When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I run 19" Pirelli 240 Sottozero's II 255/35/19's all around on Vorstiener VFF-103's. I've ran a few sets of the Pirelli. When it's dry and cold (which is most of the time in Winter even in Ontario Canada), they are a great tire. In snow or on snowy roads, I find them stable with good grip. Good in wet/slush. Where they fall short is ice. The Series III look to have a more aggressive tread for Ice. The new Continental VikingContact 7 look to be pretty solid from a tread standpoint. I'd recommend one of those if you live in areas that get harsh weather conditions from time to time. If its just cold with very occasional snow, go fo the Series II's.
Last edited by SH4Ne; Dec 3, 2019 at 03:59 PM.
Reason: adding image
Makes sense. I do have some steep inclines though. Are the Pilot Alpins going to work or is that still too "performance"?
PA4s are "Performance Winter/Snow" according to Tirerack. The X-ice Xi3 is their studless winter model. Given your recent experience with the hill, I would not expect any performance winter tire will make a difference. https://www.tirerack.com/winter/bran...brand=Michelin
I've learned that are literally ZERO winter tires for the stock C63S setup, which, according to Mercedes, is 245 / 40 R19 in the front and 265 / 35 R19. The closest thing is the Pirelli Sottozero, which they sell in 245 / 35R19 (they do have the proper size rears). My local place is loathe to install the Pirellis in the front without something in writing from the dealer, since the car is leased.
Oh, and it's snowing right now as I type this. I will almost certainly be stuck at the train station tonight. This is one of those 'spensive lessons learned, as it will likely cost me at least $4500 to deal with this, if not get out of the car entirely.
I've learned that are literally ZERO winter tires for the stock C63S setup, which, according to Mercedes, is 245 / 40 R19 in the front and 265 / 35 R19. The closest thing is the Pirelli Sottozero, which they sell in 245 / 35R19 (they do have the proper size rears). My local place is loathe to install the Pirellis in the front without something in writing from the dealer, since the car is leased.
Oh, and it's snowing right now as I type this. I will almost certainly be stuck at the train station tonight. This is one of those 'spensive lessons learned, as it will likely cost me at least $4500 to deal with this, if not get out of the car entirely.
That is not unusual. The requirements for a winter setup is different from a summer setup. Generally for the winter you want to put on smaller wheels so you have more sidewall protecting the wheel from hidden road hazards such as potholes hiding under a layer of snow, and you want to go more narrow for better cutting action of the tires in the snow. Tirerack usually offers complete winter wheel/tire setups for many cars. Haven't checked if they offer something for the C63S. In addition you are not supposed to use chains on the C63S, because they can damage the suspension. But yes, this is something you should have been thinking about earlier and prepare the car for the snow ahead. These cars can be driven in the winter with a proper setup. AMG even offers winter driving events where you get to beat C63S etc. around a man made track on an ice lake in Sweden. They put studded winter tires on them and it's a ton of fun.
Last edited by superswiss; Dec 2, 2019 at 12:42 PM.
That is not unusual. The requirements for a winter setup is different from a summer setup. Generally for the winter you want to put on smaller wheels so you have more sidewall protecting the wheel from hidden road hazards such as potholes hiding under a layer of snow, and you want to go more narrow for better cutting action of the tires in the snow. Tirerack usually offers complete winter wheel/tire setups for many cars. Haven't checked if they offer something for the C63S. In addition you are not supposed to use chains on the C63S, because they can damage the suspension. But yes, this is something you should have been thinking about earlier and prepare the car for the snow ahead. These cars can be driven in the winter with a proper setup. AMG even offers winter driving events where you get to beat C63S etc. around a man made track on an ice lake. They put studded winter tires on them and it's a ton of fun.
Tirerack doesn't offer a setup for the C63S, at least based on what I've found. No question about it, this is my mistake.
Tirerack doesn't offer a setup for the C63S, at least based on what I've found. No question about it, this is my mistake.
It does take more effort to get these cars ready for the winter. That's for sure. But I also wanted to mention that AWD doesn't absolve you from getting proper winter tires. AWD doesn't help steer or stop the car, so you might get up a hill, but slide out of control driving down it or fail to come to a stop in an emergency unless you have a proper winter setup. Many underestimate this and put all-season tires on their AWD cars, thinking they are invincible.
Last edited by superswiss; Dec 2, 2019 at 12:52 PM.
Would this setup work? I used the C43 as the template to get Tirerack to show me something, anything, because it refuses to offer anything for the C63S.
Would this setup work? I used the C43 as the template to get Tirerack to show me something, anything, because it refuses to offer anything for the C63S.
Thoughts?
18s won't fit, you need at least 19s to clear front brake calipers. I would recommend 245 or 255 square set-up. You also need to factor in offsets for the rims. Stock is 25 front 57 back so you'll want to stay close to those.
18s won't fit, you need at least 19s to clear front brake calipers. I would recommend 245 or 255 square set-up. You also need to factor in offsets for the rims. Stock is 25 front 57 back so you'll want to stay close to those.
