My 2004 SL500 has about 23,000 miles on it and still has the original tires, which are still pliable, have excellent tread depth and I'm told, are safe. However, the TPMS sensors left town years ago and the tires are noisy with the top up, so I'm thinking of replacing the tires, sensors, etc. all in one shot. I don't drive aggressively. I am rarely on the freeway and this car will NEVER see rain or snow. I have ZERO interest in tires that will allow me to play Juan Manuel Fangio on city streets, but am looking for QUIET, comfortable riding tires on which to cruise down Pacific Coast Highway on a sunny morning. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

What brand are on now? Just so we know

I have Hankook V12 Evo2. Pleased with tires performance and noise level. Can't say i drive often with top up, and no music
You can definitely look up on google about these tires.

Go to tirerack.com, plug in your tire size, select any tire, click 'see reviews', click 'see all results for (tire category)'. You should see a rating chart with consumer ratings of all tires in this category.
For my tire sizes, the results show the Pilot Super Sport has the lowest noise rating. If I change from Max Performance Summer to another category of tire, I'll get a new chart with ratings. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve...er=19&filter=y
Be sure to read the reviews for consumer tire details about traction, lifespan, flat spots, etc. Best tire site and store in the world.

you still have the original tires??


Michelin are very quiet......more so than the others that I have had/conti's

They are Michelin Pilot Sport 255/40 ZR18 95W in front and 285/35 ZR18 97W in the rear.

I've used Michelin pilot sport a/s, Michelin pilot sport a/s3, hankook evo v12, and presently Michelin pilot sport ps2s on my sl55.

The pilot sport a/s3s were by far the quietest, smoothest riding tires I've run on this car and I highly recommend them. I still have them mounted on my stock wheels. The tread life is also dramatically better than most summer tire options. I have a friend who also owns an sl55, she had the a/s3s mounted to replace a set of pirellis and the difference was night and day.
While wet traction is not a concern for you, the few times I encountered wet weather the a/s3s left me feeling the most confident. They also don't mind if the temps drop low
The hankooks were quiet, had great dry traction, were attractive, but steering response was a little softer and I had 2 tire failures within 8k miles. One rear blew out dramtically due to the tread separating from the inner sidewall. This destroyed a rear rim and other components. Then a front started making a squeaking rubber shoe sound - the tire plys had separated and were rubbing against each other. Hankook would not offer assistance. The tires were purchase through tire rack before their new warranty policy and also offered no assistance. First and last hankooks for me.

The Michelin ps2s I have now have the best dry traction and steering response of what I have used. They are noisier, tread wear rating is low (typical of a summer tire) Cold weather traction is much less than the hankooks (sub40deg) and the rear end feels like it's wiggling a bit under hard launch with my sl55 - but the traction control triangle isn't trying as hard to give me an epileptic seizure


For your needs the a/s3s seem like the best choice. If you have a Costco membership order them there, cheaper than tire rack and no brainier road hazard program

Whatever fits you As much as i understood you're a little of speed driver Circuits, freeway, doesn't matter. Everyone finds something that fits the best. When my Michelin tire went flat due to the tread separating from the inner sidewall i just bought these ones. Will it be my last Michelin purchase? Of course not. The best it's always the best. Pricewise? Paying $400 for 1 tire didn't sound much exciting for me when i could get 2 Hankooks for $400...

For the drive i do Hankooks are just great. And most of people will not notice that difference in noise or steering being that much lower as much the price for Michelin is higher.

Streamliner, the call is yours. Looking for high performance - go Michelin. I'm satisfied with mines
Btw Michelin was much noisier due to the thread design. The tires were more rain style than summer style, so that's where the noise was coming from. The tire thread design affects the most the noise. Keep that in mind

Regards

I currently use the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 on my Porsche. I am very pleased with their quiet,smooth ride and traction. I will purchase them for my SL55 when I replace my CONTi's.

oewheelsllc.com had pretty good pricing on replacement TPMS sensors.

Pilot Sport A/S 3 will give your good performance year around. I order from Tire Rack, shipped them to my installer. Around $1k all in (shipping and install included).

Put Michelin AS3+ on my 550 a few months back. Bridgestones were beginning to crack and 'rot' from age. From my research and reading reviews the AS3+ seemed to fit the bill. Tire guy said yeah, for the higher-end performance cars that is the tire we recommend. Just over $1,000 installed at the local tire shop.

+1 on the pilot sports

+1 on the pilot sports as well. If tire noise is an issue eliminate the secondary cats, problem solved and now it sounds like a refined sports car.