. All seasons are okay if you are just stopping by for the weekend. But for a full time resident I have a winter set of wheels and a summer set of wheels.
My opinion though...please don’t drive to Tahoe or Mammoth with summer tires, you will regret it. And possibly hurt yourself or others. BE SAFE
My opinion though...please don’t drive to Tahoe or Mammoth with summer tires, you will regret it. And possibly hurt yourself or others. BE SAFE
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
E320
Thanks for the reply. I can't go with winter tires because I'd only be using them on a few select occasions in the Tahoe snow. So the better option would be all season. The car does have AWD which has to help .. I'm currently driving an Audi A4 with Quattro and all-season tires and it handled decently when in the Tahoe snow. If I lived there all year as you do I'd probably buy a Subaru or similar.
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 8
From: Lake Tahoe
2017 C43 AMG
Thanks for the reply. I can't go with winter tires because I'd only be using them on a few select occasions in the Tahoe snow. So the better option would be all season. The car does have AWD which has to help .. I'm currently driving an Audi A4 with Quattro and all-season tires and it handled decently when in the Tahoe snow. If I lived there all year as you do I'd probably buy a Subaru or similar.
This will be my first winter with the C43 instead of a C300 or Audi A4 but once you put the C43 in ECO it performs almost the same.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 114
From: Mass
2026 GLE 53 Coupe
I have run the stock 18" AMG wheels with the stock A/S run-flat tires for two Winters now here in New England, and they've been fine.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
E320
the biggest thing I wanted to convey was the summers are worthless and dangerous in the snow. All seasons will be fine as I mentioned but storms in Tahoe is a winter season only for low cars like this.
This will be my first winter with the C43 instead of a C300 or Audi A4 but once you put the C43 in ECO it performs almost the same.
This will be my first winter with the C43 instead of a C300 or Audi A4 but once you put the C43 in ECO it performs almost the same.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 500
Likes: 15
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2016 C450
Thanks and I will take heed and put some All-Season tires on the ride as soon as I get it (or after I've burned a few miles on the summer performance tires) then swap then back out in the spring. Seeing as you have a C43 AMG, do you have any recommendations for a decent All-Season tire for this vehicle and for 19 inch wheels?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
E320
Thanks for this reply. My problem with buying winter tires is that I will be driving 95% of the winter in mild conditions that rarely go below 40 degrees and no snow. (Actually the summer tires are better for the winter rain in the Bay Area.) So the only use I will have for the non-performance tires is the 4 or 5 times I travel to Tahoe in then winter. And there's no way I'm going to swap off winter tires just for those trips and then re-fit the summers when I come back home. So I'm assuming that the all-season, while certainly not preferable to the winters in snow, are the only reasonable compromise for someone who doesn't live full-time in snow conditions. The idea would be to keep the all-seasons on through the winter and switch to the summer tires come spring.
Last edited by tpmbz67; Oct 13, 2017 at 01:34 AM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 500
Likes: 15
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2016 C450
Thanks for this reply. My problem with buying winter tires is that I will be driving 95% of the winter in mild conditions that rarely go below 40 degrees and no snow. (Actually the summer tires are better for the winter rain in the Bay Area.) So the only use I will have for the non-performance tires is the 4 or 5 times I travel to Tahoe in then winter. And there's no way I'm going to swap off winter tires just for those trips and then re-fit the summers when I come back home. So I'm assuming that the all-season, while certainly not preferable to the winters in snow, are the only reasonable compromise for someone who doesn't live full-time in snow conditions.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 264
From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
Thanks for the reply. I can't go with winter tires because I'd only be using them on a few select occasions in the Tahoe snow. So the better option would be all season. The car does have AWD which has to help .. I'm currently driving an Audi A4 with Quattro and all-season tires and it handled decently when in the Tahoe snow. If I lived there all year as you do I'd probably buy a Subaru or similar.
I swap my summer tires for Michelin Pilot AS3+ for the winter months here. They do fine in like snow and have excellent grip in the cold and wet. In dry conditions, I think they grip just as well as the stock Conti summer tires. I'm running on the 19'' factory wheels.
Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 113
Likes: 15
none yet
I suggest you visit The Tire Rack https://www.tirerack.com read the reviews. Top rated All Seasons Michelin AS/3 Plus, Pirelli P-Zero AS Plus, Continental DWS-06, BFG Comp 2 AS Plus..
I have the Pirelli P Zero AS Plus on my Infiniti been very happy with them.
FYI Not every company does the correct front and rear sizes.
I have the Pirelli P Zero AS Plus on my Infiniti been very happy with them.
FYI Not every company does the correct front and rear sizes.
Last edited by ErikM; Oct 16, 2017 at 01:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
E320
I just got the Michelin AS3+ as well today. Have to say that it's a considerably more comfortable ride than the run-flat summers that came stock. I will save those tires until I trade-in the lease. Hope to have a good experience on the few occasions I use it for snow. Doesn't feel like I'm sacrificing much in handling and I prefer the non run-flats (will get a quick repair kit for the trunk and lack of spare and risk the consequences of a blow-out minus the spare ..)
