Tire recommendations? (Not an expert)
09-06-2009, 11:46 PM
#1
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2013 SL 550 (Previously 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo-S, 2015 Tesla P85D, 2007 S600, 2005 E55 AMG)
Tire recommendations? (Not an expert)
(I know - another tire thread)
My S600 is coming up on 18,000 miles and just checking the wear they will need replacing soon. It is still wearing the Dunlop 255/40 R19 96Y (Front) and Dunlop 255/40 R19 101Y (rear) tires on 19" wheels that it came with from the factory. I have not had any complaints but I have never experienced any other tires on an S-Class.
I have been driving this car long enough to know that my current driving style is relaxed and that ride comfort is actually more important to me than burning off rubber at the stop light. (Though I do indulge the occasional whim - just because I can!) Really - on real world roads I am never going to drive this car at more than 90 - 100 mph, so super high performance tires are not really necessary. I wondered if anyone has a recommendation for replacement tires that are weighted to preserving (or increasing) the comfort of the ride, while still keeping a bit of handling and acceleration performance in reserve.
Chris
My S600 is coming up on 18,000 miles and just checking the wear they will need replacing soon. It is still wearing the Dunlop 255/40 R19 96Y (Front) and Dunlop 255/40 R19 101Y (rear) tires on 19" wheels that it came with from the factory. I have not had any complaints but I have never experienced any other tires on an S-Class.
I have been driving this car long enough to know that my current driving style is relaxed and that ride comfort is actually more important to me than burning off rubber at the stop light. (Though I do indulge the occasional whim - just because I can!) Really - on real world roads I am never going to drive this car at more than 90 - 100 mph, so super high performance tires are not really necessary. I wondered if anyone has a recommendation for replacement tires that are weighted to preserving (or increasing) the comfort of the ride, while still keeping a bit of handling and acceleration performance in reserve.
Chris
09-07-2009, 12:42 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
After some ?40K total mis, I've been pleased w/factory-spec Conti SportContact2s....had them on my '07 CL550 (19"), '07 CL600 (19") and on my '08 CL63 030 (20") and '09 CL65 (20"); and I've spec'd them for my '10 CL65 (can now choose tire brands at factory build: Conti vs Yokohama Advan Sport are '10 65 choices)
My criteria are a blend of steering precision/handling; braking dists (dry and wet); traction (dry and wet); ride comfort (and sudden failure-resistance/durability) vs our poor US road pavement; have never been a fan of aggressive launches from 0 MPH but do much aggressive mid-range accel (would be a crime not to enjoy V12 tq, right?); I get about 6K mis out of my rear tires and 12K mis out of fronts (but I do a lot of wkend mtn twisties driving which is challenging for a 5000lb car's tires and brakes)
I have serious doubts about any tires not factory-spec as 5000lb, >500hp/>600lb-ft cars need perf tires specifically engineered for unique stresses of such machines (braking dists esp for active safety can vary with specific tires and wear/decay patterns, even if one only drives 65MPH or under), so some tire brands/models/sizes that may be brilliant vs a 3100lb Porsche's chassis set-up will fail miserably in context of a 600/65 on real-world CA roads
My criteria are a blend of steering precision/handling; braking dists (dry and wet); traction (dry and wet); ride comfort (and sudden failure-resistance/durability) vs our poor US road pavement; have never been a fan of aggressive launches from 0 MPH but do much aggressive mid-range accel (would be a crime not to enjoy V12 tq, right?); I get about 6K mis out of my rear tires and 12K mis out of fronts (but I do a lot of wkend mtn twisties driving which is challenging for a 5000lb car's tires and brakes)
I have serious doubts about any tires not factory-spec as 5000lb, >500hp/>600lb-ft cars need perf tires specifically engineered for unique stresses of such machines (braking dists esp for active safety can vary with specific tires and wear/decay patterns, even if one only drives 65MPH or under), so some tire brands/models/sizes that may be brilliant vs a 3100lb Porsche's chassis set-up will fail miserably in context of a 600/65 on real-world CA roads
09-07-2009, 10:09 AM
#3
(I know - another tire thread)
My S600 is coming up on 18,000 miles and just checking the wear they will need replacing soon. It is still wearing the Dunlop 255/40 R19 96Y (Front) and Dunlop 255/40 R19 101Y (rear) tires on 19" wheels that it came with from the factory. I have not had any complaints but I have never experienced any other tires on an S-Class.
I have been driving this car long enough to know that my current driving style is relaxed and that ride comfort is actually more important to me than burning off rubber at the stop light. (Though I do indulge the occasional whim - just because I can!) Really - on real world roads I am never going to drive this car at more than 90 - 100 mph, so super high performance tires are not really necessary. I wondered if anyone has a recommendation for replacement tires that are weighted to preserving (or increasing) the comfort of the ride, while still keeping a bit of handling and acceleration performance in reserve.
