Snow tires
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
Snow tires
Anyone planning on using snow tires if you live in areas that snow? I didn't use snow tires when I had a 2006 ML350 but those rims were 17". Now, my 2010 comes with 19" rims and I feel that the continental tires that came with the car are terrible in the rain as sometimes it feels as though the car hydroplanes a little when I drive through a puddle so I'm assuming that they will be terrible in the snow.
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'08 IS F; '09 ML 320 Bluetec; '10 X5 35d
Our '09 320 BT came with Michelin Dueler RFT's and it was very apparent that they would have only been adequate in any real snow. We had one day prior to our snow tires that reaffirmed our decision.
We went with Blizzak LM 25 4X4's....stock 255/50/19's....and couldn't be happier. We were very fortunate, as two days after putting them on we got 6 inches of snow and it handled perfectly.
They'll get another good test in the morning as we've already got 4 or 5 inches tonight....and it's not done yet.
We went with Blizzak LM 25 4X4's....stock 255/50/19's....and couldn't be happier. We were very fortunate, as two days after putting them on we got 6 inches of snow and it handled perfectly.
They'll get another good test in the morning as we've already got 4 or 5 inches tonight....and it's not done yet.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
Search this and other ML forums and you will find that there are a zillion different opinions about winter tires, always positive. I have yet to see a post where someone says "I bought such-and-such a brand of snow tire and it sucks". What that tells me is that pretty much all modern winter tires are good. I have run Pirelli Scorpions on my X5 and now on my ML. I like them for all-round use, although they are not the best in deep fresh snow. They are outstanding on ice, packed snow, and wet surfaces, which is what most winter driving is done on around here. As CdnRockies says, Blizzaks are also good, although in my experience their performance tends to degrade fairly quickly.
My X5 used 18-inch wheels for winter and my ML has 20-inchers.
If you want the best "all-season" tire (not that any such thing really exists) go with Nokian WRs. No question they are worth what you pay for them, which is $$$.
My X5 used 18-inch wheels for winter and my ML has 20-inchers.
If you want the best "all-season" tire (not that any such thing really exists) go with Nokian WRs. No question they are worth what you pay for them, which is $$$.
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From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
Oh trust me, I completely agree that snow tires are great as I have them on my AMG and SLK. I am just wondering if snow tires are necessary on the ML or will the all-season tires be sufficient.
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'08 IS F; '09 ML 320 Bluetec; '10 X5 35d
I was less than impressed with the capabilities of the Michelin Dueler A/S that came stock with even a small amount of snow on the ground. Guess it really depends on how much snow you get and what you're driving habits are. Our ML is primarily my wife's and we both feel better knowing that it's as sure footed as it can be in the winter with the Blizzaks.
P.S. We also had the 18" Scorpion winter's on our X5 and they were decent. I can't comment on the tread life of the Blizzaks as I'm in my first season on the ML and early in the second for the F.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
In Maryland I'm guessing you could get by with all-seasons. It just depends on how cold it gets and how much it snows. 5,000 lbs of weight and 4WD won't help one iota when you are braking; the vehicle's ability to stop in winter conditions is 100% dependent on the tires. Some people are happy to get by; others won't accept anything except the best contact patch they can buy. Up to you. I have Nokian WRs on my PT Cruiser which is my beater car used for short trips -- usually with dog on board -- and when I don't want to get the ML filthy dirty. The Nokians are excellent 95% of the time, but not as good in truly bad conditions as the true winter tires on the ML and my wife's M3. The Goodyear all-seasons that came OEM on the PT Cruiser were quite obviously built down to a price. Enough said about them.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
Ended up getting some tires and rims from Tirerack. Better to be safe then sorry especially with a newborn in the car. I got Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow in 235/65R17.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
At Mt Shasta, where you enter into northern California, Hwy 5 is pretty high up; I have seen some serious snowfalls there. However, you should be fine with all-seasons as long as you check the weather forecast before you head off and avoid travelling if blizzard conditions are expected.
