SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: whats the best tire for the stock SL55 rim?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 252
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From: Jersey
SL55
whats the best tire for the stock SL55 rim?
I'm sure you had this discussion some where in the past but I wasn't around then lol Ive used the Pirellis on my clk and the treadwear was poor.
Michelin Pilot sport?
Michelin PS2s?
Pirelli Rosso?
or any other suggestions.
Michelin Pilot sport?
Michelin PS2s?
Pirelli Rosso?
or any other suggestions.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
Damian, forum sponsor TireRack has a lot of useful information on their website (http://www.tirerack.com/). In particular their head-to-head tire tests are pretty good. They also survey actual customers but those results should be taken with a grain of salt.
There aren't many tire choices in the standard SL55 sizes of 255/40R18 and 285/35R18. Of those the Sumitomo HTR Z III are by far the least expensive and tested well in TireRack's tests but some people question their quality. Of the rest, the Bridgestone RE050A Pole Position, Continental CSC 3, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, and Pirelli PZero Rosso are similar in price with reasonable or better performance and quality. Michelin Pilot Sports are much more expensive and Michelin does not offer PS2s in the standard SL55 sizes.
If you drop down a size to 245/40R18 and 275/35R18 you'll find quite a few more choices including Michelin PS2s.
You're going to run into a trade-off between traction and treadlife: the tires with the best traction have shorter treadlife; the tires with the best treadlife have less traction. If you lean towards performance, the better choices are probably the RE050A, CSC3, or GS-D3 in 255/40 & 285/35 or the PS2 in 245/40 & 275/35. If you lean toward longer treadlife a tire such as the BF Goodrich G-Force Sport in 245/40 & 275/35 might fit the bill.
My personal advice would be to go for performance...it's an SL55!
Happy hunting!
There aren't many tire choices in the standard SL55 sizes of 255/40R18 and 285/35R18. Of those the Sumitomo HTR Z III are by far the least expensive and tested well in TireRack's tests but some people question their quality. Of the rest, the Bridgestone RE050A Pole Position, Continental CSC 3, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, and Pirelli PZero Rosso are similar in price with reasonable or better performance and quality. Michelin Pilot Sports are much more expensive and Michelin does not offer PS2s in the standard SL55 sizes.
If you drop down a size to 245/40R18 and 275/35R18 you'll find quite a few more choices including Michelin PS2s.
You're going to run into a trade-off between traction and treadlife: the tires with the best traction have shorter treadlife; the tires with the best treadlife have less traction. If you lean towards performance, the better choices are probably the RE050A, CSC3, or GS-D3 in 255/40 & 285/35 or the PS2 in 245/40 & 275/35. If you lean toward longer treadlife a tire such as the BF Goodrich G-Force Sport in 245/40 & 275/35 might fit the bill.
My personal advice would be to go for performance...it's an SL55!
Happy hunting!
Last edited by jmf003; Nov 24, 2007 at 12:10 PM.
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'14 ML BT
I got 5k miles out of PS2's but they grip and corner while being quiet. Wet grip is very good too and the ride quality is very good.
I've got 1,500 miles on a set of GS-D3's now and they are definitely harder than the PS2's so they spin more easily but should last longer. Cornering is good but I don't get much time in the twisties. (I'm too afraid to encounter a BMW!
)
The GS-D3 wet grip is better and ride quality is equal as is noise level.
Tread wear may impact the noise level ... we'll see.
I've got 1,500 miles on a set of GS-D3's now and they are definitely harder than the PS2's so they spin more easily but should last longer. Cornering is good but I don't get much time in the twisties. (I'm too afraid to encounter a BMW!
)The GS-D3 wet grip is better and ride quality is equal as is noise level.
Tread wear may impact the noise level ... we'll see.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 252
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From: Jersey
SL55
I'm trying to get the best all-around tires.That was plenty of info thanks. Maybe ill just stick with the pirellis and move on to a different tire when 20 inch time comes around in the spring 
I hear alot of hype over the PS2s for maybe that's where Ill be headed.
I hear alot of hype over the PS2s for maybe that's where Ill be headed.
