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I Know this has been discussed numerous times in the past but wanted to see if your opinion has changed.
I am ready to ditch the RFs and install non-rft. I've been doing some research and not confident on my best choice/option. I have 19" rims been looking at Michelin Primacy, Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Continental DWS 06 Plus, and Pirelli P Zero all season. (mostly looking on Tirerack.com)
I'm looking for your comments because of the tire you selected. Keep in mind I'm looking for a quiet ride and perhaps not a high performance tire.
I'm also interested did you select a tire because it was rated a XL?
Thanks
What is your tire profile size for 19" tires? I had Michelin Primacy previously on Subaru Forester XT, 7-10 yrs ago, and currently driving on Pilot Sport A/S 4 255/35R21. I don't recall much about Primacy as it was the best tire per consumer reports at that time, but Subaru dealership had a hard time balancing them eg took 3 trials to correct high speed vibrations... I didn't have any problems as performance wise in driving 40K miles between DC and NYC in heavy downpours and snow with 4 wheel drive. XT was not a quiet car anyway.
Pilot Sport A/S 4 is quiet on good pavement, but they can get noisy at joint bumps on I-95 and rough pavements, etc. Performance wise Pilot A/S 4 is the closest to a summer tire, very good breaking in dry/wet, and comfort is also closer to Summer tire eg compared to Alpin 5 winter tires (255/40R20 with thicker profile and softer tread). I read Conti DWS 06 Plus has softer tire walls in comparison to Michelin, but then softer walls may not be good at potholes...
Also you are comparing 3 UHP performance tires to 1 Grand Touring tire - Primacy. It is hard to compare directly btw UHP and Grand Touring as they are usually tested separately. You can check tirerack test sections and latest tyre review UHP test:
I have a newer set of the Michelin PS4+ tires on my car and they are excellent. I have an S63 though so it has always had non RFT tires on it. I would recommend getting the trunk kit for your car if you are going to go non RFT. Mine has the tire repair kit with the pump and goo that seals up small punctures. I also added the Mercedes jack, lug wrench, gloves, lug pin for easier wheel removal and a few other bits. I would strongly encourage you to park your car on a flat surface and pretend like you have a flat. Using only the tools in the trunk, attempt to fix the tire assuming it is not a catastrophic failure of the tire but rather a puncture, which is far more likely. I did this and it ensured that I would have everything I needed to remove a wheel and tire and do a rudimentary repair if needed.
What is your tire profile size for 19" tires? I had Michelin Primacy previously on Subaru Forester XT, 7-10 yrs ago, and currently driving on Pilot Sport A/S 4 255/35R21. I don't recall much about Primacy as it was the best tire per consumer reports at that time, but Subaru dealership had a hard time balancing them eg took 3 trials to correct high speed vibrations... I didn't have any problems as performance wise in driving 40K miles between DC and NYC in heavy downpours and snow with 4 wheel drive. XT was not a quiet car anyway.
Pilot Sport A/S 4 is quiet on good pavement, but they can get noisy at joint bumps on I-95 and rough pavements, etc. Performance wise Pilot A/S 4 is the closest to a summer tire, very good breaking in dry/wet, and comfort is also closer to Summer tire eg compared to Alpin 5 winter tires (255/40R20 with thicker profile and softer tread). I read Conti DWS 06 Plus has softer tire walls in comparison to Michelin, but then softer walls may not be good at potholes...
Also you are comparing 3 UHP performance tires to 1 Grand Touring tire - Primacy. It is hard to compare directly btw UHP and Grand Touring as they are usually tested separately. You can check tirerack test sections and latest tyre review UHP test:
This is a very informative post. I, for one, think it’s silly to put these high-performance tires on a 5500lb vehicle. Too many people get swept up in “best performance” and forget that it often comes at the cost of comfort. If an S class is not comfortable, it is nothing. Hence why I would not buy the Michelin AS4s before.
Quick reminder ... not every tire is available in the staggered size needed for the rear. For example, Bridgestone Quiettrack and Pirelli P7 Cinturato are highly-rated for "Noise comfort" and "Ride comfort" but aren't made in sizes for the staggered rear wheels..
I converted my car to a square set up with 19 x 8.5s all around and P7s and it has a beautiful luxury car ride in 'sport' suspension mode, so I get the best of both worlds. Theoretically I lost some rear traction doing this but it's of no consequence for the driving I do. And, I can rotate the tires so they'll last far longer. Staggered sizes are fine for true sports cars like my 928 but are utter nonsense for luxury sedans.
Last edited by Tom in Austin; Oct 26, 2022 at 07:52 PM.
That is a choice someone has to make eg comfort vs performance. Again performance means shorter breaking distances also, esp important for me in daily rush hr driving in NYC where we have more wet/freezing days than snow. I can push my A/S use to 3 seasons and winters for winters vs summer tire is more like a season plus with longer time with winter tires (although I enjoy the comfort of softer winter tires with AMG suspension)... For 255/35R21 size, I didn't have any A/S option available until this year when Pilot A/S 4 OEM Tesla T0 tire released. Heavy electric cars need to stop shortly also... Panic stop post:
I combined tirerack tests with the same BMW 430i + 245/40R18 / 225/50R17 tires to compare different options (mph / ft):
Tire performance with temperature from Tyre Reviews:
Originally Posted by cfmistry
This is a very informative post. I, for one, think it’s silly to put these high-performance tires on a 5500lb vehicle. Too many people get swept up in “best performance” and forget that it often comes at the cost of comfort. If an S class is not comfortable, it is nothing. Hence why I would not buy the Michelin AS4s before.
