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Snow Coming to the Rockies - Tires GL550???
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Denver
08 GL 550, 07 Porsche GT3, 07 SL 550, 06 CLS 55, 06 Lamb Gallardo SE, 06 HD Fatboy, 06 HD RoadGlide
Snow Coming to the Rockies - Tires GL550???
Living in Denver, I know the snow will be coming to the Mountains soon and Denver shortly after. According to the Operator's Manual the following is needed:
Rims - 8.5 J x 19 H2
Winter Tires - 265/55 R19 109H
I have tried Luke at TireRack, he can't help till he gets his hands on a GL550.
From my research, for rims I have to go to Mercedes, they are almost $500/rim. I also need to buy TPMS (tire pressure monitoring), these run about $560/set of 4. The only winter tire that I can find is a Dunlop Grandtrek M3. No one seems to have them in stock, Discount Tire is checking with Dunlop as I write this posting. Prices for the tires is about $300/tire.
So I am looking at about $3,760 for winter. There has to be a better solution!
Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated. Don't want to be caught unprepared.
Rims - 8.5 J x 19 H2
Winter Tires - 265/55 R19 109H
I have tried Luke at TireRack, he can't help till he gets his hands on a GL550.
From my research, for rims I have to go to Mercedes, they are almost $500/rim. I also need to buy TPMS (tire pressure monitoring), these run about $560/set of 4. The only winter tire that I can find is a Dunlop Grandtrek M3. No one seems to have them in stock, Discount Tire is checking with Dunlop as I write this posting. Prices for the tires is about $300/tire.
So I am looking at about $3,760 for winter. There has to be a better solution!
Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated. Don't want to be caught unprepared.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Living in Denver, I know the snow will be coming to the Mountains soon and Denver shortly after. According to the Operator's Manual the following is needed:
Rims - 8.5 J x 19 H2
Winter Tires - 265/55 R19 109H
I have tried Luke at TireRack, he can't help till he gets his hands on a GL550.
From my research, for rims I have to go to Mercedes, they are almost $500/rim. I also need to buy TPMS (tire pressure monitoring), these run about $560/set of 4. The only winter tire that I can find is a Dunlop Grandtrek M3. No one seems to have them in stock, Discount Tire is checking with Dunlop as I write this posting. Prices for the tires is about $300/tire.
So I am looking at about $3,760 for winter. There has to be a better solution!
Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated. Don't want to be caught unprepared.
Rims - 8.5 J x 19 H2
Winter Tires - 265/55 R19 109H
I have tried Luke at TireRack, he can't help till he gets his hands on a GL550.
From my research, for rims I have to go to Mercedes, they are almost $500/rim. I also need to buy TPMS (tire pressure monitoring), these run about $560/set of 4. The only winter tire that I can find is a Dunlop Grandtrek M3. No one seems to have them in stock, Discount Tire is checking with Dunlop as I write this posting. Prices for the tires is about $300/tire.
So I am looking at about $3,760 for winter. There has to be a better solution!
Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated. Don't want to be caught unprepared.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Denver
08 GL 550, 07 Porsche GT3, 07 SL 550, 06 CLS 55, 06 Lamb Gallardo SE, 06 HD Fatboy, 06 HD RoadGlide
What a DEAL! Hard decision ..., but NO! I like my 21" Wheels, I just don't think they will work in the snow very well. Thanks for the offer.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
e39 540, GL 320CDI, 75 Porsche 914 2.0
18" Wheels And Snow Tires
I recently bought a set of 18" original MB wheels for my GL off of ebay, paid around $400 for the set including delivery. I then purchased a set of TOYO winters for around $1200. So my wife is now set for winter for around $1600. I didn't need TPMS.
Good luck
Good luck
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Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 181
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E320 & GL450
Why don't you check with Conti on your tires and their application. MB was supposed to fit them with all season tires, same as the 450 and you have one of the best all wheel drive systems on any vehicle. With their large 295 width patch you should be just fine and have more tire area than smaller tires which should actually will improve grip (less psi to the ground) on soft snow and improve your contact area on black ice. Just make sure they were the all season contis.
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Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Olney,MD
Wife - E300; GL320 - Sand Biege; Me - F150
Why don't you check with Conti on your tires and their application. MB was supposed to fit them with all season tires, same as the 450 and you have one of the best all wheel drive systems on any vehicle. With their large 295 width patch you should be just fine and have more tire area than smaller tires which should actually will improve grip (less psi to the ground) on soft snow and improve your contact area on black ice. Just make sure they were the all season contis.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Canada
10 S550 4Matic, 10 GL 350 CDI, 67 250SEC, 67 250SL
Carluver, can you explain why you did not need TPMS. I too am in Alberta, and I bought an extra set of 18' MB wheels for winter tires. Do you just ignore the TPMS light or does it work with the rotational speed of the wheels, as described in previous posts?
