If so Many People Are Unhappy with the Contis...Why do They Have Them?
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From: Boston, MA
E63S
If so Many People Are Unhappy with the Contis...Why do They Have Them?
I don't get it? I understand why American Airlines is serving garbage in First Class to save money, but why would MB select Continetal tires if they were really worse than the Michelin PS Sports (which I admit I loved on my CLK55)?
Do you really think they (MB) are try to save $100 or $200 on a $90,000 car?
I think they must feel these are better tires (OK, they may not care thay they supposedly wear out quicker).
BTW, what is the durability differential on the Contis vs. the Michelin's?
Do you really think they (MB) are try to save $100 or $200 on a $90,000 car?
I think they must feel these are better tires (OK, they may not care thay they supposedly wear out quicker).
BTW, what is the durability differential on the Contis vs. the Michelin's?
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SL55AMG, ML420CDI, E320TCDI
Originally Posted by SoxFan
I don't get it? I understand why American Airlines is serving garbage in First Class to save money, but why would MB select Continetal tires if they were really worse than the Michelin PS Sports (which I admit I loved on my CLK55)?
Do you really think they (MB) are try to save $100 or $200 on a $90,000 car?
I think they must feel these are better tires (OK, they may not care thay they supposedly wear out quicker).
BTW, what is the durability differential on the Contis vs. the Michelin's?
Do you really think they (MB) are try to save $100 or $200 on a $90,000 car?
I think they must feel these are better tires (OK, they may not care thay they supposedly wear out quicker).
BTW, what is the durability differential on the Contis vs. the Michelin's?
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Originally Posted by SoxFan
Do you really think they (MB) are try to save $100 or $200 on a $90,000 car?
Last edited by RJC; Apr 29, 2006 at 09:40 PM.
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
YES! $200 x's ten's of thousand of cars ='s big $$$, and won't find Conti's on an SLR!
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2003 E55 K1
In my case I think the problem was a bad set of tires on my 2003 E55. Just so happens they were the stock Conti's. I suppose whatever the problem was (bad shimmy), it would have been solved with new tires. Having said that, I love my new PS'2.
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From: Monroe, Louisiana
SL 65 AMG and E63s AMG
Originally Posted by SLcharger
I have been driving both on my SL. The PS2 are okay, but the Conti´s are better. Better grip, better handling, more traction. I would anytime choose Conti over Mich. Okay, they wear down faster, but that is of no importance when you drive a 100.000 $ car. If you can affort the car, you can affort the cost.
Contis have major problems with being out of round and most problems with shimmies are solved by getting rid of the OEM Contis. My dealer offered to replace my defective Contis with more Contis and I declined, putting PS2 instead. I've been happy ever since.
I think that Conti worked out a deal with MB to help increase the sales of the hi performance end of their business. My guess is they GIVE the tires to MB to put on AMGs. Contis are the same as General Tires in the USA an also ran known for making fleet tires. IMO they are junk.
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From: Irvine, California
'10 MB E63, '08 ML550 ('05 E55, '05 SL55, '08 E63 GONE)
It was either Car & Driver or Motor Trend that rated the Conti's a surprising second to the PS2's. When I say surprised I mean - even they were shocked... But it was a blind test which IMHO adds some weight. I had the Conti's on my SL55 (20") and have no complaints (PS2's on my E55).
~ Ian
~ Ian
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
PS2's.....good enough for the million dollar Bugatti and Saleen S7, good enough for me. They could have used any tire in the world, yet they choose.......
PS....Conti Corporate headquarters are in Deutschland.....yep, you got it now.
MB
Conti Execs
PS....Conti Corporate headquarters are in Deutschland.....yep, you got it now.
MB
Conti Execs
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by Jakpro1
PS2's.....good enough for the million dollar Bugatti and Saleen S7, good enough for me. They could have used any tire in the world, yet they choose.......
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SL55AMG, ML420CDI, E320TCDI
Never the less, i still prefer the Conti´s., and that is not just to be stubborn, i rearly do like them, and i never expirienced any of those problem you mentioned here. I think you just hit a bad badge.
