SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Time for new tires
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Northern, Virginia
sl55
Time for new tires
Anyone have any thoughts on a new set of tires? I have the Michelin Pilot Sports. I looked at Tire Rack and they rate the Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position RE050A tires above the PS and others. Anyone have any experience or recommendations. I like the current tires, however the front tire has recently started to bubble out in a spot, possible due to hitting a bad spot on the road.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
I really like the PS2s, and they also come in a weight capacity that can handle our car's weight and speed capability. Mine is derestricted, so it is a bit more critical.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 19
From: Kuwait
CLS55 2006, CLS 63S 2015
emm i to am wondering all say ps2 and lots of god reviews about them. People here say the Toyo t1rs are very good also, and they have a new tire the r888 which is for track days, but is road legal.... i want super traction 
but must be used for daily use.... what to get1
but must be used for daily use.... what to get1
Junior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: South Bay, SF Bay Area
2004 SL55
Here is my .02 cents:
I went with the Bridgestone pole position tires, mostly based on the fact that I liked the Bridgestones on my previous Z4. I was mostly looking for a quiet tire that didn't tramline or shimmy since I commute 80 miles round trip couple of times a week in the SL55. The Bridgestones run pretty quiet and straight.
It seems like every Pirelli tire I have owned on many different cars has had a shimmy to it, regardless of how many times I balance the tires. I got rid of the stock Pirellis on the SL55 pretty quickly.
I have a couple of different versions of Toyo TR tires on a couple of other cars. They don't seem to like anything but perfectly smooth roads. Some of the roads around me are kind of wash boardish and the cars vibrate annoyingly through those sections.
Never had the PS2s.
I went with the Bridgestone pole position tires, mostly based on the fact that I liked the Bridgestones on my previous Z4. I was mostly looking for a quiet tire that didn't tramline or shimmy since I commute 80 miles round trip couple of times a week in the SL55. The Bridgestones run pretty quiet and straight.
It seems like every Pirelli tire I have owned on many different cars has had a shimmy to it, regardless of how many times I balance the tires. I got rid of the stock Pirellis on the SL55 pretty quickly.
I have a couple of different versions of Toyo TR tires on a couple of other cars. They don't seem to like anything but perfectly smooth roads. Some of the roads around me are kind of wash boardish and the cars vibrate annoyingly through those sections.
Never had the PS2s.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Northern, Virginia
sl55
GoodYear Eagle F1's
Ok, I decided to go with the Goodyear Eagle F1's and it's now been 3,000 miles. They are extremely quiet, and great in the rain. I'm not sure they have the same dry off the line traction the PS tires had, but I am very pleased overall. I drive the car daily and put 20K a year on it, so reducing road noise is key to me. The original Pilot Sports became so unbearably noisy at half tread life and I could hear them over the stereo. So far, so good. I have a business partner that bought the F1 All Season tire for his 745I and is very unhappy. Hope the review helps. Thanks for the past replies.
Last edited by keorr; Jun 1, 2008 at 09:46 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 8
From: Oklahoma City
2015 AMG C63 S
PS2's seem to be the most overrated tire of all time. I heard so much about them I went with 'em. Problem is the ride is horrible. Handling is excellent especially compared to the stock Contis. Good luck with the Goodyear's.
Trending Topics
Banned
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA.
2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
On My SL55
I have tried Perreli`s. They suck. They wear quick and are too hard.
When they get older they feel weird at low speed. Like a wheel bearing going out.
Michelin PS. I got almost 20K miles on them. They are a bit noisy when they get to the end of wear life. But I am happy with the miles thay lasted.
Michelin PS2. I went with these when I got my SL65 19" wheels.
I have the 295`s in the back. Could not be happier. Amazing how the car handles in the canyons. Smooth and sweet.
The Bridgestones are OEM on my SL65 Wheels. But like IngenereAMG.
I care about High Speed and Weight Ratings. The PS2`s ratings are higher
than the Bridgestones.
And my SA Manager at the StealerShip met the price I wanted and recommended the PS2`s over all my other picks. And they are the most in cost too.
With a heavy fast car like a SL55. You dont skimp when it comes to the tires.
Get the best money can buy.
I have tried Perreli`s. They suck. They wear quick and are too hard.
