ChrisB

77,780 Km (48,200 miles) on the original Continental Sport Contact tires. Probably only ever rotated (and does not seem to have been from the tire wear) if the MB dealer does that in the regular A & B servicing. Front tires still probably 20% tread remaining. Rear right 50% tread remaining … just went into service from the unused spare two years 33,000 Km (20,500 miles) ago. Rear right getting close to the wear strips … say 10% tread remaining.

This morning I noticed the rear left tire was low. So I pulled into a service station and corrected all tire pressures to 35 psi rear and 30 psi front. That rear left was 20 psi and could have been that for a while (I am usually pretty good at checking and topping up … but we have been pre-occupied lately).

We drove about ten miles on the freeway to have lunch. When we got out of the car there was a hissing noise coming from that rear left tire.

I could feel air rushing out on the inside tire tread to wall area. I thought ... dam I picked up a nail or this may be a side wall puncture (that happened 2 years ago).

So I took the tire off to put the spare on. It was no ordinary puncture. The inside wall to tread connection had a foot long split in it. Rubber delaminating and steel belts sticking out.

Wow! I’m glad I was not taking corners at high speeds when this happened!

My wife is now all freaked out about future tire failure.

I will definitely be buying 5 new tires and doing regular rotation (if we can be that disciplined) in the future.

Waiting for 20,00 Km + or 2 years for a Service A or B MB shop guy to notice a problem just is not enough.

If I ever buy a new SL it will have the tire pressure monitoring option!

So after looking at Tire Rack’s web site … http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS

Which tire is going to last a long time, give good traction in both the dry & wet?

Any opinions out there that you wish to share?

ChrisB

Any one have experience with the 245/45YR17, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S on the R129?

hotel_calif

Hi ChrisB:

I've got Michelin Pilot Sports (F:245/40 ZR 18; R:275/35 ZR 18) on my SL, and they have worked very well for me. My car sticks like glue to the road, but I haven't had much chance to drive them in rain and zero chance in snow. I also haven't put many miles on them - about 4K miles since I bought the car a year ago. I've read these tire wear quickly.

Let us know what you select and how you like them.

Will

joe1388

ChrisB:

read my thread "before and after pics of my 98 sl500" there I give all the info. on wheels and tires. my tires are strictly for summer driving. I am sure that you need different tires. my complete set came from tirerack to my dealer who installed them and guarantee them. good luck in your selection, JOE

dafi129

I have BFG's on mine..235/40/18 and 265/35/18..
Had them for about 15000 kms...they show no wear at all..but then I don't do any fast take/offs..only high speed freeway driving...They are good in the wet and the dry and can take the heat very well...
Prior to those I had Goodyear eagles F1...they were not that good and traction in the dry was poor...
Check also the date of manufacture of the tire..It is stamped on the side wall.
If the tire has been made over 6 months ago..ignore it and get a fresher one.
They go dry if they have been stored for long and then they crack...

ChrisB

Probably not a big factor in Vancouver.

My wife went and had 245/45YR17, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires installed today. They were manufactured April 2005.

The guy at the tire shop figured the pressure should be 35 psi all around.

The MB information on the gas flap is 30 psi front and 32 psi rear (35 psi max load).

Who is to say which is best on the R129 with this tire?

My wife felt that the ride was very smooth on the way home.

I have not driven myself yet.

dafi129

On my staggered 18's I put 32/35...for 235/265..
You should probably put in 32 psi all round..30 is too low for the R129..
you risk damaging your wheel if you go in a hole..

ChrisB

You may have a point there.

It has been near freezing temperatures in Vancouver for the past few days. So that may have something to do with my current observations.

The 35 psi tire pressure seems to transmit a lot more tar patch and pavement uneven jars into the cabin. Not as luxurious feeling as what I have become used to. The CD player seems to skip a bit more than on the original Continental Sport Contact tires.

Now that I have driven a few times with the new Michelen Sport Contact A/S tires here are my observations.

The steering seems more responsive. I would not have thought tires would do that.

The tires track straight as an arrow, have great traction and cornering grip in the current near freezing light snow / ice and cold dry pavement conditions we have here.

The tires are very quiet. So werhe the Continentals.

Expensive tires ... but the all seasons rating, deep treads, 95 load rating and Y rating (186 mph) all make my wife feel very secure.

agentMurdoc

look into Falken ziex 512's. Great overall tire. Veery affordable tires and great quality. Rain or shine, I like these.

