Dan_B

Hi folks,

I'm new to MB/AMG ownership. My S63 is now built and waiting in the factory to be shipped to the US. It's still has a way to go before I can pick it up, but I'm taking care of the last few details to assure smooth delivery.

Looking online, I saw that the Pirelli Winter SottoZero Serie II are highly recommended. The dealer said they ran VIN number and that they're recommending Winter SottoZero 3. Both are in the same OEM configuration of 255/35R20 and 285/35R20 @ 104v.

Can someone with experience please offer advice wrt which is a better choice? Is there a different option that you'd recommend based on experience?

For context, I live in the Pacific Northwest where we get very little snow, but it rains very often, and the temp is generally below 40 F in the winter.

Advice and/or tips are highly appreciated. I wasn't able to find something useful online wrt the difference between them.

Thank you in advance,
Dan

Dan_B

Doing more research shows that the Winter SottoZero 3 is the latest generation of the same tire, with some additional enhancements wrt handling water. Short version, I had the dealer order these for me. Cheers folks!

haa

I would go with the recommended 19X8.5 wheels and the corresponding 245/45 R19 tires. Wide and low profile tires are not good on snow no matter what tread is on the wheel because the contact area against the pavement is larger and the car is more likely to skate on top of the ice and snow

PUGPROUD

I never buy tires without chatting on line with a TireRack advisor or calling and asking for recommendations based on my vehicle, locale and driving style. Great source of information whether you buy from them or not. Follow up on whatever they recommend by reading the reviews on their site of people who bought the same tires. Extremely informative and they do not pressure you to buy. You can read as well their purchasers' reviews of the tires you are considering now.

Dan_B

Thank you both!

COOPERDB

`


Excellent choice on the Pirelli Winter SottoZero 3's

These would have been my choice


Thank-You
D.B.


`

Dan_B

Those are the tires I decided to go with and they will arrive at the dealership well before my car does. One small step forward

i also pinged the guys you you recommended and aim to lock that down too.

Thanks again D.B. and best,
Dan

BillyD

The German ADAC (=AAA) rated only one of about 10 tested winter tires as very good. The tire is the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 5 tire.


The German Car Magazine Auto Motor und Sport (major German car magazine) gave equal recommendations to 4 winter tires:
Conti TS860P
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 5
Pirelli Sotto Zero 3

Both test were done in 2016.

Hope this helps.
Bill

Dan_B

Thank you, Bill. I ordered the Sotto Zero 3 yesterday from my dealer. It's mostly cold and wet weather here with very little snow (then I work from home anyway). I'll share driving observations after I get some miles down with them. With a bit of luck, over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

Dan_B

Found this nice set of reviews and ratings for the Sottozero 3 as well as short video review of the top performance winter tires on TireRack: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....er+Sottozero+3

My tires are already at the dealer; car still on the ship