need new rear tires
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 154
Likes: 11
From: St Louis
Merc CLS550
need new rear tires
2014 CLS 550 4-matic. As fellow owners of this model know all too well--the staggered wheel set up of this model is rough on rear tire wear. After tried with Michelin and Continentals-I finally found the best wearing and quietest of the bunch--Bridgestone Potenza RE 980AS-s. Have gotten in excess of 20K miles on a set (good on this model)--run well--quiet--best I've found.
Time for a new pair. Went to the Tire Rack (as usual) and they are out of stock on my needed size --backordered but Bridgestone is unable to quote and ETA. T-R's guess is maybe late February. TR advises they've been out of stock on my needed size since August 2024.
I figure if TR can't get them--its hopeless to check elsewhere--BUT maybe I'm wrong--but WHO?
What other brands should I consider?? Again--Michelins nor Continentals that I've ever used have matched or come close to the Bridgestone Potenza-s
Any advice--very appreciated
Dave
Time for a new pair. Went to the Tire Rack (as usual) and they are out of stock on my needed size --backordered but Bridgestone is unable to quote and ETA. T-R's guess is maybe late February. TR advises they've been out of stock on my needed size since August 2024.
I figure if TR can't get them--its hopeless to check elsewhere--BUT maybe I'm wrong--but WHO?
What other brands should I consider?? Again--Michelins nor Continentals that I've ever used have matched or come close to the Bridgestone Potenza-s
Any advice--very appreciated
Dave
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 357
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E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
Funny you mention the RE 980 AS - I have the same but on my front wheels only. I run the OEM Conti Pro Contact at the rear and I find them just fine. For the RE 980AS, I am OK with them cos they were lower priced when I bought them but I notice a soft hum at 50 mph. So I try to not drive at exactly 50 mph. If you don't want the OEM Conti Pro Contact, Mich Pilot AS4's are usuallly not a controversial choice. I have those both on my E63 and my convertible ( non MB ) and I am quite OK with how they ride.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 154
Likes: 11
From: St Louis
Merc CLS550
For whatever reason/s---the Bridgetstones have significantly out lasted all the others
I talked to Tire Rack again and lost hope these RE 980's were ever coming back--apparently I had the only two on order for the entire company and Bridgestone isn't committing to a delivery date
Good news is I found a matching pair on E Bay --from two different sources and bought both --saved about $100 each. Just got delivery of one--and the second is with Fed Ex with a Saturday ETA.
So it looks like I'll have what I want this Saturday and have a date to get them mounted on Sunday
I talked to Tire Rack again and lost hope these RE 980's were ever coming back--apparently I had the only two on order for the entire company and Bridgestone isn't committing to a delivery date
Good news is I found a matching pair on E Bay --from two different sources and bought both --saved about $100 each. Just got delivery of one--and the second is with Fed Ex with a Saturday ETA.
So it looks like I'll have what I want this Saturday and have a date to get them mounted on Sunday