Thanks
Ollies
Thanks
Ollies
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: ft.lauderdale
08 S-550 & 08 GL-550
I found these for your consideration
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...spagenameZWDVW
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-MER...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...spagenameZWDVW
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-MER...spagenameZWDVW
Last edited by dsunnym1; Oct 2, 2007 at 01:51 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
e39 540, GL 320CDI, 75 Porsche 914 2.0
My GL does not have the TPMS option, it only senses if the tires are low but doesn't indicate the actual pressure. I am not certain how this works but the dealer indicated that if the valve stems were not steel there is no TPMS. Haven't yet installed the wheels so I am hoping I have been given the correct information and everything works OK.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: kpao
SR22
On snow you want more PSI to dig into the snow; less PSI will allow the tires to ride on the snow and not grip it. An aggressive tire thread would help alleviate this problem. On ice you want a bigger foot print, so the wider tire is better which is why the rubber compound is important. A softer compound will help grip the ice, but wears out too soon on the concrete or asphalt. Buying tires the right tire is not an easy task; you have to decide what is important to you and make trade-offs.
what it really comes down to is this.
i went to college in boulder, co...great state. they could care less what you drive around on. people run around in the summer with studs. its silly. then i see cadillacs and buicks with white walls charging up highway 70 chainless on snow pack on their merry way to Vail, etc...
no check points. no nada.
now here in california this is not the case. if its storming on 80 and you want to go to tahoe, you better have M+S rated tires or chains because they will stop you at Applegate and inspect your tires. its a joke really, but then there are so many inexperienced snow drivers around here i dont blame the state (caltrans)...
i saw at least a half dozen hondas with chains only on the rear tires last season...
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
My GL does not have the TPMS option, it only senses if the tires are low but doesn't indicate the actual pressure. I am not certain how this works but the dealer indicated that if the valve stems were not steel there is no TPMS. Haven't yet installed the wheels so I am hoping I have been given the correct information and everything works OK.
Steel valve stems are used to attach the sensor to the rim and to act as an antenna. You could have a steel stem and have no sensor attached, but a steel stem would indicate a sensor. You cannot attach a sensor with a rubber valve stem (in GL's.)
If you do not have a sensor in a tire, you will get a warning light. This will happen with any type of valve stem - as long as the sensor is missing. The GL reads the lack of a sensor as 0 psi and reports the fault. Not having steel valve stems doesn't render the system inoperative.
The GL, every now and then, checks the signals from the sensors to see if the tires are above a preset threshold (that threshold is set when you reset the system in the MFD.) If a sensor is not there, the missing signal will be read as "below the threshold."
Trust me on this - I drove around for a week with a missing sensor and a rubber valve stem in one wheel and for a week had a warning light even though all pressures were fine when checked with a gauge. Resetting the system didn't help either - a missing sensor is seen as 0 pressure and that's a problem.
Good luck.
Last edited by boxboss; Oct 6, 2007 at 07:44 AM.
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
2008 GL450 / 1999 ML320
You must have an American spec import, carluver. Canadian spec GL's sense actual pressure and US spec GL's only sense if one or more tires are low (I'm not sure which of these the US 550's have.) Both versions use stem mounted pressure sensors to do this - GL's do not use the rotational method.
Steel valve stems are used to attach the sensor to the rim and to act as an antenna. You could have a steel stem and have no sensor attached, but a steel stem would indicate a sensor. You cannot attach a sensor with a rubber valve stem (in GL's.)
If you do not have a sensor in a tire, you will get a warning light. This will happen with any type of valve stem - as long as the sensor is missing. The GL reads the lack of a sensor as 0 psi and reports the fault. Not having steel valve stems doesn't render the system inoperative.
The GL, every now and then, checks the signals from the sensors to see if the tires are above a preset threshold (that threshold is set when you reset the system in the MFD.) If a sensor is not there, the missing signal will be read as "below the threshold."
Trust me on this - I drove around for a week with a missing sensor and a rubber valve stem in one wheel and for a week had a warning light even though all pressures were fine when checked with a gauge. Resetting the system didn't help either - a missing sensor is seen as 0 pressure and that's a problem.
Good luck.
Steel valve stems are used to attach the sensor to the rim and to act as an antenna. You could have a steel stem and have no sensor attached, but a steel stem would indicate a sensor. You cannot attach a sensor with a rubber valve stem (in GL's.)
If you do not have a sensor in a tire, you will get a warning light. This will happen with any type of valve stem - as long as the sensor is missing. The GL reads the lack of a sensor as 0 psi and reports the fault. Not having steel valve stems doesn't render the system inoperative.
The GL, every now and then, checks the signals from the sensors to see if the tires are above a preset threshold (that threshold is set when you reset the system in the MFD.) If a sensor is not there, the missing signal will be read as "below the threshold."