I had PS4S on my S550 and now have Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06+. The PS4S's wore out so much quicker than the Contis. I found the Continentals to be quieter and offer about 8/10th of the performance the PS4S offered.
Thanks for all your inputs. Some comments were great and others just added to my confusion.
I decided to go with the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S
I returned these tires on mine because the front and rear had VERY different looking sidewalls, the front side had a huge curb protector lip and the rears had none, they looked very strange.
I have the Pirelli PZero AS/Plus and am very happy with them.
My rear tires look similar to yours so no pic,
I think my front tire might only protrude from the rim by less than 1/2"
It's a little different for sure, but to me hardly worth excluding them from use.
That looks like slightly less of a protrusion, but it would still be too different not to bug me every time I looked at the car. Its also more noticeable when the tires are dressed than when they arent.
Thanks for all your inputs. Some comments were great and others just added to my confusion.
I decided to go with the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S
Update:
Due to shortages I couldn't/wouldn't wait for these Primacy Tour tires. I ordered the Michelin Pilot Sport only to be told by Tirerack that the fronts were made too big with the circumference and would cause a difference in rotation between front and back and not good for the 4matic. Next choice were the Continental DWS6 Plus.
Had them installed and loved the soft ride over bumps but had vibration once over 70 MPH. I was concerned that I had a bend rim. I went to a specialty shop to validate the bent rim only to discover that the balance was off (no bent rim) and they rebalanced two of my tires correctly. The car rides like it is on glass at any speed. I'm so pleased that I ditched the RunFlats and glad that I went to a different shop to have them rebalance tires.
So if you have a vibration in your ride, try a different shop to rebalance them.
Those are very good tires too. I went back and forth between them and the PZero A/S Plus I have, I chose the Pirellis because people said the Contis get louder as they age but I know lots of people who have those and are happy.
Honestly, those are better tires for the car than the Primacy Tour. I like how mine drives on UHP tires more than GT tires.
Just put two sets of Pirelli 7 AS Plus 3 on two on one of the LS and the S, they're simply amazing ! Got them from Tire Rack, they were highly reccomended !
Update:
Due to shortages I couldn't/wouldn't wait for these Primacy Tour tires. I ordered the Michelin Pilot Sport only to be told by Tirerack that the fronts were made too big with the circumference and would cause a difference in rotation between front and back and not good for the 4matic. Next choice were the Continental DWS6 Plus.
Had them installed and loved the soft ride over bumps but had vibration once over 70 MPH. I was concerned that I had a bend rim. I went to a specialty shop to validate the bent rim only to discover that the balance was off (no bent rim) and they rebalanced two of my tires correctly. The car rides like it is on glass at any speed. I'm so pleased that I ditched the RunFlats and glad that I went to a different shop to have them rebalance tires.
So if you have a vibration in your ride, try a different shop to rebalance them.
did you keep your staggered wheels or did you replace the wheels? I want to replace the runflats on my 19 inch staggered design. Can you tell me what you ordered as I’d like to do what you did. Thanks.
Update:
Due to shortages I couldn't/wouldn't wait for these Primacy Tour tires. I ordered the Michelin Pilot Sport only to be told by Tirerack that the fronts were made too big with the circumference and would cause a difference in rotation between front and back and not good for the 4matic. Next choice were the Continental DWS6 Plus.
Had them installed and loved the soft ride over bumps but had vibration once over 70 MPH. I was concerned that I had a bend rim. I went to a specialty shop to validate the bent rim only to discover that the balance was off (no bent rim) and they rebalanced two of my tires correctly. The car rides like it is on glass at any speed. I'm so pleased that I ditched the RunFlats and glad that I went to a different shop to have them rebalance tires.
So if you have a vibration in your ride, try a different shop to rebalance them.
did you keep your staggered wheels or did you replace the wheels? I want to replace the runflats on my 19 inch staggered design. Can you tell me what you ordered as I’d like to do what you did. Thanks.
This what I’m running now
Continentals ExtremeContact DWS6 Plus 245/45/19 on the fronts - 275/40/19 on the rears
Front at 42psi. Rear at 43psi.
Both axles are non run flats with SL ratings
Just replaced my run-flats with some DSW06s and I am more than happy with them. No vibrations at any speed and rides crazy smooth. I have always had good experiences with the DSw06s
Just put two sets of Pirelli 7 AS Plus 3 on two on one of the LS and the S, they're simply amazing ! Got them from Tire Rack, they were highly reccomended !
Great tires, but they don't come in the rear size if you have an S with staggered fitment.
Originally Posted by Denis Osullivan
This what I’m running now
Continentals ExtremeContact DWS6 Plus 245/45/19 on the fronts - 275/40/19 on the rears
Front at 42psi. Rear at 43psi.
Both axles are non run flats with SL ratings
Man those are really high pressures...lowering them will dramatically improve the ride.
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