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W204
At Mt Shasta, where you enter into northern California, Hwy 5 is pretty high up; I have seen some serious snowfalls there. However, you should be fine with all-seasons as long as you check the weather forecast before you head off and avoid travelling if blizzard conditions are expected.
I hope nothing happens
And I am guessing with all seasons all wheel drive is fine
I almost thought about taking my C63
but we all knows its not the best idea.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
Remember that 4WD helps you get going but does nothing for turning or stopping. Those are a function of the tires. "All season" tires should really be called "three season" as they are never as good in snow as proper winter tires. I see more four-wheel-drives in the ditch in winter than any other cars, because their drivers assume they can stop and turn as well as they can accelerate. Bad mistake.
But driving south along the west coast should be OK (even though I see that today Vancouver is under a heavy snowfall warning!).
But driving south along the west coast should be OK (even though I see that today Vancouver is under a heavy snowfall warning!).
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W204
Remember that 4WD helps you get going but does nothing for turning or stopping. Those are a function of the tires. "All season" tires should really be called "three season" as they are never as good in snow as proper winter tires. I see more four-wheel-drives in the ditch in winter than any other cars, because their drivers assume they can stop and turn as well as they can accelerate. Bad mistake.
But driving south along the west coast should be OK (even though I see that today Vancouver is under a heavy snowfall warning!).
But driving south along the west coast should be OK (even though I see that today Vancouver is under a heavy snowfall warning!).
Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 898
Likes: 9
From: Woodstock, IL
His 2019 RAM Cummins Turbo Diesel Laramie; Her's 2007 ML320 CDI P3; Mine BMW R1200R
I recently installed the Nokians WR G2 SUV in 19" for my ML, and I have been happy ever since. I actually went to an iced over field today and "tested" them.
Under full throttle, you can feel and hear the tires dig in to the ice up to about 15 MPH before the 398 pounds of torque forces the 4Matic into overdrive.
Cornering, same result as they grip in to the ice, kind of sounds like being on gravel, but with full power, the 4Matic is needed, but the turn is made with minimum excitement.
Braking, from about 20 MPH you feel strong deceleration but the last 8 MPH or so the ABS looses the battle and you briefly slide to a stop.
Bottom line, drive carefully on the slick stuff and you won't have a problem. No panic stops of drag starts. (I would think that goes without saying!)
Hope this helps.
Under full throttle, you can feel and hear the tires dig in to the ice up to about 15 MPH before the 398 pounds of torque forces the 4Matic into overdrive.
Cornering, same result as they grip in to the ice, kind of sounds like being on gravel, but with full power, the 4Matic is needed, but the turn is made with minimum excitement.
Braking, from about 20 MPH you feel strong deceleration but the last 8 MPH or so the ABS looses the battle and you briefly slide to a stop.
Bottom line, drive carefully on the slick stuff and you won't have a problem. No panic stops of drag starts. (I would think that goes without saying!)
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,308
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From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
I recently installed the Nokians WR G2 SUV in 19" for my ML, and I have been happy ever since. I actually went to an iced over field today and "tested" them.
Under full throttle, you can feel and hear the tires dig in to the ice up to about 15 MPH before the 398 pounds of torque forces the 4Matic into overdrive.
Cornering, same result as they grip in to the ice, kind of sounds like being on gravel, but with full power, the 4Matic is needed, but the turn is made with minimum excitement.
Braking, from about 20 MPH you feel strong deceleration but the last 8 MPH or so the ABS looses the battle and you briefly slide to a stop.
Bottom line, drive carefully on the slick stuff and you won't have a problem. No panic stops of drag starts. (I would think that goes without saying!)
Hope this helps.
Under full throttle, you can feel and hear the tires dig in to the ice up to about 15 MPH before the 398 pounds of torque forces the 4Matic into overdrive.
Cornering, same result as they grip in to the ice, kind of sounds like being on gravel, but with full power, the 4Matic is needed, but the turn is made with minimum excitement.
Braking, from about 20 MPH you feel strong deceleration but the last 8 MPH or so the ABS looses the battle and you briefly slide to a stop.