Trust me on this - I drove around for a week with a missing sensor and a rubber valve stem in one wheel and for a week had a warning light even though all pressures were fine when checked with a gauge. Resetting the system didn't help either - a missing sensor is seen as 0 pressure and that's a problem.
Good luck.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
e39 540, GL 320CDI, 75 Porsche 914 2.0
You must have an American spec import, carluver. Canadian spec GL's sense actual pressure and US spec GL's only sense if one or more tires are low (I'm not sure which of these the US 550's have.) Both versions use stem mounted pressure sensors to do this - GL's do not use the rotational method.
Steel valve stems are used to attach the sensor to the rim and to act as an antenna. You could have a steel stem and have no sensor attached, but a steel stem would indicate a sensor. You cannot attach a sensor with a rubber valve stem (in GL's.)
If you do not have a sensor in a tire, you will get a warning light. This will happen with any type of valve stem - as long as the sensor is missing. The GL reads the lack of a sensor as 0 psi and reports the fault. Not having steel valve stems doesn't render the system inoperative.
The GL, every now and then, checks the signals from the sensors to see if the tires are above a preset threshold (that threshold is set when you reset the system in the MFD.) If a sensor is not there, the missing signal will be read as "below the threshold."
Trust me on this - I drove around for a week with a missing sensor and a rubber valve stem in one wheel and for a week had a warning light even though all pressures were fine when checked with a gauge. Resetting the system didn't help either - a missing sensor is seen as 0 pressure and that's a problem.
Good luck.
Steel valve stems are used to attach the sensor to the rim and to act as an antenna. You could have a steel stem and have no sensor attached, but a steel stem would indicate a sensor. You cannot attach a sensor with a rubber valve stem (in GL's.)
If you do not have a sensor in a tire, you will get a warning light. This will happen with any type of valve stem - as long as the sensor is missing. The GL reads the lack of a sensor as 0 psi and reports the fault. Not having steel valve stems doesn't render the system inoperative.
The GL, every now and then, checks the signals from the sensors to see if the tires are above a preset threshold (that threshold is set when you reset the system in the MFD.) If a sensor is not there, the missing signal will be read as "below the threshold."
Trust me on this - I drove around for a week with a missing sensor and a rubber valve stem in one wheel and for a week had a warning light even though all pressures were fine when checked with a gauge. Resetting the system didn't help either - a missing sensor is seen as 0 pressure and that's a problem.
Good luck.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
What type of valve stems do you have? Do you know if your dealer installed sensors? Have you (or did the dealer) reset your system? Perhaps MB is making changes to the Canadian GL's - based on what ReachWest reported and what specifics you have.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
e39 540, GL 320CDI, 75 Porsche 914 2.0
I have rubber valve stems on both sets of wheels. And no the dealer did not install sensors as I had the tires mounted on the rims at a tire shop. I do not know if the sensor was reset as my wife picked up the vehicle but I will find out.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
I did a little research and found a few bits of information that may help.
The MB-Canada website says the '08 GL's are equipped with a "Tire Pressure Loss Warning System." Note that this is different from last year's "Tire Pressure Monitoring System" and would explain why ReachWest thought he would get the TPMS and didn't.
The MB-UK online owners manual says the following:
"While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pressure loss warning system monitors the set tyre pressure using the rotational speed of the wheels. This enables the system to detect significant pressure loss in a tyre."
If carluver's system is functioning correctly with standard air valves and without sensors, it would seem to indicate MB has started using the rotational method of pressure detection, at least in Canada. This could be seen as a step backward - the trend has been to sensors from rotation. The first TPMS systems used rotation detection via the ABS system. This was a quick way to comply with Federal Regs requiring pressure detection. Sensors were developed shortly thereafter as a better method.
Personally, I don't see it as a step backward. Sensors are expensive (on an MB), are pain to swap to different wheels, and a waste if the actual pressure is not shown.
The MB-Canada website says the '08 GL's are equipped with a "Tire Pressure Loss Warning System." Note that this is different from last year's "Tire Pressure Monitoring System" and would explain why ReachWest thought he would get the TPMS and didn't.
The MB-UK online owners manual says the following:
"While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pressure loss warning system monitors the set tyre pressure using the rotational speed of the wheels. This enables the system to detect significant pressure loss in a tyre."
If carluver's system is functioning correctly with standard air valves and without sensors, it would seem to indicate MB has started using the rotational method of pressure detection, at least in Canada. This could be seen as a step backward - the trend has been to sensors from rotation. The first TPMS systems used rotation detection via the ABS system. This was a quick way to comply with Federal Regs requiring pressure detection. Sensors were developed shortly thereafter as a better method.
Personally, I don't see it as a step backward. Sensors are expensive (on an MB), are pain to swap to different wheels, and a waste if the actual pressure is not shown.