Thanks. This is all more than I'm prepared to deal with. The dealership is useless...they don't even know what wheels they offer, and it seems as though there is no winter option for our cars.
Thanks. This is all more than I'm prepared to deal with. The dealership is useless...they don't even know what wheels they offer, and it seems as though there is no winter option for our cars.
Anyone want my car? Happy to sign over the lease!
i dont understand why this is becoming a problematic topic.
go to any decent tire shop and let them do the thinking on what fits and doesnt.. thats their job after all.
i was in and out in an hour with new winter tires and rims.
i dont understand why this is becoming a problematic topic.
go to any decent tire shop and let them do the thinking on what fits and doesnt.. thats their job after all.
i was in and out in an hour with new winter tires and rims.
According to my local tire shop there is only ONE set of winter tires for the C63S sedan, and that's the Pirelli Sottozero Serie II. Nothing else comes 245/35R19 and 265/35R19. And MB isn't helping by posting the WRONG tire size here.
Folks suggest going down to smaller wheels, but that doesn't work as others have pointed out. I'm seeing whether and how soon my tire place can get the Pirellis and I'll report back.
According to my local tire shop there is only ONE set of winter tires for the C63S sedan, and that's the Pirelli Sottozero Serie II. Nothing else comes 245/35R19 and 265/35R19. And MB isn't helping by posting the WRONG tire size here.
Folks suggest going down to smaller wheels, but that doesn't work as others have pointed out. I'm seeing whether and how soon my tire place can get the Pirellis and I'll report back.
As others have said, you can go square. Tirerack has 5 options if you go 245/35R19 all around. That gives you narrower tires on the rear for better cutting the snow. You may have to get a narrower wheel for the rear if the 245 gets stretched too much. I don't remember from the top of my head how wide the wheel is in the rear for the sedan, but a good tire wheel/shop can help you with this. Or you can go 255 all around, which is probably fine on the stock wheels.
When I started to look about 1 month ago for winter tires/rims, The MB Tire Specialist at the Dealership informed me that 1 option was to purchase a winter tire and rim package and store my summer tire and stock wheels. The only rim option for my 2019 C63S coupe was a square set up 19" Twin 5 spoke Gray Titanium wheel (# R01, B51). The total package with Perilli Sottozero and these rims was $3,451.00 installed.
I did not like the look on these rims so for this year elected to have just snow tires Sottozero 3 installed on my stock rims 19/20.
In my search I was informed by a few that once they sell out of the size I needed that's it for this year.
Hope this might help.
As others have said, you can go square. Tirerack has 5 options if you go 245/35R19 all around. That gives you narrower tires on the rear for better cutting the snow. You may have to get a narrower wheel for the rear if the 245 gets stretched too much. I don't remember from the top of my head how wide the wheel is in the rear for the sedan, but a good tire wheel/shop can help you with this. Or you can go 255 all around, which is probably fine on the stock wheels.
I hear all that, but the dealer is giving me **** about going square on current wheels. Can't get any straight answers from them on whether they are going to cause problems later with lease if I do that. Lots of passing the buck going on.
And I considered changing rear wheels, but that adds quite a bit to cost as well, again without any details from dealer on the above issues.
I appreciate all the feedback from everyone here and I'm probably just going to get the Pirellis with the current/stock wheels to avoid lease issues later.
Once again, this is all on me, I should have dealt with this months ago or not leased the car. Would be lost without you guys.
I hear all that, but the dealer is giving me **** about going square on current wheels. Can't get any straight answers from them on whether they are going to cause problems later with lease if I do that. Lots of passing the buck going on.
And I considered changing rear wheels, but that adds quite a bit to cost as well, again without any details from dealer on the above issues.
I appreciate all the feedback from everyone here and I'm probably just going to get the Pirellis with the current/stock wheels to avoid lease issues later.
Once again, this is all on me, I should have dealt with this months ago or not leased the car. Would be lost without you guys.
Forget about the dealer. Don't even talk to them. Take your car to a reputable shop and get it done. When you turn the car back in, turn it in with the OEM summer tires. The tires you put on the car have no bearing on the lease. Worst case they charge you for a new set of tires if you turn it in with the wrong tires. You are making this a bigger problem than it is.
When I started to look about 1 month ago for winter tires/rims, The MB Tire Specialist at the Dealership informed me that 1 option was to purchase a winter tire and rim package and store my summer tire and stock wheels. The only rim option for my 2019 C63S coupe was a square set up 19" Twin 5 spoke Gray Titanium wheel (# R01, B51). The total package with Perilli Sottozero and these rims was $3,451.00 installed.
I did not like the look on these rims so for this year elected to have just snow tires Sottozero 3 installed on my stock rims 19/20.
In my search I was informed by a few that once they sell out of the size I needed that's it for this year.
Hope this might help.
Yes, thanks, helpful. Dealer finally offered me the Sottozero Serie II, total install cost on current/stock wheels was $1776 plus tax, not storage. My local place will charge me $1460 plus tax, and they'll store the current tires. Swapping tires going forward would be about $150 each time.
