Toyo Tires
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Toyo Tires
Does anyone have any experience with the Toyo Open Country A/T tire? I am considering them for my 98 ML 320. I have been quoted $95 per tire mounted, and lifetime balance and rotation. Seems like a really good price for any tire that has the correct load and speed rating. If you go by the UTQG ratings the Toyo should be almost as good as the Cross Terrain. I was just wondering if anyone actually had them on their ML.
Thanks,
Thanks,
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I get to drive lots of MLs, and everytime I drive one without factory approved tires, I can tell. They ride poorly, are very noisy, and vibrate. Rapid tread wear is common also. I say stick with a factory approved tire, you will probably be happier.
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Satrurnstyl,
What do you mean "factory approved"? If you mean what tires they are delivered from the factory with, this would limit me to the General's and Dunlop's correct? Or do you mean the tires are the correct size 255-65-16 and have the correct load and speed ratings of 109 for the load and H for the speed? The Toyo I am looking at is the Open Country all terrain in P255/65/16 with a load rating of 109 and an H speed rating. I am certainly going to stay with a factory size tire of the correct load and speed rating. I am also considering the Bridgestone Alenza and the Michelin Cross Terrain. But the Toyo is almost $50 per tire cheaper than either of these and has almost as good a UTQG rating as either of them.
I am still looking to hear from someone that has tried them.
What do you mean "factory approved"? If you mean what tires they are delivered from the factory with, this would limit me to the General's and Dunlop's correct? Or do you mean the tires are the correct size 255-65-16 and have the correct load and speed ratings of 109 for the load and H for the speed? The Toyo I am looking at is the Open Country all terrain in P255/65/16 with a load rating of 109 and an H speed rating. I am certainly going to stay with a factory size tire of the correct load and speed rating. I am also considering the Bridgestone Alenza and the Michelin Cross Terrain. But the Toyo is almost $50 per tire cheaper than either of these and has almost as good a UTQG rating as either of them.
I am still looking to hear from someone that has tried them.
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ML's came with generals, continentals, dunlops, and I think something else that escapes my mind.... Michelins were never standard but are an acceptable replacement IMHO. Keep in mind the tire model is important also, you can't just go by brand name. Michelins are extremely good tires, but MB sent out a bulletin regarding one model I think its the "Pilot AS" or something causing ride and handling issues on the cars. The General Grabber was standard for a while, Continental had a model that came out I think on the '02s for a while, mostly now we see Dunlop SP sport 5000.
Tire wear is often variable, depends on how you drive, how often you rotate and how you maintain tire pressures.
I have never driven an ML or any model mercedes with the cheaper tires like KUMHO, Falken, or BF Goodrich, "Insert whatever brand here" that drove like it should have. Mercedes seems to put a lot of care in to the selection of tires they offer.
Factory approved means they are on the list of tires that mercedes recommends for that model of car.
Remember with tires as much as anything else, you get what you pay for.
Tire wear is often variable, depends on how you drive, how often you rotate and how you maintain tire pressures.
I have never driven an ML or any model mercedes with the cheaper tires like KUMHO, Falken, or BF Goodrich, "Insert whatever brand here" that drove like it should have. Mercedes seems to put a lot of care in to the selection of tires they offer.
Factory approved means they are on the list of tires that mercedes recommends for that model of car.
Remember with tires as much as anything else, you get what you pay for.
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I agree that the factory tires are usually better tires. But the factories get first pick of the from the tire manufacturers and your local tire dealers get what is left. On my last Chevy P/U the only set of tires I put on it was a set of factory take offs and they were great. When I traded it on the ML I had over 50K on the tires and they easily still had another 20K in them. But factory take offs are hard to come by for the ML and since they have changed the rim size to 17" i would have to buy tires and rims and then be stuck with a set of 16" wheels no one really wants. The ML currently has the grabbers on it. I think they are the originals since it only has 70K on it. I am also looking for a tire with a slightly more off road based tire. The truck will see a good bit of wet muddy dirt roads through hunting season. Your typical all season radial gets chewed up by a graded dirt road so I am looking for something a little tougher.
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From: Connecticut
ML320
I have had these tires for several weeks and have been quite impressed. They handle well, shunt off rain with the best of them, and look to have an aggressive tread pattern for snow, as well. Not a 'car' tire, but not too loud, either. Based on my experience with several vehicles, I tend to disagree that OEM tires are generaly superior to other, premium brands. FWIW, I find most Michelins to have surprisingly thin sidewalls, especially for heavy vehicles.
