Alternatives to Continentals on a C-class

[grpar]

Anyone know what other tyres you can (safely) use on a C-class, other than the Continental SportContact2s ... ? Don't want anything that will adversely affet handling or cause any problems (nor do I want specialist track day tyres or anything of that ilk). Just wondering if MB allows other tyre makes like Michelin or Bridgestone etc.... ?

 

[Blobcat]

As long as the speed and weight ratings are the same then any tyre is suitable. There have been many discussions on this forum regarding tyres and the only outcome appears to be fit what you like as everyone appears to have differing opinions

 

[television]

Yesterday I spent spraying up the brake disc and genral cleaning and I thought that I would send the wheels away to be re furbished and fitted the new standard wheels that I had spare (255 45 17") after a short run I was not impressed with the jelly like feeling, so today I have put the AMG (285 35 18" /255 40 18") back to use up the remainder of the useful tread, and fit new ones when the wheels go away.
I had always been against tyres that have a narrow side wall, OK there has to be a middle of the road compromise, The car is back to its nice sure footed feeling.

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

Yesterday I spent spraying up the brake disc and genral cleaning and I thought that I would send the wheels away to be re furbished and fitted the new standard wheels that I had spare (255 45 17") after a short run I was not impressed with the jelly like feeling, so today I have put the AMG (285 35 18" /255 40 18") back to use up the remainder of the useful tread, and fit new ones when the wheels go away.
I had always been against tyres that have a narrow side wall, OK there has to be a middle of the road compromise, The car is back to its nice sure footed feeling.

Malcolm

Depends on your mood I guess. Took my Dad's E220 out to compare with mine. They are both Avantgards, so same setup aside from him having the standard 16'' wheels against my 17''. The ride was a little more jelly like, true, but also a lot smoother with the side walls taking up a lot more of the road imperfections than I would have expected. For general cruising up and down the motorway, I suspect they make more sense than mine. I was almost tempted to pick up a set of 16'' wheels off ebay - but it just doesn't look as good.

 

[Blobcat]

I was almost tempted to pick up a set of 16'' wheels off ebay - but it just doesn't look as good.

You can't see them when your driving. As you spend a lot more time driving than looking at it what is more important?

 

[television]

Depends on your mood I guess. Took my Dad's E220 out to compare with mine. They are both Avantgards, so same setup aside from him having the standard 16'' wheels against my 17''. The ride was a little more jelly like, true, but also a lot smoother with the side walls taking up a lot more of the road imperfections than I would have expected. For general cruising up and down the motorway, I suspect they make more sense than mine. I was almost tempted to pick up a set of 16'' wheels off ebay - but it just doesn't look as good.

Could it be individual cars as well, as you know I have always gone for comfort over looks. This new one of mine has the ABC suspension, so it gives a very different ride, it almost takes me back to my CX days, but those things had massive side walls. As you say, get some from Ebay, the 16" sell for half the price of the 17" Bide your time and you will get a bargain in a nice style that can mask the appearance of 16". Never know why Wheels in the US sell for under half the price of wheels here. Why not use 16" in the winter and 17" in the summer.

malcolm

 

[jberks]

You can't see them when your driving. As you spend a lot more time driving than looking at it what is more important?

That was always my view, hence I bought a 210 elegance last time, despite preferring the look of the avantgarde. Don't get me wrong, this one is still pretty comfortable, it's just that on occasion I miss the wallow of the old one, though not when going round corners. If I could run to it, an ABC equipped E with 17'' wheels and variable power steering would be about perfect, but I'll have to make do for now! (not exactly suffering mind!).

 

[Blobcat]

That was always my view, hence I bought a 210 elegance last time, despite preferring the look of the avantgarde. Don't get me wrong, this one is still pretty comfortable, it's just that on occasion I miss the wallow of the old one, though not when going round corners. If I could run to it, an ABC equipped E with 17'' wheels and variable power steering would be about perfect, but I'll have to make do for now! (not exactly suffering mind!).

We do get quite picky don't we. Very few of us started out in cars as nice as we have now, yet we can always find fault and look for something that bit better :roll:. I think we need to slum it for awhile to get our perspective back.
The problem I always find is that the new car price looks good but you have to have the £25K of options , when in reality you could live without all of them. The problem is that you get used to them. What was once a nice to have becomes a can't live without.

Hell of a problem to live with and there is no sympathy or support groups available.

 

[television]

The problem I always find is that the new car price looks good but you have to have the £25K of options , when in reality you could live without all of them. The problem is that you get used to them. What was once a nice to have becomes a can't live without.

Hell of a problem to live with and there is no sympathy or support groups available.

Interestingly with the new SL the only ones with everything are the 02 cars. I never saw a newer car fully loaded when I was looking. The odd later cars had just a couple of extras. I am not stupid when it comes to cars, but there are limits as to what I can absorb, accessing all the info is not easy. Tyre presure monitors and linguatronic, I could do without, Distronic,parktronic a must have, keyless go and Bose very nice.

Malcolm

I think that the the ones buying them new £87.650 loaded, just ordered everything, the next time round they realised that they did not ,or could not use it all and had the odd extra. Back to this thread most of the SL's are on 18" wheels, there are always loads of the Hoffman standard wheels on Ebay

 

[blassberg]

it almost takes me back to my CX days

ah :-D fond CX2400 Familiale Memories, 3 speed auto-clutch, 8 Seats.

 

[television]

ah :-D fond CX2400 Familiale Memories, 3 speed auto-clutch, 8 Seats.

They were great cars, you are reffering to the C-Matic gear box. The last one I had was full auto. I could upset biulders by getting a 3m length of worktop inside while they were strugling in a transit, even then they could not close the doors.
They drove in a straight line and you just sat there and corrected it
Malcolm