SL/R230: Tire Pressure
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 12
From: South Florida
Tire Pressure
What are you all running for tire pressure in your SL500's, SL55's and SL600's with 18" staggered wheels with the sport package? ...and why? What are your thoughts about Pirelli vs. Michelin Pilot Sports? What are some other tire options for the car? I've always been a fan of the Bridgestone SO-3 PolePositions but, they don't seem to make a tire in our sizes...
Thanks for your feedback...
Thanks for your feedback...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 298
Likes: 2
From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
At the moment I’m running 33 front, 36 rear cold because the car came that way and I’ve been too lazy to change it. While I don’t have the sport package, the tire sized are the same on the 600 sport and non-sport, so I assume the pressures should be the same. My tendency is to run a few pounds over the US spec because of advice the people at the Skip Barber school gave me years ago. They claim it adds a small margin of safety at high speeds and in emergency maneuvers. What I wonder is whether the US spec differs from the spec in Germany. I’ve heard that the suggested pressures are higher overseas because of higher speeds and the impression that US buyers want the plushest possible ride.
I had the Pirelli P Zeros on the old 55 and have the Pilot Sports on the current car. It’s hard to say which differences are due to the tires and which to the cars, but I think it’s safe to say that the Pirellis are much easier to make squeal, either braking or making a turn off a stop light. It also seems like the response from the Pirellis was a little sharper and that the Michelins give the steering a little more of an on-center dead spot, but that could just be different suspension or steering set-ups. I can’t tell a difference between the overall grip of the two brands. At this point if I were to choose I would pick the Michelins because of their reputation as fine rain tires; however, I haven’t driven the new car on a rainy day and so cannot give a firsthand comparison.
I had the Pirelli P Zeros on the old 55 and have the Pilot Sports on the current car. It’s hard to say which differences are due to the tires and which to the cars, but I think it’s safe to say that the Pirellis are much easier to make squeal, either braking or making a turn off a stop light. It also seems like the response from the Pirellis was a little sharper and that the Michelins give the steering a little more of an on-center dead spot, but that could just be different suspension or steering set-ups. I can’t tell a difference between the overall grip of the two brands. At this point if I were to choose I would pick the Michelins because of their reputation as fine rain tires; however, I haven’t driven the new car on a rainy day and so cannot give a firsthand comparison.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 258
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From: Perth,Australia
You should put around 5psi more than what the manufacturer reccomends. This is because they want their car to have the most comfort (I think this would still apply with the SL's), but then the centre of the tire flexes in during hard loads, ie. braking, and therefore surface area is reduced. Your ride may be harder but its worth the trade-off, especially if you drive your car hard. It also sharpens steering repsonse, (less sidewall flex), and can make the steering lighter. Importantly, measure your pressures from COLD, or the heat from the tyres will substantially increase pressure.
P.S - This may be old news in America, but in Perth I have recently heard that you can now inflate your tyres with nitrogen, which is much more stable than air, and therefore your pressured do not increase as much during driving so you can inflate your tyres even more i presume, and there is less risk of blow-outs. I would use nitrogen in my car.
P.S - This may be old news in America, but in Perth I have recently heard that you can now inflate your tyres with nitrogen, which is much more stable than air, and therefore your pressured do not increase as much during driving so you can inflate your tyres even more i presume, and there is less risk of blow-outs. I would use nitrogen in my car.
