MY GLE Coupe is Horrible in the snow. Help!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
2014 Lexus GS, 2016 GLE450 on order
MY GLE Coupe is Horrible in the snow. Help!
Hi everyone, picked up my GLE Coupe 450 in July of 2016. Special Ordered with the 22" wheel option in NY and waited about 3 months for the July delivery. This is my first time coming to complain about these tires. I'm on the east coast, so why would MB pair this car with summer tires? Was that a mistake on their part by selling me tires that could not stand up to east cost weather? This car has been very dangerous to drive in snow. A simple snow covering would have me slipping and sliding, almost running into cars. At this point I don't even drive it on snow or ice. Would I be able to complain to MB about this? The car is a lease. I mean, these tires are such crap that you could feel slippage when your making a turn and have the wheels turned all the way in either direction. This has been the worst car I've ever driven in the snow.
Any suggestions on what I can do, outside of buying all season or snow tires for a car that's a lease? Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions on what I can do, outside of buying all season or snow tires for a car that's a lease? Thanks in advance.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 852
Likes: 132
From: North Carolina
AMG GLE43 Coupe
Hi everyone, picked up my GLE Coupe 450 in July of 2016. Special Ordered with the 22" wheel option in NY and waited about 3 months for the July delivery. This is my first time coming to complain about these tires. I'm on the east coast, so why would MB pair this car with summer tires? Was that a mistake on their part by selling me tires that could not stand up to east cost weather? This car has been very dangerous to drive in snow. A simple snow covering would have me slipping and sliding, almost running into cars. At this point I don't even drive it on snow or ice. Would I be able to complain to MB about this? The car is a lease. I mean, these tires are such crap that you could feel slippage when your making a turn and have the wheels turned all the way in either direction. This has been the worst car I've ever driven in the snow.
Any suggestions on what I can do, outside of buying all season or snow tires for a car that's a lease? Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions on what I can do, outside of buying all season or snow tires for a car that's a lease? Thanks in advance.
Compared to summer tires, all-season and winter tires have increased stopping distances. All-season tires also perform more poorly in the rain. My point is, there is no one tire that performs best in ALL types of weather. They each have their strong points and specific uses. I knew the 22" wheels came with summer tires. But then I also knew we don't get snow where I live, so it wasn't a real issue.
To answer your question, no, at this point there's not much you can do short of switching out the tires. I guess you could use chains in heavy snow, but they won't work in light snow or icy conditions. Summer tires are not even recommended in temperatures below 40 degrees. The rubber compound can become brittle and even crack in extreme temperatures.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
2014 Lexus GS, 2016 GLE450 on order
Well, first we should clarify something. It's not your car that's horrible in the snow. It's your tires. You didn't realize those were "summer" tires when you leased the car? Did you not investigate which tires came with which rims? Did the salesperson encourage you to upgrade to the summer tires? MB didn't pair the car with those tires. You did. That's why they are an option. That's kind of like living in Texas and buying a used car, knowing it has a broken A/C, and then complaining that it's too hot in the cabin. I don't mean to be harsh, but you have to accept responsibility for making an uninformed decision.
Compared to summer tires, all-season and winter tires have increased stopping distances. All-season tires also perform more poorly in the rain. My point is, there is no one tire that performs best in ALL types of weather. They each have their strong points and specific uses. I knew the 22" wheels came with summer tires. But then I also knew we don't get snow where I live, so it wasn't a real issue.
To answer your question, no, at this point there's not much you can do short of switching out the tires. I guess you could use chains in heavy snow, but they won't work in light snow or icy conditions. Summer tires are not even recommended in temperatures below 40 degrees. The rubber compound can become brittle and even crack in extreme temperatures.
Compared to summer tires, all-season and winter tires have increased stopping distances. All-season tires also perform more poorly in the rain. My point is, there is no one tire that performs best in ALL types of weather. They each have their strong points and specific uses. I knew the 22" wheels came with summer tires. But then I also knew we don't get snow where I live, so it wasn't a real issue.
To answer your question, no, at this point there's not much you can do short of switching out the tires. I guess you could use chains in heavy snow, but they won't work in light snow or icy conditions. Summer tires are not even recommended in temperatures below 40 degrees. The rubber compound can become brittle and even crack in extreme temperatures.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 852
Likes: 132
From: North Carolina
AMG GLE43 Coupe
Sat with salesperson and he didn't disclose what tires it would come with, and neither did I ask. Guess that could be my fault, and could be attributed that I'm an easy going guy that just goes in with idea of what I want and just buy it. Got the car in summer and this didn't become a problem until winter time. In my opinion, these tires aren't even that great in summer. I wouldn't recommend them.
Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 94
Likes: 27
From: Fly Over Land
'17 AMG GLE 43
Winter tires are a hassle, but so are winter coats, gloves, hats, and winter shoes.
My sales guy was very clear when I ordered AMG wheels that they were coming with summer tires.
Even for NY, all season tires are joke. Tire Rack sells rims and winter tires, buy them and see how good any car/SUV can be in the snow/ice/below freezing.
