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New owner here. I've seen a bunch of discussion before but nothing quite nailed it. For my new 2018 E63s - if I want all season, is my only option to get the Michelin AS/3 which are 285/30/20 instead of the OEM sized 295/30/20 in the rear? would getting the 285 instead of 295 affect my ride or steering in any way? What would be your considerations here? Thank you!
We have Bridgestone Potenza’s for the winter in stock sizes (20”). They are Ok.
These are replacing the Sottozero 3 snows which only lasted 7k miles...
We have Bridgestone Potenza’s for the winter in stock sizes (20”). They are Ok.
These are replacing the Sottozero 3 snows which only lasted 7k miles...
Thanks Wolfman. I'm just interested to understand if it is safe to put 285/30R20 when the OEMs are 295/30R20..
I am running AS3+ on the car now. Based in the bay area, but I wanted to run an all season to go to the snow.
I went with 255/40/20 in the Front and 285/35/20 in the rear. I intentionally when for a taller side wall.
Overall car is now softer and quieter. it did lose a little lateral grip, and the steering has a slightly lighter feel, but overall no complaints.
I had the tires installed at the same time the car got the traction control update. 2 times in the first maybe 100 miles the traction control went off when the car seemed not to by sliding. Both times with steering input at speed. After that never again, maybe it relearned.
Overall would do again and would recommend, as long as you don't care about max handling.
Thanks Fuzz! super helpful. Are you really pushing the car when you start to lose grip or is it also in day to day driving? I don't drive super hard, but on occasion I do like to take an on-ramp at interesting speeds...
Everyone's speed is different. But let me put it this way.
Yes the AS3s have less absolute grip than the PS4s. Of course they do. You can feel the car move around on the softer tread when you load the tire.
But, I lapped Thunderhill on the AS3s to learn the track before shaking down my vintage racecar. Wagon and tires did fine. So did the racecar.
If you want all seasons you need to do so knowing they have pros and cons vs the PS4s. The only real con is the lower limit.
But given how I use the wagon, with my family, kids, dog, snow, beach. All seasons make more sense than high performance drys.
Also, for the record I bought a second set of wheels and my plan was to swap the PS4s back on the car when I wasn't going to the snow. The AS3s are good enough to not make it worth it to me to switch back, until it really dries out.
You have an expensive car with terrific performance and handling, having all season tires is a bad compromise for it, neither good in Summer nor Winter.
Poor stopping power and mediocre traction on snow and ice (vs Winter tires) also affects severely the safety of yourself and your passengers.
It is not a huge investment (relatively to what you have already paid for the car) to get a dedicated set of wheels for Winter (you already have performance tires that the car came with).
That investment will pay off dramatically when the weather turns really bad.
I do it with all cars we have in the family, 2 sets of wheels for everyone, stored at my dealer and ready to install anytime.
You have an expensive car with terrific performance and handling, having all season tires is a bad compromise for it, neither good in Summer nor Winter.
Poor stopping power and mediocre traction on snow and ice (vs Winter tires) also affects severely the safety of yourself and your passengers.
It is not a huge investment (relatively to what you have already paid for the car) to get a dedicated set of wheels for Winter (you already have performance tires that the car came with).
That investment will pay off dramatically when the weather turns really bad.
I do it with all cars we have in the family, 2 sets of wheels for everyone, stored at my dealer and ready to install anytime.
is it common that your dealer agrees to store? I tried that with my other cars with no luck. Also - I don’t think there are OEM size winter tires for our car, so would also need to get an extra pair of wheels, likely 19” or 18”, which would compromise the look of the car in my opinion..
But my question is - assuming I’m ok compromising with all season, would 285/30R20 be ok when the OEM states 295/30R20 for the rear tires?
Yes, the 285/30 will work. You will have a thinner sidewall than stock, but will be fine. I went taller all around for the all seasons given the fact I was going up to the snow, and it makes the ride softer.
As far as this myth that all seasons are bad, I think it depends on what you are doing. You are a fool if you think a summer tire is better than an all season in mixed or wet conditions. Similarly, if you live where it snows, there is no question that a full winter tire is a better choice.
Personally, I live where it rains and sometimes I go to the snow. For my use case an all season, used in the winter, is a better choice than a winter tire which would get destroyed by the warm dry days we have between rain.
