CASL55

I’ve got 8,000 miles on my year-old SL55, and it needs new tires. This is a bi-purpose post, intended to compare tire life with other SL55 owners, and to discuss replacement options.

My SL was delivered with 255/40YR18 Pirelli PZero Rosso Asimmetrico’s in front and 285/35YR18’s in back. I drive mostly on two-lane, fairly straight roads, except for 5 miles of twisties every time I leave my house or come home. I don’t drive this twisty section too fast, but only once has another car come up behind me in the SL (I was babying the car because I had a case of wine in the trunk). In my old 996, I got 15K miles out of a set of rear Pilots, and 25K out of the fronts. To have the SL tires be worn out at both ends (rears wearing more than fronts, by a bit) in 8K miles seems pretty quick. What are your experiences?

At the Tire Rack, my choices for new tires are Pilot Sports, Dunlop SP Sport 9000s, or more Rossos. If I wanted to go to the 19 inch wheels, I could have Continental ContiSportContact 2s, Pilot Sport PS2s, or Rossos. I decided to stay with the 18 inch wheels, and go with Pilot Sports. My reasoning was that the Rossos had gotten pretty noisy after 3,000 miles, I’d had good luck with Michelins in the past, and the Pilot Sports on my wife’s 540i 6-sp sports suspension Bimmer have been great. Also, I get bored easily, and I’d like to try something different. At least one person on this board has reported harsh ride with the Pilot Sports, but I’m choosing to ignore that experience because of the results on my wife’s car. Time will tell. I’ll report my results in a couple of weeks.

tandan

my 600 nowhas 2600mi. on it, and i'm hoping the service rep was wrong, but at the time of my 1000mi. service, he said to expect about 5000mi. on the tires and brakes. my stock new tires are michelin pilots and so far they ride smooth and straight.

CASL55

That would be the kind of mileage that got Honda sued during the first few years of the NSX. And that brake mileage is even worse!

How do you drive/what roads do you drive on?

Jim

IanSL55

Sounds like a snow job to me. 10K is the first service interval... both your tires and brake will last longer than that for certain.

~ Ian

tandan

at 2600 mi. i have absoleutly no issues with my car. it is a wet dream. it is soooo smooth and powerful! i drive strictly city roads and state highways. most of the roads are in good shape. i do hope the service rep wasw bsing me, but when i saw a fellow board member needing replacement at 8000mi., my car is heavier. how many miles should i expect to get?

IanSL55

In my experience I expect to get 8-12K miles on my 20" Conti's... Can't say about the brakes since I've only driven the car 7K miles.

~ Ian

doltmo

I'm in a similar situation, but without any complaints. My 05 SL55 has just over 8000 miles on it and the OEM Pirelli's are ready for replacement. These tires have seem some pretty spirited driving - including a "driving school" at Putnam Park that shaved off about half the tread in two days (I'm still picking out the "rubber worms" from the wheel wells). I'll probably put new tires on a second set of rims and run what's left of the old tires on the track.

I'm undecided on the replacements. The Michelin PS2's have received good reviews, but they don't come in the 285/35 x18 size for the rears.

jeffreyy

My car only has 2600 miles on it as well. So far, tire wear looks even and not unusual. I do a lot of city driving and more spirited driving on the weekends. Of course, now that the car is broken in, I drive faster. Anyway, I put the 19" AMG wheels on with the Bridgestone tires and have been very impressed with the ride quality, handling, and quietness of the tires, so at least consider them.

Jeff

ldye

I have 10,000 miles on Michelin Sports. The fronts still have 6/32" tread. I had to replace the rears at 7,000 miles due to them being out of round, high road force.
The fronts are making a rump/rump noise at around 20mph. Dealer is checking if Michelin will replace.
I like Michelin tires but I have had problems with pilot sports on my other MB.
If Michelin doesn't replace the fronts I will change all 4 out this spring.
I may try the Michelin AS.

CASL55

I got the Pilot Sports on Wednesday of last week, and I now have about 400 miles on them. I'm over the greasy break-in period, and can report on what they're like compared to the OE Pirellis.

Road Noise: They're quieter than the old Pirellis, but they got noisier over time, and I can't remember exactely how noisy the Pirellis were when they were new. Call this one a tie.

Noise at high slip angles: Less at higher speeds, about the same at lower speeds. (See handling).

Ride: Others have complained that the Pilot Sports are harsh-riding compared to the Pirellis. That's not my experience. On my SL55 , the low-speed ride on the Michelins is smoother than the Italian tires, and the high-speed (or high-frequency) ride is a tiny bit more crisp, but that's fine with me.

Handling: Turn is, unfortunately, about the same. The lethargic turn-in is one of my least favorite things about the SL. However, once the car is pointed at the apex, good things happen. You can squeeze on the power earlier, and the car takes a more stable set. Low speed understeer is still very present, but the front-end breakaway into abject ploughing doesn't happen as suddenly, and the extra warning makes it pretty easy to hold it right at the edge.

All in all, I'm pleased. Somebody want to try the Dunlops?

Jim

AMG&AMG

get Michelin PS2 , rossos are great, but i call them " Erasers"

mdvijay

My 03 Sl55 with pirelli need to be replaced at almost 18000 plus miles .I went with Michelin Pilot Sport and i have 4000 plus miles on them already .so far i think michelin rides better

LWRNCE

Next tires I am going to try is the Good Year GS-d3's

RajS

The brakes should last way more then 10K miles ... I've done 65K and they've had to replace all 4 once and the front one additional time -- and I am ABUSIVE to the car in the way I drive.

In regards to the Mich sports ... mine last ~ 10 - 12 K each