I can't decide if I should go with the stock size of 245.45.17 or go with a taller profile. Can't get this question answered on the tire forum so I'm asking it here.

I'm thinking about the Dunlop Winter Sport M3. Any other suggestions?

 

If you are going to the trouble of getting snow tires, you should use a narrower tire. For winter I use a set of Pirelli 210 Snowsports, size 225 55 R16 H speed rated on a set of 16 inch alloy rims (in fact I just finished putting them on this afternoon). These tires are pretty good (not the best in snow-I have Blizzaks on my wife's 2005 CLK Cab), but they don't feel as squishy on dry roads (I tend to drive fairly fast on the Merritt Pkwy).

 

I agree with wem, you should not go wide tires. The wider the tires are, the less weight per square inch you got and the less traction you will have on snow and other wintry stuff. I have a set of alloy wheels for my snows too, but I drive the Blizzak WS 50s. They are not that bad at all on dry pavement (they give my OEM Contis a run for the money). However, on ice, snow and mountain roads they are very good. Just don't run them during hot weather or they will be gone really fast.

As we all say here, check out the tirerack.com site and see what packages they will put together. I bought the Mille Miglia Spider II and I figured out a way to make the center car be a MB logo one.

Steve

 

I actually spoke with the guy at TireRack and he recommended staying with the stock size, so that's what I ordered. He also mentioned that I can't put 16inch wheels on the E500.

 

As you can see, I have an E320, so I would not know. However, the people at the tirerack know what they are talking about. They really measure everying. What wheels and tires did you order?

Steve

 

We just got hit by a snowstorm here in Chicago and took me 2 hours to get home from work when normally it takes only 1/2 hour. I also went with Blizzaks WS 50s on my E500 and luckily I had them installed yesterday. Of course it will still slip but once it grips, I was passing cars easily while others were struggling along. There was a pimped out Tahoe struggling to drive up a small incline. Everytime it tried to go it would start sliding sideways up the hill (must have been 2 wheel drive model). We also have the Blizzaks on our '02 S500 and '01 E320 4matic. We had the Michelin Artic Alpin on our previous '91 560SEL but IMO the Blizzaks are better. Like SAguirre said, once it gets warm, swap them out or else the trend will wear quickly on warm temps.

 

LIONHEAD,

Even with my old AUDI, I loved to pass idiots with their huge gas-guzzling SUVs sliding all over the place. I think that a lot of SUV drivers think that just because they have an SUV (4x4 or 4x2) that they can go thru anything. They also don't understand that 4x4 or all wheel drive does not mean you will stop any better. When people move to Colorado, they think they need a SUV, but they always ignore tires! Even my RWD 300E did fine in the mountains when I had the winter tires on it.

Now back to the tires, I liked the Michelin A. Alpines, they were better in dry weather and normal days, but these WS 50s, IMO, are much better when it gets bad out. I once parked my car in the driveway to run in and come back out. I pulled up the drive and everything was normal (I did not notice the ice). When I stepped out of the car I wiped out and could hardly make it into the garage (by foot). I could not believe how well the car had gripped up the driveway on the ice/snow.

Sorry about the worthless info, but I thought I should share it

Steve

 

All info is good info!

 

SAguirre,

I have the Mille rims too. How did you replace the center caps with the MB logo?

 

I ended up ordering Dunlop Winter Sport M3's 245.45.17 and I will be putting them on a set of appearance package wheels I bought off of ebay. I hope all works out well. This is my first RWD car since my 89 535i (which was terrible in the snow). Past two sedans have been Audis (00 a6 and a 03 a4).

 

I use the Michelin Pilot Alpine 245/45/17s. Nice tire. My second season.

 

Last year I had 245/45/17 Dunlop M2s mounted on the standard 17" wheels which came with the car. The M3s were not yet available. It does not snow a lot here in DC, but then we don't plow a lot, so having winter tires is essential in my view. I was very pleased with the M2s.