Also I hate to burst your bubble, but these cars are not race or even sports cars. They are big heavy comfortable cruisers that you load up with friends and family to go places in style.
Although we put all seasons on the car for right now, they are clearly inferior to either dedicated summer or snows.
They feel nothing like the PS4s tires. I was disappointed that our Sottozero last only 7k miles and I didn’t want to spend another $2k for 3 months as we are switching cars next month.
That said, the Potenzas were surprisingly good during the last snow storm, making them a decent winter tire.
My solution was to get a used set of OEM 20” AMG 5-spokes for my W213 wagon and put Michelin PA4’s in stock sizes on them for the winter. We don’t get much snow in SW Ohio, but we get enough, along with lots of dangerous mixed conditions—ice and slush etc. The PA4’s are “high performance winters,” and it looks like they’ll take care of my needs. If the conditions really get that bad, I’ll get the Rover out. Here are the PA4’s:
is it common that your dealer agrees to store? I tried that with my other cars with no luck. Also - I don’t think there are OEM size winter tires for our car, so would also need to get an extra pair of wheels, likely 19” or 18”, which would compromise the look of the car in my opinion..
But my question is - assuming I’m ok compromising with all season, would 285/30R20 be ok when the OEM states 295/30R20 for the rear tires?
295/30/R20 are available from Pirelli, Sottozero 3. Check on Tirerack.
I have never had any trouble matching the tires or getting them close enough, your example of 285 vs 295 would be easy and would not cause any issues, I did it many times (including on my wife's Lusso).
Storage of wheels depends on a dealer, I am lucky that MB, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Bentley and Ferrari I have had any dealings with, all offered that option and I took advantage of it as I had alternative sets of wheels on all my cars in the past 30 years.
295/30/R20 are available from Pirelli, Sottozero 3. Check on Tirerack.
I have never had any trouble matching the tires or getting them close enough, your example of 285 vs 295 would be easy and would not cause any issues, I did it many times (including on my wife's Lusso).
Storage of wheels depends on a dealer, I am lucky that MB, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Bentley and Ferrari I have had any dealings with, all offered that option and I took advantage of it as I had alternative sets of wheels on all my cars in the past 30 years.
Michelin has PA4’s in the stock sizes but they’re not carried by tirerack...check your local Michelin dealer.
Full winters only make sense if it is cold where you live. In northern California, the winters are too warm and will destroy a Sottozero or similar full winter tire.
The 285/30 will fit but it is shorter than the stock tire.
If you go with the AS3, there is no exact fit. I went with the taller sidewall front and rear preferred the 285/35 because I wanted a little more protection for the rim.
Full winters only make sense if it is cold where you live. In northern California, the winters are too warm and will destroy a Sottozero or similar full winter tire.
The 285/30 will fit but it is shorter than the stock tire.
If you go with the AS3, there is no exact fit. I went with the taller sidewall front and rear preferred the 285/35 because I wanted a little more protection for the rim.
I got the Mercedes winter tire package in November for under $3,100 after a $150 rebate (great deal). It is a forged 19' wheel with Michelin Alpin Pa-4's; 295x35R and 265x40F. We had our first snow here in NY yesterday and I took the car out last night to check them out--not a lot of snow but enough (roads totally covered) to get a feel--I was seriously impressed. Car handles better than my ML550 with Pirelli snows which I drove just before checking out the E63s. Car stopped and handled amazingly well. Very confidence inspiring. I find the 19" wheels with this tire (a high performance snow tire) gives up very little in performance--dragy 0-60 times very close to the PS4's and lateral grip is also very good. These tires have not dampened my right foot in the least. It has transformed the car w/r/t ride quality. The harsh, hard and noisy ride with the PS4's is greatly reduced and the car in some respects is more fun--without having to drive at 9-10/10ths you can move the rear around with the throttle. Don't get me wrong I want the PS4's when I am driving twisty back roads and on the track but for day to day fun the 19" wheel with deeper and softer side-walled tires is worth considering. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Last edited by amgliturbo; 01-20-2020 at 09:11 AM.
Reason: correction
ok but that means I’d need to get another set of wheels and tires. Besides, the AS/3+ is a great tire I think
Of course you need another set of tires if you're using the car in both summer and winter conditions.
