dalukas

I recently picked up a 2010 GL450 and considering the hakka SUV 5 in a 265/60 R18 size. Anybody running these or have comments on them? I'm definitely going to run Hakka's but since these are newer i wanted to get some feedback on them specifically.

thanks

blittle

Have not had them on my 450.... and.... don't know about those specifically BUT from what I have heard , nothing beats Hakkas for winter....just my opinion

jpalys

Ran Hakkapeliitta R SUV's on my 2007 GL450 last year. Having them mounted on winter rims this month for my new 2011 GL350. I decided to go studless and am extremely happy with the performance of the tires.

dalukas

Good to hear thanks. Are you running 18" wheels with 265/60's? I'll have to make a choice between the Hakka R's or the 5's. I'm p[robably just going to pick up some 18's from Tirerack with the TPMS.

lkchris

The SUV5s are "T" speed rated, which is below Mercedes specifcation.

The proper Nokian is WRG2 SUV, which is H-rated.

fs1013

Not trying to hijack the tread, but I've read lots of people here installing 18" on their GLs (mine is 2010 GL350 Bluetec with stock runflat all season). However when I checked with my SA I was told it is specifically not recommended by MB. She said the equivelent tire size would be 265-60-18 and the offset needs to remain 2.2". She is not sure how they will perform on the car but it's possible it will throw off ESP. I checked my owner's manual and it does not have 18" listed for sure. Both tirerack and discount tire websites do list 18" for the GL350.

So I'm confused and concerned it may void the warranty if I install the 18" since my SA already gave me the advice as above.

Any suggestion?

Ollies

Your SA is FOS!!
I run my previous GL 320's 18" wheels with Blizzack's on my new 350 and they are perfect. You just need the correct size of tire.

jpalys

Same tire circumference and as long as the offset is the same there should be no issues. Mine get reinstalled next week. I will post an update then. Living in Northern Ontario, Canada, all seasons are not an option in the winter.

pteam

How do the stock tires, I think theyre run flats do in the snow? I'll have a 2011 GL350 which has 20's. Thanks!

43221B

They are pretty much what you would expect from a wide tire with a 130 MPH speed rating. They are acceptable for driving in occasional snow but I wouldn't want to use then for daily driving in the mountains. The biggest flaw I noticed last winter was that they give the GL a lot of understeer. So, you really need to slow down before making turns. The front tires won't pull you in the direction they are turned when applying moderate throttle like you would get with a narrower pair of snow tires. But, the GL is very stable with them and I haven't noticed any oversteer.

pteam

are most of you guys putting on winter tires?

43221B

I have about 20 days a year that I have to drive on slick roads. For me, the Goodyear Runflats are acceptable and certainly aren't scary. The handling is very predictable. Having said that, if I lived in an area with more snow, I would certainly consider another set of wheels/tires. You're just going to have to try them out for yourself. Acceleration on slick roads is definitely not a problem with the Goodyear tires.

Brocktoon

Kent, the "tire police" man strikes again. Can't believe he's recommending an non MO tire, but this time he is totally right.

I run the WRG2 SUV in the Alberta Rockies eight months of the year and I have never wanted for more tire. As Kent points out, it is H rated, works great and features an even higher load rating than OE.

I have been using Nokias since when they were still called Nokia, and I can say the WRG2 SUV is the best all-round snow tire I have ever tried. They are strongest on what you will likely be spending most of your time on: variable clear cold highways, slush and icy intersections. Not as good on dry, loose snow, but they are similar in that regard to any high performance studless.

fmr

For those with runflats, how do you handle the spare tire when you change to snows? 5th wheel in trunk or just rely on mb roadside assist. going from an 08 320 to an 11 350 and the lack of a spare is my main concern. thanks

lkchris

When I researched winter tires for my GL, I discovered a listing in Mercedes' German-language-only offroading magazine indicating that the only MO tires in my 18-in size were from Dunlop and Continental. NEITHER are sold in the USA or Canada.

I've fitted the non-MO version of the Dunlop, and if it weren't for the fact they're made in Germany I would have reverted to my usual aversion to Dunlop, as it's usually an inferior tire and is Goodyear's "B" brand. Tires aren't something I'm willing to personally import from Germany.

http://www.offroad.mercedes-benz.de/index.html

Doing it again, I'd likely get the Hakkas, although my recent Hakka experience (a couple for motorcycle trailer) has been to find molded on the sidewalls ...

IN BIG PRINT: "Engineered in Finland"
in small print: "Made in PRC"

... which didn't positively impress.

Brocktoon

Yeah? Well, the WRs are made in Russia, so I guess you can pick your poison...

ymmv

I've run the Hakka SUV 5 studded for a full winter (5K+ miles) on the 2010 GL 350 with 20 inch wheels. Also, the factory run-flats did very well in snow and slush. Driving on the studs included extreme ice, 16% grade on a 500 foot long asphalt driveway, high speed (50 mph) freeway in deep snow and slush, towing and driving through 4 feet of fresh overnight snow. I've also been in a panic emergency stop when a truck backed onto a road and I was do 35 on dry asphalt. Unstoppable tire ... except when you want it to stop. Suffice to say the studs don't create noise or vibration beyond acceptable levels and the tire works properly with the stability and ABS. Expect the "feel" of the studs to give the car a slightly "vague" feel at high speed (65-75mph) on dry asphalt, but after a few miles, you find the car is just as stable as ever and it's not a problem.

Just don't get too much snow under the body. The nose of the GL looks good, but it funnels snow under the body. If you do get high-centered on snow and you have the air suspension, raise and low a couple of times to pack down (a marvelous trick I discovered with a Cayenne a couple of years back in desperation of not wanting to spend an hour digging out.

pteam

lol that sucks. sounds like how much snow we get here in Ohio near lake Erie, but more! Glad to hear the factory tires did well in the snow, as I'm used to my hummer h2 and we'll see how the GL does on stock tires.

RickyN F355

hakkas are prob overkill for most parts of the USA...for northeast winters the WRs are perfect,,,i had hakkas on my e55 and that was fine, but with awd u dont need the hakkas unless ur spending a ton of time in really deep snow.

LYXBIL

Studded tires are necessary in New England. I once had two Audis, a 100 with FWD and studded Hakkapeliittas and a 200 with AWD and all season tires. Which one got stuck more than once and almost slid off the road one icy morning? The Quattro with all season tires!