GMW

I just bought a set of replacement tyres in anticipation of my....anticipated burnout that I plan on doing in the near future.

Now I noticed that the new tyres don't have the little rubber strip in the middle like is shown on the picture I attached of my tyres at 6,000 km. Anyone know why or got a new set also without that strip?

I've also attached a pic of the new rear tyre.

I wonder if it means these will last longer?

DaGS1800

Yeah those are def not the same tires, maybe they are cheaper and you got screwed? Or maybe they're better... You should probably check online though, I’m sure the Pirelli website should clear that up.

Childish///AMG

They "Defiantely" look different. The Pirelli website should give you better insight. hope all turns out well

tanktube67

It could be you got all season tires the wider grooves are for better handle on the rain.

Kar don

looks like you didn't order the Mercedes Spec'd Pirelli tires. They sometimes alter the tires slightly to match the carmaker's requirements. For instance I remember ordering Continental CH95s for my old BMW 3 series. The new tires had 4 rows of treads while the OEM had 5. Turns out the one with 5 rows was for better steering response requested by BMW. Had to reorder the tires.

NS_C63

Are your tyre the P-Zero or P-Zero MO?

OEM fit on the C63 is a P-Zero MO.

What you get in tyre shops is just a P-Zero.

That could be the difference.

dan30252

I did some research on these tires.

MB OEM tires are PZero "Hero" model.
Replacements are either PZero "Nero" or "Rosso"

The "Hero" model is a little softer compound, and DOUBLE the price of Nero's. I went with the Nero's on the second set, and couldn't be happier. They seem just as sticky as the OEM and will probably get a little longer life than the stock "Hero" tires.

I found out all this from a friend that works at Perelli. He's in the motorcycle division, but he sent an email for me to help figure out the difference.

GMW

They are P-Zero MO just like the original ones and manufactured on the 11th week of 2009, so they are quite new.

Maybe Pirelli made some changes since everyone was switching brands after they went through two sets very quickly!

I guess I'll find out only after I've changed my rears. I think I still have about 3,000km at most before the rears are gone.That is if I don't decide to do a super burn out before then!

With the condition of the rears now, it's already slippery on a dry road if I put my foot down. Whatever happens, there will be a burnout before I change the current ones! (So far, I've been hesitating from any burnouts to see how much life I could get out of the tires.) It's a lot of fun peeling out of turns and feeling the rear tires fighting for grip. In fact for a car without a mechanical diff, it feels a lot of the time like there is a diff as I feel both tires powersliding back there!

GMW

Interesting, but the PZero Nero and Rosso have different tread patterns.

rory breaker

Guys, it is commonplace for manufacturers to make tires specifically for a given car model that is NOT part of their "aftermarket" tire lineup, rather their OEM lineup. This is to satisfy carmakers requirements for treadlife, noise, etc...usually at the sacrifice of grip.

Safe to say, 9x out of 10, the aftermarket equivalent will be a better performing tire.

dan30252

Who knows..... just get a set of tires on there cause it doesn't matter. You'll smoke thru them in 3K miles anyways...