Chris
My S600 is coming up on 18,000 miles and just checking the wear they will need replacing soon. It is still wearing the Dunlop 255/40 R19 96Y (Front) and Dunlop 255/40 R19 101Y (rear) tires on 19" wheels that it came with from the factory. I have not had any complaints but I have never experienced any other tires on an S-Class.
I have been driving this car long enough to know that my current driving style is relaxed and that ride comfort is actually more important to me than burning off rubber at the stop light. (Though I do indulge the occasional whim - just because I can!) Really - on real world roads I am never going to drive this car at more than 90 - 100 mph, so super high performance tires are not really necessary. I wondered if anyone has a recommendation for replacement tires that are weighted to preserving (or increasing) the comfort of the ride, while still keeping a bit of handling and acceleration performance in reserve.
Chris
Like I said in another thread, however, I've been experimenting with Sumitomos and I find that they do VERY well for the type of driving you do which is exactly like my kind of driving. I've just bought my third set (2 for my car and one set for my wife's C class). They are 30% cheaper in cost also and considering we can't rotate our tires (you do have staggered wheels , don't you?), I decided to go the less costly route.
American driving opportunities are restrictive so spending the extra money for High Speed rating is ridiculous.
Hankook makes a good tire also but I don't have personal experience with them as I have a doctor friend that brags about them all the time. They are even cheaper in costs. I might get a set of them next time.
Summary, the quick and safe answer is go Michelin if cost isn't a concern and you think you might on occasion hit some high speed. If you are just interested in making sure you have some rubber wrapped around your rims, go Sumitomo, Yokohama or something like that.
09-09-2009, 09:47 AM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Agree with Trumpet.
Michelins (Pilot Sport) are your best bet.
I can compare them to OEM Contis and they are much better in my opinion.
They stick better, almost like a used chewing gum on a hot day
. Handling is fantastic.
They are also quieter and better on wet surfaces.
On the other hand,
one of my buddies switched recently to Sumitomos.
He absolutely loves them and says that they are better than Michelins.
Maybe next time I'll try them also.
Michelins (Pilot Sport) are your best bet.
I can compare them to OEM Contis and they are much better in my opinion.
They stick better, almost like a used chewing gum on a hot day
. Handling is fantastic. They are also quieter and better on wet surfaces.
On the other hand,
one of my buddies switched recently to Sumitomos.
He absolutely loves them and says that they are better than Michelins.
Maybe next time I'll try them also.
09-10-2009, 03:21 PM
#5
Agree with Trumpet.
Michelins (Pilot Sport) are your best bet.
I can compare them to OEM Contis and they are much better in my opinion.
They stick better, almost like a used chewing gum on a hot day. Handling is fantastic.
They are also quieter and better on wet surfaces.
On the other hand,
one of my buddies switched recently to Sumitomos.
He absolutely loves them and says that they are better than Michelins.
Maybe next time I'll try them also.
Michelins (Pilot Sport) are your best bet.
I can compare them to OEM Contis and they are much better in my opinion.
They stick better, almost like a used chewing gum on a hot day
. Handling is fantastic. They are also quieter and better on wet surfaces.
On the other hand,
one of my buddies switched recently to Sumitomos.
He absolutely loves them and says that they are better than Michelins.
Maybe next time I'll try them also.
The only tire brand I've ever had trouble with is Dunlops, I had a CL500 back in 2002 that had two of the four tires that were impossible to balance. I had another problem with them on another car but can't remember which car it was.
09-10-2009, 04:24 PM
#6
Super Member
If they didn't have a name on them to identify brand names, I'd swear there is no difference between the Sumitomos and the Michelins. My wallet feels the difference though.
The only tire brand I've ever had trouble with is Dunlops, I had a CL500 back in 2002 that had two of the four tires that were impossible to balance. I had another problem with them on another car but can't remember which car it was.
The only tire brand I've ever had trouble with is Dunlops, I had a CL500 back in 2002 that had two of the four tires that were impossible to balance. I had another problem with them on another car but can't remember which car it was.
heard good things about Yoko's too
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10-23-2009, 12:45 AM
#9
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2013 SL 550 (Previously 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo-S, 2015 Tesla P85D, 2007 S600, 2005 E55 AMG)
Just an update, that contrary to my above post I decided to give the Sumitomos a try as they received such excellent comments in this thread... Also, the price difference compared to the Michelin's was pretty substantial... around $400 or more for a set of 4 and I could not find anyone who could really quantify the difference between either brand as far as an S600 is concerned... Anyway, the Sumitomos are working out pretty well, fit my driving style, and I m happy with them.
Chris
Chris
