ajoe

Also any recommendation on a high performance all season tire?

Pbglas

I think 245/40 in front and 265/35 in hte back.

Actually I would myself like an answer to your second question.

skymast

IMO, the best are the Mich Pilot Sport A/S. Great traction, multi-purpose and 400 tread wear rating.

alz

Are you kidding me -- On an E500 maybe -- Never, never on an E55, particularly a 2003/2004. If you need pure winter tires do the Blizzak LM22s for WINTER only -- none of this BS all weather stuff.

Pbglas

Alz, why do you say this? Is it just snow traction or something else.

Dr Chill

I agree with alz, I wouldn't compromise by using all weather tires. I would recommend pure performance tires except when winter tires are indicated. In my case that would be never since it rarely drops below 40 degrees here.

alz

So I change from pure performance tires to Blizzaks only in the snow months. I cannot imagine compromising on the E55 -- it is a performance machine and all weather tires would be a shame.

ajoe

I live in northern new england and I've had blizzaks on my m5 and on a highly modified supra (500+ hp). They're great if you face 6+ inches of snow on a regular basis or have a steep driveway or need to climb very steep hills in the snow. The reality is that most of the time during the winter you're driving on plowed roads and the blizzaks suck when it comes to handling because of the soft sidewalls. Since I won't be driving the lard *** e55 at its cornering limits a w rated all season high performance tire is more than adequate and they will work well year round without the hassle of changing out tires.

alz

Step up and get a second set of tires and rims. Changing out is really is not much of a hassle.

Quite frankly, if you had suggested that a pair of all weather is fine in the snow that iwould have been more compelling. But it is a waste of fine machinery (the E55) to dampen the handling with all seasons all year around.

My E55 handles better than nearly anything I have ever considered for a daily driver. Sure it does not have the steering, braking and all out handling of my 911 (or Ducati). Putting less than full-on performance tires negates the very reason for owning the E55 in the first place.

This is more the point with the new E55 (which will hopefull grace my garage soon). Imaging trying to do a four wheel drift -- or hammering a decreasing radius turn --- with all seasons. Kinda like setting your tires at 10 psi all around........

ajoe

Alz the all season tires do work very well on snow and ice with the exceptions noted above. You are correct about the handling, but I won't be doing many four wheel drifts on exit ramps any time soon with anything the size of an e55. Please see new post.

E55 KEV

I think the new W211 tire sizes are a joke! I would put the 275/35/18 on back. I can not believe the 265/35/18 has better traction than 275. I speculate a cost cutting measure or a marketing standpoint from some bean counter.

I think the 265 is too short to match up with the front 245.

245/40/18 - 25.7"
265/35/18 - 25.3"
275/35/18 - 25.6"

What tire is coming OEM on the E55?

drdave

The mich pilot sport a/s is the tire for all season use.

much better then it's predecessor the xgt-z4.

I would go with 245 front and 275 rear.

I drove that car every day this past winter with 19 inch rims without a problem.

when the day comes that they make 19 inch snow tires that I can get with the exact size that my car has now...I will buy another set of rims for the winter...until then the all seasons are just fine here in illinois.

dr dave

2002 e55...ssr gt3 245/275

ajoe

I asked tirerack about using 275/35 on rear tires and they said they couldn't recommend at this time until testing done.

E55 KEV

This 265 versus 275 issue is crazy. It was also an issue on the W210 E55. Only the North American E55 (1999-2002) had:

245/40/18
275/35/18

While Europe and the rest of the world got from the factory:

235/40/18
265/35/18

amgrocket

i read that the oe tire on the w211 e55 is going to be a dunlop sp9000 and the conti sport 2. also the cl55, and s55 rear tires were reduced in width for 2003 . 2654018 from 2754018 and they changed to bstne potenza re050 from sp9000 and pilot sports which were on previous years. possibly the reduction of width of the rear tires is suppose to increase oversteer? i dont think a 265 from a 275 would save anybody any significant money. i have cost information because im in the tire business.