When they get older they feel weird at low speed. Like a wheel bearing going out.
Michelin PS. I got almost 20K miles on them. They are a bit noisy when they get to the end of wear life. But I am happy with the miles thay lasted.
Michelin PS2. I went with these when I got my SL65 19" wheels.
I have the 295`s in the back. Could not be happier. Amazing how the car handles in the canyons. Smooth and sweet.
The Bridgestones are OEM on my SL65 Wheels. But like IngenereAMG.
I care about High Speed and Weight Ratings. The PS2`s ratings are higher
than the Bridgestones.
And my SA Manager at the StealerShip met the price I wanted and recommended the PS2`s over all my other picks. And they are the most in cost too.
With a heavy fast car like a SL55. You dont skimp when it comes to the tires.
Get the best money can buy.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 911
Likes: 1
From: Wichita
2005 SL600, 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
Ok, I decided to go with the Goodyear Eagle F1's and it's now been 3,000 miles. They are extremely quiet, and great in the rain. I'm not sure they have the same dry off the line traction the PS tires had, but I am very pleased overall. I drive the car daily and put 20K a year on it, so reducing road noise is key to me. The original Pilot Sports became so unbearably noisy at half tread life and I could hear them over the stereo. So far, so good. I have a business partner that bought the F1 All Season tire for his 745I and is very unhappy. Hope the review helps. Thanks for the past replies.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Wilkes-Barre, PA
E46 M3
I had the PS2s on my car and had bad shimmy. I actually thought there might have been a problem with my differential after fitting these tires. The rears lasted about 13000 miles (reasonable life), the fronts still had plenty of life.
I replaced them with Bridgestone Pole Positions, like a previous poster. I couldn't be happier. I don't feel any decrease in grip in high G corners from the PS2s, the Bridgestones are quieter, and are much better in wet. I was caught in some flash flood rains with the PS2s and it was incredibly stressful.
I have to agree with the sentiment that the PS2s are overrated. The Bridgestones are a way better value, too.
Also, since Michelin stopped supplying tires to Formula 1, they have probably forgotten how to make good tires. hnur, hnur.
I replaced them with Bridgestone Pole Positions, like a previous poster. I couldn't be happier. I don't feel any decrease in grip in high G corners from the PS2s, the Bridgestones are quieter, and are much better in wet. I was caught in some flash flood rains with the PS2s and it was incredibly stressful.
I have to agree with the sentiment that the PS2s are overrated. The Bridgestones are a way better value, too.
Also, since Michelin stopped supplying tires to Formula 1, they have probably forgotten how to make good tires. hnur, hnur.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Canada
07 ML63 Silver Dead at 85k, 14 RS5, 05 SL600
The SL600 came with PS2's in 18". They were a decent tire but a lot of squealing when cornering etc. I replaced them with PZero Rosso's in 19". Note that these are not the Nero's.
Big improvement in handling and quieter. I would take them again over the PS2's. I drive the car fairly hard and have put 12k miles on them with plenty of life left on the rears. Go figure why everyone complains about tread-wear. I'm nowhere near the wear marks.
Big improvement in handling and quieter. I would take them again over the PS2's. I drive the car fairly hard and have put 12k miles on them with plenty of life left on the rears. Go figure why everyone complains about tread-wear. I'm nowhere near the wear marks.
Last edited by kokanee; Jun 4, 2008 at 12:53 AM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, Tx
97 SL500
I currently have 19" Dunlop SP Sport Maxx on my 97 SL500, 18" Pirelli P-zero Rosso on the SL55 and 19" Bridgestone RE050 on the SL65. All are quiet and ride decent. I don't drive any of these in the rain, so I can only speak to dry performance. The P-Zero is by FAR the WORST tire of this group. No grip when cold, no grip when hot, great grip for the few minutes between cold and hot (when warm). The Dunlop is a very good tire but these cars are too heavy for this tire. I love the RE050. I know that early in this tire's lifecycle that Bridgestone had all sort of balancing issues with this tire but all that appears to fixed now. I like the PS2 but think it's overrated and overpriced. If I had to buy tires today for any SL, I'd buy the RE050 or the PS2. I might consider the Toyo or Sumitomo if someone could verify that they work well on a car this heavy.