It's not a very big cost compared to the price of the car..
I got the Mercedes winter tire package in November for under $3,100 after a $150 rebate (great deal). It is a forged 19' wheel with Michelin Alpin Pa-4's; 295x35R and 265x40F. We had our first snow here in NY yesterday and I took the car out last night to check them out--not a lot of snow but enough (roads totally covered) to get a feel--I was seriously impressed. Car handles better than my ML550 with Pirelli snows which I drove just before checking out the E63s. Car stopped and handled amazingly well. Very confidence inspiring. I find the 19" wheels with this tire (a high performance snow tire) gives up very little in performance--dragy 0-60 times very close to the PS4's and lateral grip is also very good. These tires have not dampened my left foot in the least. It has transformed the car w/r/t ride quality. The harsh, hard and noisy ride with the PS4's is greatly reduced and the car in some respects is more fun--without having to drive at 9-10/10ths you can move the rear around with the throttle. Don't get me wrong I want the PS4's when I am driving twisty back roads and on the track but for day to day fun the 19" wheel with deeper and softer side-walled tires is worth considering. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
I looked at this 19” set as well and was surprised at the reasonable cost, but alas, they’ve been sold out for a while now and no idea when they’ll be getting more stock in North America...maybe not until spring. I picked up my 2020 wagon at the end of December and need something now. The lower profile sidewall on my 20” PA4’s won’t ride QUITE as well as your 19’s, but they’ll still ride better than the stiff PS4’s and look better to boot IMO. Hopefully they wear better than crappy Pirelli snows, I’m sure they will, but I’ll only have them mounted for ~4mo/yr anyway.
I got the Mercedes winter tire package in November for under $3,100 after a $150 rebate (great deal). It is a forged 19' wheel with Michelin Alpin Pa-4's; 295x35R and 265x40F. We had our first snow here in NY yesterday and I took the car out last night to check them out--not a lot of snow but enough (roads totally covered) to get a feel--I was seriously impressed. Car handles better than my ML550 with Pirelli snows which I drove just before checking out the E63s. Car stopped and handled amazingly well. Very confidence inspiring. I find the 19" wheels with this tire (a high performance snow tire) gives up very little in performance--dragy 0-60 times very close to the PS4's and lateral grip is also very good. These tires have not dampened my left foot in the least. It has transformed the car w/r/t ride quality. The harsh, hard and noisy ride with the PS4's is greatly reduced and the car in some respects is more fun--without having to drive at 9-10/10ths you can move the rear around with the throttle. Don't get me wrong I want the PS4's when I am driving twisty back roads and on the track but for day to day fun the 19" wheel with deeper and softer side-walled tires is worth considering. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Hi! I’m from LI too. Was just thinking how the car would handle in the (little) snow we had yesterday. Great info! Thank you
I am considering this as I need to replace my 4S this week. Obviously, the disadvantage of A/S is having lower grip/traction limit but I am willing to sacrifice it as I only plan to keep my wagon for just 1 more year.
For the 20" setup. The rear can be matched with 295/30/20. The front, at the moment has no exact match but the closest is 255/35/20 which is about 1% off in deviation from 265/35/20.
I am considering this as I need to replace my 4S this week. Obviously, the disadvantage of A/S is having lower grip/traction limit but I am willing to sacrifice it as I only plan to keep my wagon for just 1 more year.
For the 20" setup. The rear can be matched with 295/30/20. The front, at the moment has no exact match but the closest is 255/35/20 which is about 1% off in deviation from 265/35/20.
New user here - looking at winter tire setup for my 2019 E63S wagon. Currently on 20" summer tires.
I've been offered a set of AMG rims - front 8J x ET20 and rears 9J x ET49.
Can anyone say whether the fronts will clear the callipers?
As far as I can see the stock 19" rims have the same offset, so should be OK?
Hi, just curious if you are considering going all season, why you do not consider the Bridgestone 980s which come in the stock 20 inch sizes? These are one of the most affordable tires in the stock size and I just got these and I am very impresses on how they sound and handle. I don't feel like I am giving up much on handling and the grip in wet whether will be MUCH better. This will be welcomed as well as the double tire life. Good luck!
01-18-2020, 02:50 PM