E55 KEV

I think cost has something to do with it on the OEM Manufactors level. If you are going to buy 100,000 tires and the difference is $5.00 per tire, that is a savings of $500k. The previous OEM AMG tires were Michelin Pilot Sport, Dunlop SP Sport 9000 and Pirelli PZero Rosso. Those are high end priced tires. Continental and Bridgestone tires usually cost a bit less. So I really think that cost factor was a deciding factor in the selection of these new tires.

The Bridgestone RE050 is coming on CL55 & S55 and I doubt it is better than their Bridgestone S-03 nor the SP 9000, Pilot Sport or PZero Ross.

RE050:

amgrocket

[QUOTE]Originally posted by E55 KEV
[
The Bridgestone RE050 is coming on CL55 & S55 and I doubt it is better than their Bridgestone S-03 nor the SP 9000, Pilot Sport or PZero Ross.

i agree when you buy truckloads of tires you will get a savings, though i believe that its has more to do with other variables but im sure cost was kept in mind very closely. my company is a bridgestone based company and ive recently spoke to a company executive and he did not compare the s03 to the re050. the re050 were built for more comfort, less noise but still high performance, while the aftermarket s03's were hardcore.and more a performance based but of course not as smooth or quiet or supple riding. keep in mind oe tires are built to "oe specs" the spec the manufacture wants, ie low cost, less sidewall belts, lower rolling resistance or whatever they want. so the big brand name doesnt mean its a great tire.

alz

Is not about the small amount of rubber that it takes to get 10mm larger -- rather, the cost is much lower because the smaller tires are more mainstream (i.e., the larger size is not particularly in demand but the smaller size fits more cars, and thus proportionate costs are reduced)

amgrocket

alz thats possible too. though i know that i sell 40-50% more 275 3518 than 2653518. viper frts, m5 rear, and w210 e55 rear. the only current vehicles that i can think of the 2653518 rear would be 20% of boxsters and 911's. i too would probably rather have the wider 2753518 probably s03s.

mike82y

The E55 comes with
8*18 with 245/40
9*18 with 265/35

The European E55 comes with either Dunlop SP9000 or Conti. Sport Contact2. However the rear tires have to be "Extra Load" (extra force)

I will have the wheels installed next week and will post some pics!

ps. you can however get 8.5*18 and 9.5*18, then you will be able the mount the 275er on the rear. But i am sticking with Oring. E55 rims.

and yes, get the Bridgestone RE050 (the tire is just PERFECT)!!!! they will be only available here in June.. otherwise i would have bought them, but i think SP9000 will do


Mike

Finnish C32

My E55 has 245/265 Pirelli SnowSport240 M+S tires on original wheels and 245/275 p-zero rosso on 19" wheels. p-zero r0kz

E55 KEV

Hey Finnish, what are the OEM tires? Did you car come from the factory with with SnowSport 240 tires in 245/265 sizes? Or did you do a factory/dealer upgrade to 19's prior to delivery? Thanks.

E55 KEV

Mike, is the Bridgestone RE050 more of a "Luxury Touring" tire made for comfort, less noise and has less performance than the Pilot Sport, SP 9000 or Bridgeston S-03's?

I bet the treadwear rating on the RE050 is very low. Anyone know? AMGRocket what is it?

mike82y

If you are looking for high performance racing tires, I would go for Pirelli P Zero Corsa, a semi-slick tire. But i am not sure if you will be able to drive with those tires in the rain
However the RE050 always has the best "overall" results from all the tests i have read. Size in 18" and from 225 and up.
In my opinion, the RE050 is not only a luxury Touring tire but its also made for high performance. Thats why the
Farrari Enzo (245/35 ZR 19, 345/35 ZR 19), BMW Z4, MB SL.. comes with the RE050.
I can't really say much about the directional tires in size over 225/18, but from what i have heard is that they do lose its performance once the tire gets wider.... Hopefully the SP9000 won't be too bad
Is the RE050 already available in the US??

Mike
Mike

E55 KEV

mike82y, The RE050 is not readily available in the U.S. yet. It comes on some 2003 CL55 and perhaps the S55 in sizes 245/45/18 and 265/40/18.