S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

Snow tire question

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Old Dec 9, 2019 | 02:00 AM
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Snow tire question

I am looking to buy a set of snow tires to out on my winter wheels. Since I have 4matic do I have to get 4 snow tires? Does a full set of 4 make that much of a difference? I get that aesthetically it will all match. I only need 2 new tires for the rear of the car and was going to keep my Contis on the front.

Thoughts?
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Old Dec 9, 2019 | 01:52 PM
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The tire manufacturers and the vehicle manufacturers all warn against having different tires on the front and rear. I suppose you could try it, but I don't know how comfortable you'd be acting as a test pilot / crash tet dummy.

Keep them all the same. And you might want to make sure they get rotated regularly so they wear at about the same rate.
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Old Dec 9, 2019 | 04:38 PM
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why would u? I have the dws on 2 s classes and there great in the snow. I used to swap winter/summer tires, But w the dws no need.
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Old Dec 9, 2019 | 07:16 PM
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I have chrome wheels. It would be easier just to buy another set of tires for the alloy wheels and I can swap them out myself. I figured since I am doing that I should consider snow tires. I need tires for those wheels one way or the other.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 12:47 AM
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Yes, you need all four. Even if you didn’t have 4Matic, you need all four. Winter tires are about handing, not just getting started going straight. In fact, mounting just two would be dangerously unsafe.

Last edited by lkchris; Dec 10, 2019 at 12:49 AM.
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Old Dec 11, 2019 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by lkchris
Yes, you need all four. Even if you didn’t have 4Matic, you need all four. Winter tires are about handing, not just getting started going straight. In fact, mounting just two would be dangerously unsafe.
I couldn't agree more. I ride the Conti DWS here along the 95 corridor and they are fabulous in the snow! Must have a 4. I totally get not wanting to mess up your chrome rims but its not worth the unpredictability of having 2 different tires. Protect the vehicle and its contents; get 4 tires.
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Old Dec 14, 2019 | 06:16 PM
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Would you consider buying 2 used Contis of matching tread depth to get by for a season (or more)? 4 matching tires on 4 matics is a must IMHO. I blew a 3k mile tire on a former E500 4matic, Costco paid for 4 tires, policy states all 4 match make, size and tread depth. Must be a good reason.
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Old Dec 17, 2019 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by The Thomas J
I am looking to buy a set of snow tires to out on my winter wheels.
PM'd with info about my snow tires I plan to sell
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Old Dec 19, 2019 | 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by MBCO
Would you consider buying 2 used Contis of matching tread depth to get by for a season (or more)? 4 matching tires on 4 matics is a must IMHO. I blew a 3k mile tire on a former E500 4matic, Costco paid for 4 tires, policy states all 4 match make, size and tread depth. Must be a good reason.
I had one great Conti and one ok one. That would have been something I would have considered.

Originally Posted by mikeypie
PM'd with info about my snow tires I plan to sell
I did not get a PM.

I had to get my chrome wheels off since the weather changed pretty quickly. The amount of salt NYC and NJ dump on the roads if they think it's going to snow is absurd. I wound up buying another set of Contis.
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Old Dec 20, 2019 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by The Thomas J
I had one great Conti and one ok one. That would have been something I would have considered.


I did not get a PM.

I had to get my chrome wheels off since the weather changed pretty quickly. The amount of salt NYC and NJ dump on the roads if they think it's going to snow is absurd. I wound up buying another set of Contis.
I guess I bodged sending. I'll be using my snow wheels and tires myself after all, since the salt has come out. I have the same issue with chrome wheels needing to come off because of the salt. Enjoy the Contis!
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Old Dec 23, 2019 | 03:22 PM
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2012 S550 4matic
I use 4 snow tires on my 4matic.
You will get better traction on acceleration and braking
Your car will steer better in the snow
I went with smaller rims; protects the rims and tires from chuck holes. (previously, I lost 2 tires and a rim)

Once you made the decision to go with snow tires, you may as well go all the way.

2012 W221 w/ 4x snow tires

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