Help! Time for new tires... Calling all wheel/tire experts
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2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
What offsets are the wheels? 245/35/19 front and up to 275/30/19 are possible depending on offsets.
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From: Houston - Clear Lake
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Standard: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...SSXL&tab=Sizes
MO Mercedes: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...XLV2&tab=Sizes
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Tire Rack lists 2 options for 245/40ZR18 fronts. One is priced at $181.77 and the other is at $201.55. The second tire is described as MO Mercedes. Ratings all appear the same. Any clues about what's different, any insights about whether it's worth paying the extra $20/tire?
Standard: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...SSXL&tab=Sizes
MO Mercedes: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...XLV2&tab=Sizes
Standard: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...SSXL&tab=Sizes
MO Mercedes: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...XLV2&tab=Sizes
Good question, I just asked the same thing fairly recently.
MO is for 2 things. The first is to show that these are the OE tire choice for the car, and that the tire is weight-rated and tuned specifically for the Mercedes that they came on (for instance the BS came in funky sizes and weight ratings that are impossible to match with anything outside of a MO tire). Both of these tires are 97Y, so there's something else going on. MO also stands for Mercedes quasi run-flat capabilities. It seems to be somewhere between a regular tire and a true run-flat in its abilities here, as they do not meet the true run-flat standard for distance etc. So from a practical perspective, I'd expect the MO tires to have a stiffer sidewall than a non-MO with all other things being equal.
More info here:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=234
http://www.rtecshop.com/shop/wheel-a...ted-tyres.html
Last edited by BLKROKT; Apr 30, 2017 at 05:57 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,351
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From: Kitchener, ON
2010 C63 AMG
Tire Rack lists 2 options for 245/40ZR18 fronts. One is priced at $181.77 and the other is at $201.55. The second tire is described as MO Mercedes. Ratings all appear the same. Any clues about what's different, any insights about whether it's worth paying the extra $20/tire?
Standard: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...SSXL&tab=Sizes
MO Mercedes: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...XLV2&tab=Sizes
Standard: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...SSXL&tab=Sizes
MO Mercedes: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...XLV2&tab=Sizes
Other than that, who knows. I don't think the design differences are ever made public knowledge. Even if both tires say they're a 97Y load rating, the MO version could actually be higher.
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Tread width is wider on the non MO version (9" vs 8.6"). Since the section width is the same that suggests it may have a rounder shoulder for the Mercedes (MO) designed version.
Other than that, who knows. I don't think the design differences are ever made public knowledge. Even if both tires say they're a 97Y load rating, the MO version could actually be higher.
Other than that, who knows. I don't think the design differences are ever made public knowledge. Even if both tires say they're a 97Y load rating, the MO version could actually be higher.
The rounder shoulder is so that they fit on Mercedes specifically - the second link explains explicitly how the tires are "tuned" to fit the Mercedes fenders etc.
The MO prefix refers to a special type of approved tyre which is now supplied on most current Mercedes-Benz models. Mercedes-Benz recommend in instances where tyres with MO designation are fitted as original equipment that these tyres provide the optimum performance properties. Furthermore, for some tyre sizes e.g. 205/45ZR17 MO, the tyre dimensions have been designed to fit the available space in the wheel arch. This means that MO tyres may turn out to be narrower than tyres of the same indicated size without MO designation.
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From: Kitchener, ON
2010 C63 AMG
No, actually it definitely is public knowledge. The differences are known - fit, run-flat, weight rating, etc. See the links above.
The rounder shoulder is so that they fit on Mercedes specifically - the second link explains explicitly how the tires are "tuned" to fit the Mercedes fenders etc.
The rounder shoulder is so that they fit on Mercedes specifically - the second link explains explicitly how the tires are "tuned" to fit the Mercedes fenders etc.
Third party links, like what you provided are generally just speculation. Either by observation or possibly reverse engineering. Although potentially very accurate, it doesn't mean the technical details were made public knowledge.
Case in point, who TF is RTech Shop? That blurb could have been written by some co-op student.
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Fair enough. But do any manufacturers make technical whitepapers available on their proprietary and confidential tire technology and manufacturing methods? It's in their competitive best interests to not release much. So all we are left with is observation and reverse engineering in the end, no?
I think the Tire Rack link above is probably as accurate as it gets, as the manufacturers (both tire and car) probably give them as much information as anyone on how to differentiate one tire from another. That's outside of the racing tires which I assume are analyzed in extreme detail by racing teams and car manufacturers with the budgets to do so - although it's a question of how much of that is publically available.
This link is actually from MB, so might be a more reliable source but doesn't say much as you would expect. https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi..._parts_article
And while this isn't exactly an "official" source, it's probably closer to what you're looking for. https://www.mbwholesaleparts.com/serviceItemTires.aspx
I think the Tire Rack link above is probably as accurate as it gets, as the manufacturers (both tire and car) probably give them as much information as anyone on how to differentiate one tire from another. That's outside of the racing tires which I assume are analyzed in extreme detail by racing teams and car manufacturers with the budgets to do so - although it's a question of how much of that is publically available.
This link is actually from MB, so might be a more reliable source but doesn't say much as you would expect. https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi..._parts_article
And while this isn't exactly an "official" source, it's probably closer to what you're looking for. https://www.mbwholesaleparts.com/serviceItemTires.aspx
Last edited by BLKROKT; Apr 30, 2017 at 11:22 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Kitchener, ON
2010 C63 AMG
Nope they don't which solidifies my comment. We, as the consumer have no idea what they changed other than what's physically obvious.
Yeah, that last link even suggests there could potentially be compound alterations. Maybe they use sriracha sauce as a mold release agent.
Yeah, that last link even suggests there could potentially be compound alterations. Maybe they use sriracha sauce as a mold release agent.
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'12 C63 P31 coupe
