Rudeney

The SL has been the worst car I've ever owned in terms of tire and wheel damage. It seems that every tire on the car has sustained some sort of damage and now I have a cracked rim. We have very good roads where I drive, and I try to avoid potholes and bad surfaces as much as possible, but my tires look like they've been hit with a cheese grater. I've already replaced two tired due to cut sidewalls, and now I have a third one! The only other "undamaged" tire has a plug in it due to a screw. The left rear rim has a crack, running transversely across for an inch, starting at the inner lip.

I guess part of the issues is the 19" rims and low profile tires, but I also think the problem may be the tires themselves - Continental ContiSportContact 5Ps. I've never been a big fan of Conti's, so I guess I'm going to look into getting the rim repaired and then swap over to Michelin AS 3+.

Anyhow, sorry for the rant, I was just aggravated when I headed out yesterday and got a big read tire warning on yet another tire!

flowrider99

Sounds like you have had some poor luck with the Conti's, not the best tyres in my opinion, but this is not really the SL's fault. I have heard that Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3's are good. The other problem, as you know, is having 19" wheels and low profile tyres. I have 255/35 R19"s and 285/30 R19's on my SL and the ride is a bit unforgiving over pothoes.

Rudeney

Yeah, I think it's the 19" that's the issue. I had 17" on the CLK and it was just fine, driving the same roads. As for potholes, we just don't have that many since we don't get hard winter freezes. I mean, we do have the occasional road problem, but it's not like you guys int he UK, or even my neighbors to the north with brutal winters that do a number on the roads.

I've been investigating options for the rim. Some shops won't touch a rim with a crack at the lip, but others say if it's on the inside and not "spidered" that they will weld it. I', going to do some calling next week to see what I can find. I have seen used rims for under $600, so I may just go that route. But it's definitely time for new tires - both in terms of treadwear and a new brand.

JaySee56

I cracked one of the original 18" rear rims running Hankooks. I don't drive it between November and April, but the winters here are real hard on the roads and it takes the Highway dept a while to catch up in the spring. I found a local place that would do a weld repair and it has held up for 2 years now even without a heat treatment. Fortunately, the crack was on the inside bead otherwise I would have needed another powder coat to hide the mess.

Ghostty

Maybe someone intentionally cut the tires because the car looks too good?

BlownV8

Under inflated tires have a HUGE impact on the condition of your wheels and their ability or lack there of to absorb impact without damaging your wheels. I would run higher pressures than recommended and it will save your wheels.

Rudeney

Well, if it is vandals, they are climbing under the car and chewing away at the rubber on inner edges!

I always run 32 front, 35 rear. I think that's the split between the "regular" inflation and the "100mph+" pressure. I'm OCD about tire pressure. BTW, for others like me, you gotta get one of these:


https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...e=&from=Search

BlownV8

32 psi in the front to may be your issue. I never run less than 38 in the front with 19" rims. The recommended pressure in MB's is for ride comfort. I wouldn't go less than 38 PSI in the front and maybe 40 psi if the roads areally really rough.

kbob999

More data points. I run 40 PSI all around and it seems to help wear, but not ride quality.

I also had a cracked 19" front rim, evidenced by a slow leak. Upon inspection on a wheel machine, it was also .125" out of round. The wheel shop would not just weld it, as they expected the out of round to cause vibration, and another crack to form.

Bottom line - if you have cracks in the rim, it is probably out of round too.

nordicsl

I run on 42psi rear wheels and 40psi on the front wheels.
My last two rear wheels blew out ( Pirelli all year tyres) so I switched to Hankook summer tyres and they seem to suit my sl500 r230.

Hary Gahtoe

Honestly I think this is 90% rim structure and materials not tire manufacturer specific.
MB style wheels (which are usually cast and run slightly heavier)have the rim lips that's thin with a flat outer face almost knife like.
I have <2'' suspension drop and have run 20'' Rohanna wheels/Continental extremecontact DW06 tires with 36/38 for over 2yrs without any damage and I've hit some fairly big potholes and sharp expansion joints