jditom

Looking to replace the OEM Michelin's with high performance allseason tires with great rain traction. We get some rain in the PNW.

Just looking at tire rack for reviews and they pick Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS. They sound perfect and I want to stick with OEM size.

Any experience from the forum members would be great.

Will this tire decrease my mpg efficiency?

Thanks all

PS I have a 06 E320 CDI rear drive.

Untertürkheim

I cannot help with A/S tires, since I always use summer tires, or summer/winter where needed. A/S tires will always be at a disadvantage to summer tires for performance, noise, and fuel economy, and winter tires for snow and ice performance.

jditom

Agree with everything you said. I do this with my other rigs that see more snow. But this car will not be driven to the Mt's.

I thought that summer tires had worse fuel mpg do to sticky compounds?

Untertürkheim

The tread on A/S tires has many mini-sipes to give the snow/mud traction, but these increase rolling resistance / friction.

Kar don

the increase in MPG will be so minimal, why worry about it. Just make sure they are properly inflated.

I'd be more concerned about safety (rain performance and braking) which is why i'd go with a summer tire.

Untertürkheim

+1

I also enjoy the dry performance.

nantucketsleigh

Went through 2 sets of the then top of the line Bridgestone performance tires a few years ago. Within a few thousand miles they were noisy and my cars tracked poorly. Spoke with a seasoned MB tech who said he noticed tracking problems with Bridgestones. Used Contis which were ok. Now I use Michelins exclusively although I've been tempted by Yokos at about half the price. Michelins are probably overpriced and don't have great wet traction but seem to have the best consistency with regard to quality control and wear pretty well.

Baron11

Take a look at these tires, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (all season) Comparable in price to the bridgestones you are looking at. The wear rating on the tires are both 400. The goodyear tire comparable to these units have a wear rating of 420, your call.

Any tire other than the manufacturer supplied tire will have differing fuel mileage. However, based on the huge amount of torque you have available at a leisurely 1,600 rpm, I really don't think tires on the cdi or bluetec are going to make much of a difference. Case in point, 2006 jetta tdi 5 speed package 1, best fuel mileage on stock rims 46 mpg, average 43. (205/55/16) with GTI huffeisen rims, (225/35/18), best fuel mileage 47, average 42. I would guess the difference on the Merc to be even less.

Get tires based on your specific need. Some folks want seperate summer and winter tires because that is what they are used to or what they need based on the extreme climate they live in. All Season tires have improved dramatically and there is no longer the huge compromise there used to be between summer and all/season.

I hope this helps in your decision process. I am going through the same process myself and have personal experience with the pilot sport A/S.

Regards,

Bryan

jditom

Bryan,

Yes the Pilot Sport is a great tire and I had them on my Audi years ago. I was leaning towards the Bridgestones because of the reviews on tire rack.

Thanks

Benz-O-Rama

I have a set of Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 (All Season's) mounted to my stock 17" wheels. They are the best all season tire I've ever driven on. Quiet, responsive, good wet traction, average dry traction for the class, and wear like stone.

I recommend them to anyone that will listen to me.


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=Pilot+HX+MXM4

Baron11

you can save some cash but I don't know diddly about these tires, they did however review well. I just tend to stick to Michelin. The MXMs do wear well, I concur with Benz-o-rama, they just tend to have softer sidewalls. It all depends what you are looking for. good luck

Bryan

georgedaman

Those Bridgestones get noisy once the first 15% off.I would not buy them again.

Untertürkheim

If you are looking at summer tires also, I would highly reccomend the Michelin Pilot Primacy, they are absolutely fantastic tires, I cannot think of a single shortcoming.

lkchris

If you're looking for minimum rolling resistance, you need to stay with Michelin.

MB Fanatic

The RE960 A/S is an excellent choice. It is a quiet tire that has some amazing summer tire characteristics but are an A/S tire.

Look into the Michelin MXV4 Primacy if you want a touring tire that will last about 60K miles. They cannot be beat.

Untertürkheim

Slightly OT, but does anyone know what tires come on the 09 E320 Bluetec from the factory?

DerekACS

My 2008 E320 Bluetec has Continental ProContacts in 17" size. These tires have performed exceptionally well for A/S tires, although I cannot speak for their performance in snow. For winter driving, I switch over to Michelin Pilot Alpins which are very good in snow and ice conditions as well as in the rain.

I have noticed that the Conti ProContacts are being fitted to many new MB cars as OEM tires.

enr1co

I just purchased some F1 Eagle A/S based on the positive reviews with all around handling, comfort, mpg performance.

I am experiencing reduced gas milage performance -2 mpg but the reduction in mpg could also be attributed changing out my wheel/tire size from stock 17" to stock staggered 18"

e

Untertürkheim

I believe the Bluetec comes with 16" factory wheels in the US and Canada, I was just trying to figure out what would be on the car.

Also, it turns out Canada gets the Bluetec in Avantgarde trim for 2009. Why not for the US also?

Baron11

2008 E320 Bluetec
16" 225/55/16
Michelin MXV4 plus


E350 have standard 17" rims.

starbrite

+1...I love those tires. My '04 came with Conti's and in the first week I bought
a set, w/wheels , from a forum member (Kosherbenz).

MB Fanatic

MBUSA likes to think we are idiots and don't like to have nice trim. Those folks at Montvale should seriosuly be fired.

Kar don

It is just one person actually that makes this decision. Quick google search... you can find his name in this article.
http://wardsauto.com/ar/mercedes_dual_eclass/

Untertürkheim

Thank you!

Untertürkheim

Great link, thanks! Now to just find his contact information... His quotes are proof that the people in charge are in fact morons.