SL V8 RWD Owners... is it safe to floor it?

[ChrisMisc]

Hi

I only got my SL 500 on Monday.. its a 2016 facelift model. On my drive home which was 4h of motorway I put my foot down a couple times in comfort mode and one time where i put it down all the way quickly the back wheels slide sideays a bit, i released in panic then the car locked straight immediately but it shook me a little to actually put the pedal to the floor.

In Sport or Sport+ I haven't even dared to put the "pedal to the metal" yet. I have done this before in a 2020 C63s and a 2023 BMW M4 and it was fine... but both are 4WD.

Can somebody here who has or does do that give me some advice?

Thanks in advance

 

[Alastairp]

What tyres and what condition will have significant influence

 

[AlanGunn]

As above tyres are my bet.
Often see car adverts saying 4 new tyres just fitted and yes they are new but the lowest priced ditch finders they could find just to sell the car.

 

[DSK]

Exactly the above, if you have experience of high performance cars then this sounds like a tyre issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[00slk]

It is a real misconception that cheap tyres are dangerous, if they were so bad the AA and powers to be would have stopped the manufacture and sales of them long ago.
I run the cheapest tyres money can buy on everyone of my cars. I have also had the most expensive tyres that money can buy and the only different I have found is, it costs you up to triple the amount to replace them when a darn nail goes through them or you hit a pothole and burst the tyre.
Different tyres have different effects on the road surfaces, whether wet, dry, snow or icy conditions, tyres can even change their characteristics' once they have covered a few miles. Tyre pressures can also have a detrimental effect on performance.
I have made my SL55 light up the rears with the Continental's top tyre (£156 each) and I can make it light up with the Acclerar (£50 each) tyre fitted on it now. A lot of crashes happen because of inattention and inexperience (speed), drug and alcohol.
I can say all this because of my experience (I was once on ambulance service too)

Long live the ditchfinder

 

[Rotorhead500]

Condition of tyres (including pressures) along with how abruptly you hit the accelerator, are probably biggest contributors. (Road conditions, obviously, play their part).

I could floor (albeit briefly, in the dry) the pedal in my old C63 if i did it progressively. If I just stamped on it, then it was fishtail time. Auto gearbox kick-down makes this worse.

Takes some time with the car, get a feel for it, and be smooth, especially earl on.

 

[grayb]

This independent expert tests ditchfinders along side premium tyres. I know which I would choose to put on a powerful car...

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test - Tyre reviews and ratings

It's the 2022 Tyre Reviews Ultra Ultra High Performance Summer Tyre Test! You can watch the video here, or scroll down for the full write up and data! In this tyre test, I'll be testing ten of the ...

www.tyrereviews.com

 

[sl500amgsport]

I have 6 years experience living with the R231 SL500, yes it is safe to Floor it in sport mode on a dry day/straight stretch of road, the back does briefly struggle for grip before traction control kicks in.

The trick is to lock your elbows to your side, brace the neck for the snap of the Gforce, then work on removing that smile from your face ;-).

Female passengers tend to scream and male ones usually exclaim "f****ng h**l!". Well that's my experience of the V8 neck snapping roar.

The AMG I have now has same performance on paper from a 6 cylinder 4wd, and has a great soundtrack but the drama is 50% of that from the SL, enjoy your wolf in sheep clothing and look out for MacLarens, (I beat one coming off a roundabout once) at full throttle!

 

[brandwooddixon]

Tyres may be an issue, but if this is your first rear wheel drive car then you lack of experience in how they handle may also be an issue.
Once you're used to it you'll find the experience more rewarding.
With all of the power being sent to the rear tyres it can be easy to push them beyond their levels of grip. A rear wheel drive car will tend towards oversteer but this means that you have more control on the steering as you can balance the power applied with the steering angle to improve turn in, whereas front and four wheel drive generally have a tendency towards understeer.
Still there's a reason why F1 drivers tend to apply most of the power when the steering angle is straight ahead.

In the meantime you can rule out worn rear subframe bushes. If in a straight line gentle application and removal of power causes the car to veer left or right then they may be worn.

 

[SL63 Mark]

As above tyres are your issue. I have recently replaced the rather worn Continentals that were on the car when I bought it, with Michelin Pilot Sport PS4S.

the difference is night and day, the car puts the power down much more securely, wet and dry.

 

[ChrisMisc]

Thank you for all your comments and advice. Absolute legends!

@sl500amgsport That's really funny thanks!

Can somebody give me goodtyre recommendations that wouldn't cost over £400 for a full set? Or am I being a cheap skate?

 

[EmilysDad]

Thank you for all your comments and advice. Absolute legends!

@sl500amgsport That's really funny thanks!

Can somebody give me goodtyre recommendations that wouldn't cost over £400 for a full set? Or am I being a cheap skate?

I've no idea of the tyre sizes on your car but I'd expect that £400 would only buy you 2 decent tyres ...... even EmilysMum's 1600 C3 has £100 a corner tyres

 

[SL63 Mark]

Thank you for all your comments and advice. Absolute legends!

@sl500amgsport That's really funny thanks!

Can somebody give me goodtyre recommendations that wouldn't cost over £400 for a full set? Or am I being a cheap skate?

PS4s were over £1,000

£400 might buy tyres for a wheelbarrow, or ride on mower. You have a fast and powerful car, you need decent rubber.

 

[JBell]

Thank you for all your comments and advice. Absolute legends!

@sl500amgsport That's really funny thanks!

Can somebody give me goodtyre recommendations that wouldn't cost over £400 for a full set? Or am I being a cheap skate?

Check what you currently have on and the condition of them

Michelin PS4, Goodyear Eagle Assy 6 are both excellent but £400 will only get you the rears.

Depending where in Devon you are I can recommend a supplier

 

[SL63 Mark]

Check what you currently have on and the condition of them

Michelin PS4, Goodyear Eagle Assy 6 are both excellent but £400 will only get you the rears.

Depending where in Devon you are I can recommend a supplier

£400 won't even get the fronts for PS4s JB, prices have gone up sadly. My tyre place was struggling to source the right sizes. They quoted 3 weeks delivery, but they actually turned up within a week.

 

[JBell]

£400 won't even get the fronts PS4s JB, prices have gone up sadly. My tyre place was struggling to source the right sizes.

Tyres have gone up 7 times in the last 18 months, it's ridiculous

Tyre sizes should be

255/40R18 99Y XL
285/35R18 101Y

Front Goodyear Assy 5 £170- each and in MO

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s4776p201285/Goodyear_Tyres_Car_Goodyear_Eagle_F1_Asymmetric_5_255_40_R18_99Y_XL_%28MO%29_FP_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_A_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_71dB

 

[ChrisMisc]

I guess the answer was "Yes Chris.. you are being a cheap skate"

I live in Plymouth @JBell

Thanks again all, I'm starting to understand what i've actually bought!

 

[grayb]

I've just priced up a new set of tyres for the GT3:
Michelin Sport Cup2's £1500
Michelin PS4S £1050
Conti SportContact7 (as per the video review I linked earlier) £850

 

[sl500amgsport]

I used Pirelli (good grip) but moved to Michelin as the Pirellis had a fast wear rate, Michelin were a good balance..

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[Rotorhead500]

I've just put 2 x 285/30R20 Goodyear Eagle Asymmetrico 5 on the back of my... UnMerc... £480, all-in.

(Sorry @JBell - I ran out of time & energy to get across and see Ray before I depart tomorrow!) :-(