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Originally Posted by SLcharger
Never the less, i still prefer the Conti´s., and that is not just to be stubborn, i rearly do like them, and i never expirienced any of those problem you mentioned here. I think you just hit a bad badge.
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I don't like the Conti's at all. Even accounting for the break-in factor, they lose grip very quickly. ABS goes beserk when I get on the brakes hard. I do realize the car weighs over 4,000 lbs, but the stock tires are just awful. I have PS2 on my other car (996T), and it's worlds in difference, especially in outright grip.
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From: Boston, MA
E63S
I think the PS2s were great on my CLK55 (changing to them was the first time I felt a better ride with different tires), but so far I find the ride on the E55 with the Contis to be sublime. No shimmies...just a dream. Now, maybe ther will wear out faster, or somethign will go wrong, but after 500 miles, the car is amazing, and that includes the ride with the current tires.
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
one of seven
My stock conti's sucked so bad (noise/out of round) that at 9k miles my dealer gave me a new set (said they had a newer compound - so I figured I'd give it a try). They were just as bad, the left rear practically fell apart on me so I got rid of them and am VERY happy with the PS2s. mp
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2001 S500 Sport "Klaus"
why do I still have the conti's? because i'm too damned cheap to buy a full set of replacements at this juncture; too many other things have priority. on the other hand, all 4 of 'em are outta here as soon as one goes south.
contis were stock on my old jag s type R as well, and they bit off large chunks of teabag even then. they were (and are) loud, but mostly they suck. they get shredded easily (and i'm not the most A-type driver around) and were shamed by the good year eagle's i replaced them with.
I went with Eagles because they rated nearly as high as the PS2's, were a little cheaper on the pocketbook, and had that cool "v-shaped" tread pattern that you either love or hate.
I'd love to replace the tires on my e55 with a set of eagles, but my wagon has the 3d row seat, and thus it does not have a spare tire. Does anyone know whether anyone's making a set of run-flats for these cars? or are they strictly for the corvette?
v
contis were stock on my old jag s type R as well, and they bit off large chunks of teabag even then. they were (and are) loud, but mostly they suck. they get shredded easily (and i'm not the most A-type driver around) and were shamed by the good year eagle's i replaced them with.
I went with Eagles because they rated nearly as high as the PS2's, were a little cheaper on the pocketbook, and had that cool "v-shaped" tread pattern that you either love or hate.
I'd love to replace the tires on my e55 with a set of eagles, but my wagon has the 3d row seat, and thus it does not have a spare tire. Does anyone know whether anyone's making a set of run-flats for these cars? or are they strictly for the corvette?
v
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From: Ventura County USA
'06 E55, '05 SLK55, a few others
Originally Posted by vixapphire
why do I still have the conti's? because i'm too damned cheap to buy a full set of replacements at this juncture; too many other things have priority. on the other hand, all 4 of 'em are outta here as soon as one goes south.
contis were stock on my old jag s type R as well, and they bit off large chunks of teabag even then. they were (and are) loud, but mostly they suck. they get shredded easily (and i'm not the most A-type driver around) and were shamed by the good year eagle's i replaced them with.
I went with Eagles because they rated nearly as high as the PS2's, were a little cheaper on the pocketbook, and had that cool "v-shaped" tread pattern that you either love or hate.
I'd love to replace the tires on my e55 with a set of eagles, but my wagon has the 3d row seat, and thus it does not have a spare tire. Does anyone know whether anyone's making a set of run-flats for these cars? or are they strictly for the corvette?
v
contis were stock on my old jag s type R as well, and they bit off large chunks of teabag even then. they were (and are) loud, but mostly they suck. they get shredded easily (and i'm not the most A-type driver around) and were shamed by the good year eagle's i replaced them with.
I went with Eagles because they rated nearly as high as the PS2's, were a little cheaper on the pocketbook, and had that cool "v-shaped" tread pattern that you either love or hate.
I'd love to replace the tires on my e55 with a set of eagles, but my wagon has the 3d row seat, and thus it does not have a spare tire. Does anyone know whether anyone's making a set of run-flats for these cars? or are they strictly for the corvette?
v
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Originally Posted by RJC
Do you have an E55 or just the SL55, the reason I ask is I find the E55 front suspension much more suscetable to shimmies etc.
