paulwith

I'm now desperate to replace the contis with 5mil left , in search of a comfortable ride on my rough riding 350 with airmatic.
Seems Michelin Tour HP are favourite from some owners but my dealer says I have to have 107 W, whereas the contis are 103 W. I will never do 149 mph with 975 kilos on board!
Will the 107's give a firmer ride than 103's? I am not concerned about price or mileage, I simply want the softest ride over our rubbish UK roads
Any thought please?
Thanks

Barry45RPM

My 2015 RWD ML350 came with Dunlop tires on it... I got 50,000 miles on them before I replaced them. This is the first vehicle I have owned that didn't have Michelins on it, the Dunlops are shockingly quiet, and nice riding, and also relatively inexpensive. I'm a happy customer with them.

Diabolis

The 103 vs. 107 is simply the load index (load rating) of the tires. It has nothing to do with the ride quality or the speed (that's the "W"). Given the weight of the ML, consider yourself lucky that you didn't have a blowout with the 103 LI tires especially if you were running lower pressures. You do need 107 or 108 LI tires. Are you on 19" or 20" rims?

paulwith

Thanks for that.
I presumed that if the load index is greater then the tyre must be stiffer? Is that not correct?
I'm on 19" rims running at 32 psi

Diabolis

Not really. It means that the tire carcass construction is different and has stronger or more plies (layers), but it doesn't mean that the tire sidewalls are any stiffer. And, 32 psi is much too low and you're risking a blowout. I'd bring them up at least to the pressures indicated on the inside of the fuel filler door (35 or 36 psi at all four corners IIRC).

The Continentals that I had on my ML were probably the worst tires I've ever had on any car (in more ways then one). Michelins with the proper SUV load rating are a definite step up in terms of handling, wear, noise and ride comfort. If you want all-seasons, my top choice by far would be Michelin CrossClimate SUV tires that come in the required 255/50ZR19 107Y XL size and spec. I'd also stay away from Pirellis - they grip well at first, but like the Contis they get hard and noisy and don't wear evenly.

gkgeiger

I agree about the Dunlops, except I only got about 35k on my first set and at 65k I’m near ready for a third set. I do load the car down for my trips to FL. from Ohio and back.

paulwith

Many thanks, great help

paulwith

According to the manual tyres should be 103W. The Contis fitted are this rating.
However I can only find the tyres I would prefer (michelin latitude tour hp) in 107W or 103 V.
As I want the softest ride would 103V be ok? (we have a 70mph limit ! )
Thanks

Diabolis

Where do you see that? Technically, Mercedes only approves special tires that meet their own manufacturing and certification criteria and are clearly labelled as such with an MO suffix, and I do know for a fact that the MO tires from any manufacturer or brand contain additional plies and/or a different tire carcass construction from the same model tire that may be made for the general market. At any rate, I find it hard to believe that they have specified a 103 load tire anywhere, although I have not looked. Can you please show me where you see that information? Thanks.

The speed rating is different from the load rating, and a V speed rated tire (240 km/h / 149 mph) is certainly fine - but again, keep in mind that the speed rating is only applicable when the tire is at the recommended pressure.

paulwith

Evening,
The info is taken from page 307 of my manual supplied with the car for the" Ml 350 Blue Tech 4 Matic" 255/19/103W Under "Summer
tyres", although for Winter tyres it specifies 107 H XL m+s?
Thanks for you input

Diabolis

While I am in Canada, I looked over my own (printed) as well as the US manual (online) and I can find no such reference anywhere. I can't comment as to what may be in your manual and whether it is a misprint, but a 103 LI tire is not even XL rated and sounds dangerously low for any SUV, let alone for a German (read: safety + performance) one that weighs 5400+ lbs empty. I would never put anything lower than a 107 XL tire on the ML, and especially if your primary concern is with ride quality and you're likely to run tire pressures at the lower end of the allowable range. A blowout is the last thing you'd ever want to experince.

paulwith

I now see the tyres are marked "MO" They are Continental Cross Contact 103W

Diabolis

That makes sense. If they are MO tires, they are made to Mercedes specifications and have additional plies in the carcass (which addresses the load bearing issue).

paulwith

Thanks for that, do I assume then they are only available from the MB dealership?

Marcosvg

Good afternoon, thank you all for the contributions, I am very interested in this subject since I have to make the change of tires soon, those who now assemble my ml 350 bluetec, are thought of some brand that I do not know, I was thinking about the MICHELIN CROSSCLIMATE SUV 255/50 R19 107Y tires, you have some opinion on this tire, some better recommendation. thank you all.

Diabolis

No - you can get them through any half-decent tire supplier (at least here in Canada). I thought you were looking for better tires though? Unless someone gave me a set free of charge, those Contis would not be anywhere on my list, and furthermore, they are summer tires only so even in the UK you would not be able to use them year-round.

Diabolis

See (my) post #5 above in this thread.

paulwith

Agree, I would like Michelin Latitude Tour HP but seems they are discontinued and replaced by Latitude Sport .Any thoughts?

paulwith

Seems I can now buy Latitude Tour HP in 107W or 103V. OR Latitude Sport 3
Do I take it that 103V is unsafe. Can't seem to get any sense from MB
Do they have a tech contact site?
Thanks again

paulwith

Update
Fitted 4 Michelin Latitude Tour HP on my 2014 ML350
Vehicle is transformed! Ride is now smooth, soft and quiet .It's a different car with the Continentals gone.
If you want a better ride for you Ml, don't hesitate, worth every penny, if you can find them!
Thanks to all who suggested them.