ivrier

Hi all! I've had my GL450 for just over 2 months and noticed that it would veer towards the right. A little balancing corrected that. Well that's not my problem now. I've also noticed the car somewhat 'sliding' with poor traction. I have the regular 18 in. Continentals. I was wondering if anyone has had the same experience and if anyone has replaced them with Michelin or Pirelli. My BMW X5 handling is superb and they are equipped with Michelin tires and that would be my gold standard of comparison. Those other SUVs can never be at par with the two makes.

nantucketsleigh

My 450 came with Michelin Latitudes. Traction seems good in the rain. Don't know about ice or snow.

gas-man

I have also noticed this. My GL 320 has 12,400 miles and using the original tires. It seem like what you describe, sliding losing traction specially when I hit a bump or small pothole especially when raining. But I have also noticed this when not raining again feels like sliding. I thought it is because of the air suspension. I went to the dealership and asked about this, they checked my shock absorbers and told me that there was nothing wrong. If this is due to the tires I have noticed this even when the car and tires were new.

ivrier

Great! I'm not alone. To those equipped with Michelin latitude, please let us know if you guys have the same experience. I wonderiing if the Michelin tires, given the right balance and pressure would eliminate the drifring sensation.

StevethePilot

I had to go to a different dealership to have my tires properly balanced to eliminate a shimmy at highway speeds and I do not get a lot of chances to drive in the rain here in Arizona, but I have noticed no "drift" wet or dry that's different from any heavy vehicle I've driven. I have on occassion had the traction control activate when starting from a standing stop and turning in to heavy traffic, but that's just because of my lead foot. I have the Michelin XSE M+S tire, as installed when purchased.

blittle

The Continentals that are standard on the 450 are well noted for comfort and ride but NOT durablity and traction.

Newbie_2_MB

My '07 450 came with Dunlop tires. I haven't had any traction problems with them & they did well in 3" of unplowed snow.

blittle

Yeah.......I've heard that the Dunlops have done better. I was hoping mine would come through with the Dunlops, but the Contis. were what I got.....because of the heavy snow/mud use my vehicle gets, I pulled them off and put on a set Yokohamas.

StevethePilot

Has anyone considered the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV? It appears to have a more agressive tread pattern than the Latitude and deeper shoulder tread. So far I've been happy with my Latitudes on my 320 but might consider the Cross Terrains if I plan to do any dirt driving. Then again, this is with the 18" wheel (265/60R-18), I don't know if it comes in a 19".

cablvr

STP - I had Mich Xterrains on my GMC Sierra and an Envoy XL. Pleased with handling in M&S, not so great wearability. Only got approx. 60K miles on the Sierra Xterrains (sold the Envoy at 45K miles). My $0.02.

LEOSOPHIE

I have had 2 sets of cross terrains on my Navigator which worked well but they are low speed rated tires and a place like Costco won't install lower rated tires than OEM. No 19" availability.

blittle

I considered them.....but they did not have the correct "load and/or speed rating" ( I forget as to whether is was the load or the speed) as required by MB......therefore, Tirerack told me that none of their installers would install them because of potential "liability" issues.

StevethePilot

The treadwear is 420 versus 440 on the Latitude, the traction rating is "A" on both tires, but the Cross Terrain has a temperature rating of "B" versus the OEM's "A" rating. The Latitude has a speed rating of "H" (130 mph) and the Cross Terrain also has a speed rating of "H" (130 mph). Our vehicles, I believe, are limited to 110 mph electronically (except, perhaps, the 550). However, as stated the load index on the Cross Terrain is 109 versus the Latitude's 110. Michelin will only show the OEM tire as available for the GL and in fact part of the part number at Discount Tire (who shows both) is MBZ, where the Cross Terrain's part number ends (at Discount Tire) with TOY, making me think it's a Toyota OEM tire they carry that has size and speed ratings that are the same, and temperature, wear, and load ratings that are very similar.

I don't know how different a 109 load rating versus a 110 is, but if we plan to operate at high speeds with high loads, I think I might want the tire that was designed for the car, if not better (i.e. higher performance tires, like you 52"-rim guys are using).

Nothing's ever simple with these cars, is it?

STP

mortenmol

Are all the US GL except for the 550 limited to 110mph?
Why? In europe they are limited to 155 and if they can't go that fast they they don't get limited...

Stoneseller

I put Cross Terrains on my wife's 2005 ML500, and also on my past BMW X5 4.4i.
They worked out great on both vehicles. As soon as I reach around 15,000 miles on my GL, I will put these same tires on it without hesitation.

anmhi

I put Michelin Diamaris 4x4 on mine with 20" wheels and they are excellent in these snowy Chicago winters they also look great, I replaced the 19" conti contacts and stock wheels.

mortenmol

I really didn't like the Diamaris, had them on the stock 19" and then on the 20" my dealer traded me. I find the Conti Contacts better, they were on my fathers ML63.
I find my current Vredestein winter tires better than the Diamaris in my GL420cdi.

StevethePilot

I can not now find where I originally saw that data. Searching, I keep finding euro-spec GLs that are updated by Braebus and have a higher top speed to start with. So I may well have to back off of that statement unless someone can back me up on it?

LEOSOPHIE

According to Car And Driver magazine the 450 is limited to 130 mph and the 550 to 131mph.

AsianML

The tires are limited to 130mph I suspect.

mortenmol

Why don't they just put v-rated tires on the cars, my diamaris were v-rated? up to 150 mph, my current wintertires are v-rated and the yoko's i'm putting on for summer are going to be v or w rated and the yoko's aren't very expensive.

Put then again you aren't allowed to drive that fast anyway.

Gotta love that Autobahn