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Originally Posted by SLcharger
This might be the whole problem, no i dont have an E55, JUST ( what ever ment by that ) an SL55, and tire size and model might differ a lot. Mine are, front 255/30/19, rear 305/20/25. It is known that problems might differ from size to size.
Do you have an E55 or just the SL55, the reason I ask is I find the E55 front suspension much more suscetable to shimmies etc.
Nothing was meant by that at all; I asked if you had an E55 or just "the" SL55, not just an SL55 as I was curious if you had both cars since your experience with the conti's was so good; so no need to get paranoid
.To get back on topic, yes indeed the E's front suspension seems to trigger and or enhance the shimmies as even some non AMG W211's suffer from this malady and I have rarely heard of this complaint on the R230's.
Last edited by RJC; May 3, 2006 at 01:21 PM.
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From: CA
996 supercharged C4cab widebody, x-5 (4.4), sl-55 kleeman, RR
i've ran the conti's, p-zero's and ps2, and find the ps2 stickyer than the conti's and p-zeros, infact i even felt the p-zero's to be stickyer than the conti's but they just tear apart much easier. although the ps2 are 295, but seem to be just as wide as the conti 305, i believe michelin is conservative on there width's. you may actually get close to 300mm of rubber to the ground. just my 2 cents.
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From: Boston, MA
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Originally Posted by eride
i've ran the conti's, p-zero's and ps2, and find the ps2 stickyer than the conti's and p-zeros, infact i even felt the p-zero's to be stickyer than the conti's but they just tear apart much easier. although the ps2 are 295, but seem to be just as wide as the conti 305, i believe michelin is conservative on there width's. you may actually get close to 300mm of rubber to the ground. just my 2 cents.
Also, how many miles do you expect to get out of the Contis vs. the PS2s?
I never tour my PS2s apart (2 sets) -- what percentage of the people are seeing this problem, and isn't that damage warrantied?
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996 supercharged C4cab widebody, x-5 (4.4), sl-55 kleeman, RR
Originally Posted by SoxFan
For those who may drive a little less aggressively -- generally not exceeding 85-90 and not "pushing it" around turns (assuming no dead spots and shimmies and/or other problems) -- how would one feel the difference in "normal" driving between the Contis and the PS2s?
Also, how many miles do you expect to get out of the Contis vs. the PS2s?
I never tour my PS2s apart (2 sets) -- what percentage of the people are seeing this problem, and isn't that damage warrantied?
Also, how many miles do you expect to get out of the Contis vs. the PS2s?
I never tour my PS2s apart (2 sets) -- what percentage of the people are seeing this problem, and isn't that damage warrantied?
i haven't torn my ps2 either, but i have torn my P-zeros on my porsche, they are a really soft compound. hope that helps.
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From: Boston, MA
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Originally Posted by eride
but consider piece of mind, to know you have a tire that hooks up and corners better when you want it. i mean that is the same reason why you bought an AMG vs the NON.
On the other hand, it's nice to know that the Contis may last a little longer...although I loved the ride on my PS2s, which is what I'd probably replace them with...if I get that far, because I'll also use snow tires for about 45% of the time.
How many miles would expect to get out of the Contis vs. PS2 with non-aggressive driving (not the same thing as conservative driving)?
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2005 E55
Originally Posted by eride
if your a conservative driver, you wouldn't feel a difference, than i'ld just run a tire you can get the best deal on or that which wears the longiest, which in my opinion is the conti (seems to be a slightly harder compound). but consider piece of mind, to know you have a tire that hooks up and corners better when you want it. i mean that is the same reason why you bought an AMG vs the NON.
i haven't torn my ps2 either, but i have torn my P-zeros on my porsche, they are a really soft compound. hope that helps.
i haven't torn my ps2 either, but i have torn my P-zeros on my porsche, they are a really soft compound. hope that helps.
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From: Boston, MA
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Originally Posted by enzom
I have to disagree a bit there. I can feel the difference even in ordinary driving. The steering wheel is much more responsive and not quite as numb dead center. Still doesn't feel like the steering on my old E39 540's, but there is a noticeable difference from the Conti's.
