Snow Tire Question...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Connecticut - USA
Snow Tire Question...
Two questions:
1. What do people recommend for snow tires on a non-4Matic E500?
2. Have people elected to have a dedicated set of wheels or do you have them mounted on your existing 17inch wheels? I've seen a couple of sets of S500 17inch wheels on E-bay, but they are pricey.
Thoughts??
1. What do people recommend for snow tires on a non-4Matic E500?
2. Have people elected to have a dedicated set of wheels or do you have them mounted on your existing 17inch wheels? I've seen a couple of sets of S500 17inch wheels on E-bay, but they are pricey.
Thoughts??
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Michigan, USA
'05 E320 CDI, '07 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2007 Porsche GT3
Recommend you go to www.tirerack.com and browse their information. They have a number of aftermarket wheels available, many for under $200 each, as well as a huge selection of snow tires with consumer reviews posted on their web site.
Just sold our BMW 5'er which had a set of dedicated snows on Mille Miglia wheels. This was a very convenient and satisfactory setup and I plan to do it again with our new CDI.
Just sold our BMW 5'er which had a set of dedicated snows on Mille Miglia wheels. This was a very convenient and satisfactory setup and I plan to do it again with our new CDI.
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Washington, DC
2003 E500
I second the recommendation to take a look at Tirerack.
I have been very happy with Dunlop M2s, which I got before the M3s were available. According to Tirerack's customer surveys, the M3s are even better.
I had the M2s mounted on the original wheels, then got a second set of wheels (BBS) with S03s from Tirerack.
Although it doesn't snow a tremendous amount in the Washington DC area, the snow removal is pretty shoddy, particularly in DC itself, at least by New England standards, and I feel that winter tires are well worth the investment.
I have been very happy with Dunlop M2s, which I got before the M3s were available. According to Tirerack's customer surveys, the M3s are even better.
I had the M2s mounted on the original wheels, then got a second set of wheels (BBS) with S03s from Tirerack.
Although it doesn't snow a tremendous amount in the Washington DC area, the snow removal is pretty shoddy, particularly in DC itself, at least by New England standards, and I feel that winter tires are well worth the investment.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 8
From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
I just got new snows for my 4 matic
I live in the front range of Colorado and I drive twice a month (at least) to Vail to go skiing. The weather is so bad sometimes that my Audi Quattro will get stuck and I can not make it to my house up there. So all wheel drive still needs snow tires and all wheel drive does not mean all wheel steer or stop.
I love passing the SUVs especially Explorers with my old Audi or new MB.
But anyway,
I just bought the Mille Miglia Spider II (I don't remember the spelling) along with 4 Bridgestone Blizzack WS 50. They were the best on ice but not as good all around as the Michelin. I often encounter ice and I found that to be the most important thing in my case. I always have dedicated rims because it is a pain to have them mounted and balanced (they also can damage your wheels when the wrong tech touched them on the mounting machine). Also, when I go on a long road trip to the hot part of the country I change the tires to the summer ones so that I don't ruin the tread on the snow tires.
I bought the 16 inch wheels for $149 each. I don't have the air suspension and I don't want that much of a harder ride by going to the 17 inch wheels. Not to mention, the 16 inch tires are cheaper.
I strongly recommend dedicated wheels! (if you lease the car, then you might not want to buy a set of rims) The Tirerack is the best place for comprehensive information and good prices.
Steve
I love passing the SUVs especially Explorers with my old Audi or new MB.
But anyway,
I just bought the Mille Miglia Spider II (I don't remember the spelling) along with 4 Bridgestone Blizzack WS 50. They were the best on ice but not as good all around as the Michelin. I often encounter ice and I found that to be the most important thing in my case. I always have dedicated rims because it is a pain to have them mounted and balanced (they also can damage your wheels when the wrong tech touched them on the mounting machine). Also, when I go on a long road trip to the hot part of the country I change the tires to the summer ones so that I don't ruin the tread on the snow tires.
I bought the 16 inch wheels for $149 each. I don't have the air suspension and I don't want that much of a harder ride by going to the 17 inch wheels. Not to mention, the 16 inch tires are cheaper.
I strongly recommend dedicated wheels! (if you lease the car, then you might not want to buy a set of rims) The Tirerack is the best place for comprehensive information and good prices.
Steve
Last edited by SAguirre; Nov 3, 2004 at 02:59 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
For my '02 525i I had a set of Dunlop Winter Sports and they were awesome (and I drive a lot in the snow)! I did get another set of rims also, the whole deal was around $1K (from tirerack).
I have not yet put them on the E but I plan to this weekend. They won't look as good as the appearance rims but at least I don't have to worry about messing up my good rims in the winter...
I have not yet put them on the E but I plan to this weekend. They won't look as good as the appearance rims but at least I don't have to worry about messing up my good rims in the winter...
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Georgia, USA
Honda Accord
I drove to Colorado, Utah and New Mexico last winter from my home in Florida. I bought a set of barely used 16 inch rims from another 03 E 320 and mounted a set of Dunlop Winter Sport M2 tires. The car performed very well. The tires and rims cost me about $1000 total. Remember that all wheel drive does not help you stop, so winter tires are recommended. I believe that people who drive all wheel drive vehicles tend to forget this basic fact!
I carry a $1000 dollar collision deductible; I figured I would rather spend the money on good tires than on repairs. I did a lot of dry weather driving. The winter tires were only a little louder than the stock Continental Touring tires. I did notice a slight increase in fuel consumption. I found the rims on eBay, though I ended up buying them directly from a place called Ernie's Alloys here in Miami, FL. There are people from warm weather states that buy an E320 and want to put bigger rims on the car. This leads to a nice supply of barely used stock rims.
As a bonus, I replaced the compact spare tire with a full size winter tire. I now have a full size spare, which fills the spare tire well perfectly. I do long distance drives; I don't want to be limited to a 50 mile range on a compact spare.
I do not know if you can use the 16 inch rims on an E500. You have to check the brake clearance. It may be on the sport model that you cannot use 16 inch rims.
William
2003 E 320
I carry a $1000 dollar collision deductible; I figured I would rather spend the money on good tires than on repairs. I did a lot of dry weather driving. The winter tires were only a little louder than the stock Continental Touring tires. I did notice a slight increase in fuel consumption. I found the rims on eBay, though I ended up buying them directly from a place called Ernie's Alloys here in Miami, FL. There are people from warm weather states that buy an E320 and want to put bigger rims on the car. This leads to a nice supply of barely used stock rims.
As a bonus, I replaced the compact spare tire with a full size winter tire. I now have a full size spare, which fills the spare tire well perfectly. I do long distance drives; I don't want to be limited to a 50 mile range on a compact spare.
I do not know if you can use the 16 inch rims on an E500. You have to check the brake clearance. It may be on the sport model that you cannot use 16 inch rims.
William
2003 E 320