You will have to go down in rim size, so make sure to get the proper size tire to match overall tire diameter, but okay/better to go with decreased width for better show traction.
I picked up a nice set of 20" take-offs on eBay ($1050) and went with 4 265/50R-20 YOKOHAMA ICEGUARD ($680). Also from Amazon TPMS ($165).
GLE with proper winter shoes drives circles around SUVs on all season tires or clueless on summer tires. You change shoes for the season, you should change tires too. All season tires are a very iffy compromise, not great at anything, not good in snow. It is both snow and the cold (below 40) that degrade summer tires to the point of dangerous as you are finding out.
My sales guy was very clear when I ordered AMG wheels that they were coming with summer tires.
Even for NY, all season tires are joke. Tire Rack sells rims and winter tires, buy them and see how good any car/SUV can be in the snow/ice/below freezing.
You will have to go down in rim size, so make sure to get the proper size tire to match overall tire diameter, but okay/better to go with decreased width for better show traction.
I picked up a nice set of 20" take-offs on eBay ($1050) and went with 4 265/50R-20 YOKOHAMA ICEGUARD ($680). Also from Amazon TPMS ($165).
GLE with proper winter shoes drives circles around SUVs on all season tires or clueless on summer tires. You change shoes for the season, you should change tires too. All season tires are a very iffy compromise, not great at anything, not good in snow. It is both snow and the cold (below 40) that degrade summer tires to the point of dangerous as you are finding out.
Trending Topics
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
GLE 63 S
GLE 63 S
Hi everyone, picked up my GLE Coupe 450 in July of 2016. Special Ordered with the 22" wheel option in NY and waited about 3 months for the July delivery. This is my first time coming to complain about these tires. I'm on the east coast, so why would MB pair this car with summer tires? Was that a mistake on their part by selling me tires that could not stand up to east cost weather? This car has been very dangerous to drive in snow. A simple snow covering would have me slipping and sliding, almost running into cars. At this point I don't even drive it on snow or ice. Would I be able to complain to MB about this? The car is a lease. I mean, these tires are such crap that you could feel slippage when your making a turn and have the wheels turned all the way in either direction. This has been the worst car I've ever driven in the snow.
Any suggestions on what I can do, outside of buying all season or snow tires for a car that's a lease? Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions on what I can do, outside of buying all season or snow tires for a car that's a lease? Thanks in advance.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 889
Likes: 148
From: Southern Illinois
, 2023 BMW X4, 1991 190E
Does you car have setting for Sport, comfort , etc.(play around with these setting to see if it is any difference especially when starting off from stop) If so get out of the Sport mode for sure. On some cars when you select a non performance options it actually starts off in 2nd gear. Just a suggestion
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 6
From: Upper Midwest
2021 AMG GLC63S Coupe, 2020 GLE 450
I also have the 22” with perellis. I live in South Dakota end I knew going into it that I had to get winter rims and tires. I purchased mine on tire rack. With winter tires on, my gle coupe performs awesome in the snow.
Also, yes the perellis do suck. But they are pretty sticky. I wish that I could find some pilot sport cups that fit the wide rear rims..
Also, yes the perellis do suck. But they are pretty sticky. I wish that I could find some pilot sport cups that fit the wide rear rims..
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 151
From: Greater Cleveland area
2019 Dune Silver Metallic E-450 Mercedes Cabriolet NEW Mercedes 2020 GLC300 graphite gray SUV
Get some winter Blizzaks from Tire rack. Problem solved. Best winter tire out there.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
GLE 63 S
I also have the 22” with perellis. I live in South Dakota end I knew going into it that I had to get winter rims and tires. I purchased mine on tire rack. With winter tires on, my gle coupe performs awesome in the snow.
Also, yes the perellis do suck. But they are pretty sticky. I wish that I could find some pilot sport cups that fit the wide rear rims..
Also, yes the perellis do suck. But they are pretty sticky. I wish that I could find some pilot sport cups that fit the wide rear rims..
Last edited by Kstar; Nov 17, 2018 at 12:11 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 151
From: Greater Cleveland area
2019 Dune Silver Metallic E-450 Mercedes Cabriolet NEW Mercedes 2020 GLC300 graphite gray SUV
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
1991 300CE
I went with 21s. OZ Dakar's with 265/45/21 Pirelli Scorpion Winters. These are for GLE43, so a little in-board fitting on the rear for the GLE43 Coupe, but looks great.
Last edited by CTE55AMG; Dec 2, 2018 at 06:10 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 1,117
A gaggle of MB's
Most 22 owners have had decent results going with front-size All-Season's for both front and rear - sure the rear will look narrower but for snow that's not a bad thing - manuf keep whispering correct size rear All-Season's "will be released soon" - but haven't seen them yet - Yoko's are the preferred choice since they are not a full arm/leg..
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
1991 300CE
I went with the GLE43 SUV sizes, 21x9 all around with a 25mm spacer on the rear. Very happy with the set-up. 265/45/21 Pirelli Scorpion Winters. I also lowered the GLE with the lowering module, it's on Low setting now.
