SL/R129: Cornering
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Cornering
As I push and play (with my new to me, 1999 R129) with cornering, understeeer (usuallywhen ESP interveens) and over steer situations ... I wonder when does this car get pushed beyond it's limit?
I guess I'll have to find a flat, large and vacant patch of dry asphalt to exeriment with this.
I grew up in the Canadian country, skidding arround on gravel roads, in the wet, in snow and ice with all sorts of non-sporty vehicles.
The dry pavement, high speed loss of control is not known to me.
I have taken corners at 2 or 3 times the posted warning speed limit. Have heard the tires howel arround the corner. Yet everthing seems to be well composed.
Is it a matter or just letting oof the gas in gross under and over steer situations?
Some feedback from you more aggressive & experienced drivers would be appreciated.
I guess I'll have to find a flat, large and vacant patch of dry asphalt to exeriment with this.
I grew up in the Canadian country, skidding arround on gravel roads, in the wet, in snow and ice with all sorts of non-sporty vehicles.
The dry pavement, high speed loss of control is not known to me.
I have taken corners at 2 or 3 times the posted warning speed limit. Have heard the tires howel arround the corner. Yet everthing seems to be well composed.
Is it a matter or just letting oof the gas in gross under and over steer situations?
Some feedback from you more aggressive & experienced drivers would be appreciated.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
The original Continentals. Probably 50% tread remaining (28,000 miles on the tires).
I've experienced understeer ESP intervention when goosing it from a rolling start on dusty or cool pavement in hard 90 degeree cornering.
I also felt understeer inervention on an off ramp while accelerating heavily at already high speeds for the banking and radius.
On sticky hot pavement no intervention except once a near 90 degree corner entered at 50 miles per hour. Oversteer I think then.
I've experienced understeer ESP intervention when goosing it from a rolling start on dusty or cool pavement in hard 90 degeree cornering.
I also felt understeer inervention on an off ramp while accelerating heavily at already high speeds for the banking and radius.
On sticky hot pavement no intervention except once a near 90 degree corner entered at 50 miles per hour. Oversteer I think then.
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 111
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From: San Jose, CA.
SL 500 AMG
See I knew it... thats why they squeech on corners... Slap on some 18's and low profile tires then you'll see the diferrence...
I have 285/35/18 with SO3 tires and No cornering problems at all, sticks to the road, it's amazing...
I have 285/35/18 with SO3 tires and No cornering problems at all, sticks to the road, it's amazing...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
The forum was down for a while.
So in a rush, I didn't even check befor I posted the resonce ... but you were exactly right!
I believe your testimonial, that low profile tires make a large difference. I don't know when I will experience that though.
A bit of tire howeling can be fun. I'll probably wait untill I wear these tires out befor concidering new rims.
And who knows, by that time maybe a R230 SL 500 may be a possiblity.
Thanks for the insight.
So in a rush, I didn't even check befor I posted the resonce ... but you were exactly right!
I believe your testimonial, that low profile tires make a large difference. I don't know when I will experience that though.
A bit of tire howeling can be fun. I'll probably wait untill I wear these tires out befor concidering new rims.
And who knows, by that time maybe a R230 SL 500 may be a possiblity.
Thanks for the insight.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
I don't know how my tire size got reported wrong ... but I re-checked today. The 1999 SL in Vancouver was supplied with 245/45 R17 tires. That is what mine has front and back.
One time in particular they howeled pretty good at say 40 mph and up accelerating hard through a medium bend.
How would you compair the Continental R17s to what you were suggesting?
One time in particular they howeled pretty good at say 40 mph and up accelerating hard through a medium bend.
How would you compair the Continental R17s to what you were suggesting?
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