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Started our new Michelins at the recommended normal load cold tire pressure, but the GL550 seemed too 'wobbly' although smooth. Will increase it by 2 PSI increments until we find the right compromise!
Two weeks on the Michelins and they need more pressure than the decal inside the filler door indicates. The ride is smooth and quiet, but too wobbly at the minimum pressure so we added 2 PSI, which reduced the wobble, but didn't eliminate it.
Will see if the warmer Spring temperatures are enough ... otherwise will add 2 more PSI.
13 Lunar Blue GL550, 06 Imola Red BMW X5 4.8is, 04 Gold Honda Ody
Originally Posted by Jason B
You can't go by that. The rating for a 21" is much different. You need closer to 40 PSI if you have a 21" tire on there or you'll get a bubble.
Do all four tires need to be at 40psi? I do feel a little wobble on uneven roads, I follow the door panel recommendations for tire pressure, higher in the back and lower up front on my GL550 with Conti DWS06.
Thank You.
The fuel filler door decal for "normal load" is a better match to our usage, i.e., a driver, one passenger and a nominal cargo load ... groceries, etc. Notice that the label recommends the same pressure front and rear, but 32 PSI may be too low ... comfortable, but wobbly. If you haul multiple passengers or heavy cargos you need to start at higher pressures ... +4 PSI in the front and +12 PSI in the rear ... even more at high speeds in high temperatures.
Now that the weather is warmer our TP indicator shows mid to high 30's. As the weather warms I may reset for Summer conditions, but not yet ... the higher the pressure the more controlled the ride!
I have a 2013 GL550 and I've had pzeros - which lasted a while, then Continental Conti DW06s and now these Michelins. The Continentals lasted 7000 miles, got prorated and switched to Michelins. Hopefully these are longer lasting. Ride quality is good, didn't seem as hard to balance as the Continentals. Currently at 32 PSI all around.
Warm (mid-60º F) Spring day with bright sunshine so we drove a bit further until the new Michelins were at full temperature. Convinced they "take a set" overnight as there is a tiny bit of 'vibration' for the first few miles/minutes. Could it be because we park on "TraxTile" garage flooring?
By the time we got home the TP monitor indicated 38 PSI in all tires, no vibration other than road surface 'feel' but we didn't go fast enough to confirm what @Viha22 reported.
Got ours today from Costco $1280ish or so installed. Size was 285/33/22 initial 4mi interstate drive home
up to 85mph told felt much improved from vibrations. Costco was road force balance but with the unlimited free rotate and balance plan is stick to schedule on these and see how it goes. Will be aligned in the AM.
Report back after a week of use and all that Jazz.
At long last ... a clear and sunny day, a long stretch of new concrete and light, but fast traffic!
No vibration noticed by either driver ... I drove to the destination and my wife drove back ... in either Comfort or Sport mode. Comfort mode is ... well, more comfortable, but less controlled. Sport mode amplifies pitching due to road undulations ... I notice a slight bouncing of my head against the headrest, but the vehicle is more stable. Slightly more road noise in Sport mode than Comfort mode.
Temperature in the mid-70 degrees, TP monitor indicated 38 PSI in all tires after they were up to temperature and speeds in the mid-70’s up to 80 MPH. We love our Michelins!
looks like i'm due for new tires as well, 39k on the clock and the DWS06 are pretty worn down in the rears and fronts still have some life left, looks like i'll get the Michelin A/S 3+ as replacements. Ended up going to costco and had to special order these tires ($345/each) taking 5-10 days. Total was $1411 out the door.
Add one more using Michelin A/S 3+ as replacements to the Conti's. They were quite worn on the inside due to the negative camber and tread wear indicators were very close on all 4. I haven't done a road trip on the Michelin's yet, but so far, they are comfortable and smooth.
Add one more using Michelin A/S 3+ as replacements to the Conti's. They were quite worn on the inside due to the negative camber and tread wear indicators were very close on all 4. I haven't done a road trip on the Michelin's yet, but so far, they are comfortable and smooth.
They were the DWS06 models. Based on the previous owner's service records, they had close to 40K on them.
Cool, please continue to come back up update this thread with your thoughts. These are the two best rated tires for these cars, and I think the Michelin AS/3+ is better, but want to hear others thoughts!
Real issue re costly, premature edge tire wear is not so much the brand of tire. BUT THE FACT OEM FRONT - THERE IS NO CAMBER OR CASTER TO "ADJUST" TIRE CONTACT ANGLES - TO SPREAD LOAD MORE EVENLY.
The often quoted/reassuring "Full Alignment" is in fact only "TOE" - "directional" adjustment.
We saw the need therefore and have re-instated from the early 90's - Full, Precise Front Camber and Caster adjustment!
The K-MAC kit at the same time replaces the 4 front highest wearing suspension bushings/especially important is the 2 rear which are subject to premature failure and OEM are expensive to replace.
For the rear there is Camber and Toe adjustment OEM. But with many owners advising insufficient to resolve their tire wear issues we manufacture a rear kit doubling the existing adjustment range.
This kit also at the same time replaces the 4 highest wearing bushings.
Like the front kit is easily accessible allowing single wrench precise adjustment, accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack! Both front and rear kits come with bush extraction/insertion tools.
Now allowing ongoing adjustment to cater for day to day conditions - high cambered roads, wide profile tires/wheels. Wheel squat through load carrying or lowering. Curb knock damage.
For owners that are not off-roading and have lowered their vehicle's center of gravity for less sway, more responsive handling, we also manufacture separate front kit if lowered height 40mm (1.5") or more. See below.
W166/X166, W251, C292 Front Camber & Caster kit #504016M $595
40mm (1.5") or more lowered #504016-1P $695 Rear Camber & Toe Kit #504026 K $480
Delivery one kit $30 (F/R $50)
Over phone 1888 414 0762 (24/7) Visa, M/Card or by PayPal
So far, I have some city miles and a road trip of 340 miles to/from northern Arizona and the tires have been great. They seem to ride well, handle well and I haven't experienced any vibration at highway speed. I plan to stay on top of the rotations since I know the fronts wear unevenly on this vehicle.
I need to get a new set of tires. So for GL550 owners with 21" , have we reached a verdict on Conti DWS06 vs. Michelin PS A/S 3 plus? Prior comments seem to favor the Michelin.
I voted for the Michelins after our GL550 chewed through two full sets of Continentals in less than 25 thousand miles. It is too soon to conclude that the Michelins wear better, but they do ride better, handle better and are quieter than the Continentals.
Thanks SaniDel. I have 23K on my current set of DWS06 and they're worn down to the wear bars mostly on the insides .....still have a little tread left on the outsides. I think I'll try the Michelins next.
There is no magic bullet when it comes to tire wear on these heavy beasts. For the 295/40R21 tires, they'll all get chewed up and spit out at a nearly equal rate. I've heard that the Conti DSW's ride comfortably and are OK in light snow when there is a lot of tread left on them. The Michelins are likely about the same. At $325+ per tire, I really wouldn't go with either of them since they'll only be good for 10-15k miles. You might be better buying some much lesser known brand for under $200/tire if you can get a decent ride out of them. I might check these out when my Conti CrossContact UHP's are shot later this year with just 10k miles on them:
I voted for the Michelins after our GL550 chewed through two full sets of Continentals in less than 25 thousand miles. It is too soon to conclude that the Michelins wear better, but they do ride better, handle better and are quieter than the Continentals.
Same here, we only have 4K on the AS3s but love them so far.
02-26-2019, 04:27 PM