Currently I am running some Nitto NT555, seems like some nifty tires. Looks like there's no wear at all and they have been on for a 6~k miles. I digs them.

Also another brand I experimented with is Nexen, the N3000, seems like some great tires, so far I am very content with them and they are very affordable.

nevermind, just read that your wife just had tires installed. Hope they didn't cost too much :p

REDTEES

I decided to keep my car out this winter. Past two winters I have put it away and missed it terribly. Can I assume from the threads here that my Pilot Sports A/S are winter capable? Also what is the verdict on the tire pressure? Dont really plan to drive in heavy snow, but perhaps cold rain and light snow. I watch the weather reports and pull out the 300e 2.8 if it sounds messy. That car tends to slide like a sled, but I'd rather have it in case of a sliding mishap. :p

mebeJOE

Sometime within the last 2 or 3 months, Car & Driver had a pretty comprehensive testing of about 10 different types of performance tires. Tested them in wet and dry and and braking and G's and so forth. I would recommend reading that article, narrow it down to a few that seem to suit your needs, and then put up another post asking if anyone has experiance with that particular tire on an R129.

Just my 2 cents.

Oh . . . my bad . . . you already purchased.

sl3204me

I had the same thing happen to me on my 1994 Honda Accord with Michelin energy MX4 front tire.The sidewall completely disintegrated leaving just some exposed belts.A very scary event.It happened at about 60,000 miles.Lots of tread left.So I distrust any tire with over 50,000 miles on it regardless of the manufacturer.I bought a set of Fulda Extremo Carat 225/55/ZR16 95W tires for my SL320 from NTB tires (same owners as Tire Kingdom) for around $118 per tire.Wonderful ride,grip,and tread pattern.Treadwear is only 180 but I only drive 3000 miles per year,so 180 is fine.I was told by NTB that cracks in the sidewall could be caused by low tire pressure and/or tire deflation and letting the car sit that way for an extended period.I recommend that if you buy a used SL,look at both inner and outer sidewalls of all 5 tires to make sure there are no cracks or slits.My 1995 SL320 lists 33 pounds in the rear tires and 30 pounds in the front.Fulda is a German company but now makes tires made in the USA and sold at NTB and Tire Kingdom.The most used tire on the Autobahn.I also like Pirelli P6000 and Pzeros and Michelin Sport for the SL models.

YOZHIKVTUMANE

Hey MBer's anyone ran Eagle GT-HR m+s tires. I would prefer a new set of non-directional tires. Currently run Toyo Proxes 4 which I have been happy with and they lasted a long while, 30K miles.

SL BRABUS

go with the Pirelli P-ZERO NERO.......

arathres

I have Pirelli's PZero Nero's also. Although mine are 20" 10.5 in the back and 9.5 in the front. These tires stick like GLUE!!!! However they do wear out fast. I have had to swerve on the freeway several times to avoid things and even at 80 MPH there was no problem. Around corners, I cannot break the back even with ASR off unless it is wet. They are expensive but the one time you need em and dont have em, you'll regret it.

My 2 cents.

Later all,

Mario

Bigdot

i have Nitto 555.

ive gone 150 in them.
ive gone very fast in canyons with them.
ive slammed on my breaks from 60 with them many times.
i love them


mark

ClayJ

I think that you would be happy with the Pilot Sport A/S or PZero M/S. Quite a few folks in your situation are really happy with either. I think that the Pirelli's are just one notch better than the Michelins; but it's close, and they're both great tires. Difference in the dry is maybe one-tenth off summer UHP rubber, If you try either of them you've probably found your tire-nirvana.

SL BRABUS

Nitto........they are very noisy tires.........

Bigdot

i have had 3 sets of them

my current ones are the loudest, and they are not even that loud.
on my E500 i have PS2 and they are *** loud!


mark

ChrisB

We have been on vacation a couple of weeks.

However in the dozen tmes I have driven in the wet and near freezing temperatures in Vancouver ... these Michelen Pilot Sport A/s are great tires.

I have not really pushed them but durring limited ammounts of sprited driving they stick when I am sure the original Continental Sport Contacts would have been slipping & sliding much sooner.

I had some fears they would track (from negative posts at Tire Rack). But they drive as true as an arrow.

I am still running with othe 35 psi all around the installer recommended. No problems. Maybe a bit harsher rride over tar patches & bumps than I was used to. But I am very happy right now.

Both my wife (and she is a very nervious type) and I feel secure in that wfe have bought a set of the best tires ever invented by man.