Bottom line, drive carefully on the slick stuff and you won't have a problem. No panic stops of drag starts. (I would think that goes without saying!)
Hope this helps.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 898
Likes: 9
From: Woodstock, IL
His 2019 RAM Cummins Turbo Diesel Laramie; Her's 2007 ML320 CDI P3; Mine BMW R1200R
Thought about it, but the TPMS setup made it price prohibitive. So stuck with the original wheels and replaced only the tires. The factory Conti's were worn out again anyways, and Nokian claims 60K miles.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
I am not convinced that the old logic of smaller wheels for winter driving really holds up any more. Winter tires have become so much better that the difference in performance between a narrow tire (typically found on smaller wheels) and a wide one (typically on larger wheels) is minimal. My X5 had 18-inch wheels with Pirelli winter tires; my ML has 20-inch wheels with the exact same brand and model of winter tire. Darned if I can detect the slightest difference in performance. Example: yesterday the wind had blown our recent snow across my driveway and in one spot it came up to my knees, but the ML quite happily chugged through it, albeit with the suspension set to maximum height. And a wider tire actually gives better dry road performance which, even in winter, is the surface most of us drive on most of the time.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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2007 ML320 CDI
In my garage we have a ML320CDI with Nokian WR G2s and a GL320CDI with dedicated snows with Nokian Hakka Rs
I can tell you I really like my WR G2s as an all around tire. Good in summer, great in wet, pretty darn good in snow-fair on ice
The Hakka Rs are of course fair in dry, but excellent on snow and ice. I'd say, subjectively-they feel about 30% stickier on the frozen stuff than my G2s.
I can tell you I really like my WR G2s as an all around tire. Good in summer, great in wet, pretty darn good in snow-fair on ice
The Hakka Rs are of course fair in dry, but excellent on snow and ice. I'd say, subjectively-they feel about 30% stickier on the frozen stuff than my G2s.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 361
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From: Chicagoland
2008 ML350 4matic
I just put a set of Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires on my ML...They are a virtual " rip off " design of the WRG2s at a 100 less per tire.
What a great tire so far. Absolutely no road noise and a good firm feel in the corners, even on wet pavement. Hoping to get snow today in the Chicagoland area to really test em out. I saved my original Contis with 24k on them to finish them off in the summer months.
What a great tire so far. Absolutely no road noise and a good firm feel in the corners, even on wet pavement. Hoping to get snow today in the Chicagoland area to really test em out. I saved my original Contis with 24k on them to finish them off in the summer months.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Maryland
2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
Can't wait to try out the ML with 17" Pirelli snow and ice tomorrow. Predicted to get 1-2 feet in the DC area... AMG with snow tires will stay in the garage since it's washed and waxed.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 898
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From: Woodstock, IL
His 2019 RAM Cummins Turbo Diesel Laramie; Her's 2007 ML320 CDI P3; Mine BMW R1200R
Just looked at the website, and those Conti's are indeed a blatant copy. Let me know how they ride and handle in the slushy stuff, as we just got some good snow recently.
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
I can tell you first hand that the Continental OEM's on my 2010 ML550 were excellent in the 24 inches we received over the weekend. Even was able to get up my 1/8 mile steep drive with no issues. Have had Continentals on 3 of my 4 ML's and all have been great. Got over 40K on each set. They are quiet. As for hydroplanning no problems, I just avoid the optimum hydroplanning speed which is 10X the square root of the tire pressure when there is standing water on the road.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18
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From: New Jersey
ML550, F-350
I can tell you first hand that the Continental OEM's on my 2010 ML550 were excellent in the 24 inches we received over the weekend. Even was able to get up my 1/8 mile steep drive with no issues. Have had Continentals on 3 of my 4 ML's and all have been great. Got over 40K on each set. They are quiet. As for hydroplanning no problems, I just avoid the optimum hydroplanning speed which is 10X the square root of the tire pressure when there is standing water on the road.
In the New York City area.. where big snow comes like 3 Times a year.... I guess I do not... But others may need them...
I am sure People in Real Snowy Regions will add more constructive commments on this topic....
Slick'
