SL55 -- update and RIM/TYRE question.

ninjamagic

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SL55Mine.jpg It's been 2 months so far and I've done 2k miles -- and I LOVE IT! It's so powerful, it's insane! I still worry about the possible maintenance costs, but I got Alex Crow to take a look at it, and change the ABC fluid and he's ace.

It's taken a little while to get used to the power and hopefully she'll slide less now that the roads are drying out.

Anyway , the front tyres need changing and I guess soon enough the rear tyres will too.

I have two questions for you, dear forum:

1. Mercedes recommend Pirelli P Zeros. But that was back in 2002 and I guess that technology has moved on. Should I put Michelin Pilot sport 4s on there?

2. But also, I would kinda like the bigger SL65 19 inch split rims. So What kind of price am I looking at to get those changed and the speedometer re-adjusted. (Are they considered OEM and might buyers insist on the original 18" wheels?) Also, I guess I could sell the old wheels (although one has a bit of a scratch)

Decisions, decisions!

Thanks

Ninja
 

JBell

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1. Mercedes recommend Pirelli P Zeros. But that was back in 2002 and I guess that technology has moved on. Should I put Michelin Pilot sport 4s on there?

Goodyear Eagle Assymetric

Front
https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s4776p105421/Goodyear_Tyres_Car_Goodyear_Eagle_F1_Asymmetric_2_-_255_40_R18_99Y_XL_(MO)_FP_TL_Fuel_Eff_:_C_Wet_Grip:_B_NoiseClass:_2_Noise:_71dB

Rear
https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s4782p105402/Goodyear_Tyres_Car_Goodyear_Eagle_F1_Asymmetric_2_-_285_35_R18_97Y_(MO)_FP_TL_Fuel_Eff_:_E_Wet_Grip:_A_NoiseClass:_1_Noise:_71dB


2. But also, I would kinda like the bigger SL65 19 inch split rims. So What kind of price am I looking at to get those changed and the speedometer re-adjusted.

Thousands, for the wheels alone new would be £3k

Front Wheels: 8.5Jx19 ET30 fitted with 255/35 R19 96Y XL
Rear Wheels: 9.5Jx19 ET31 fitted with 285/30 R19 98Y X

The speedo wont require touching as you keep the rolling radius the same

(Are they considered OEM and might buyers insist on the original 18" wheels?)

If you put proper MB wheels on then they are an OEM fit, the ride will suffer though

Also, I guess I could sell the old wheels (although one has a bit of a scratch)

Yup, you could get about £1k back on them
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
I'd put on whichever tyres you have a liking for that come in the sizes you require. I certainly wouldn't necessarily stick with manufacturers suggestions.

Going to a bigger wheel doesn't require any changes as long as you reduce the tyre profile to suit. What counts is the total circumference of the tyre/wheel comination. However....
You will end up with a harsher riding car and be more prone to damage rims on one of the millions of potholes littering our roads.
 

flowrider

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I'm on 19" staggered AMG wheels and my ET's are 25 front and 28 rear. The wheels fill the arches very nicely.
 
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ninjamagic

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ET?
 

grayb

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Switching from ContiSports to Michelin Pilot Sports on our 911 was a huge improvement in steering feel and confidence. But it may be different on an SL...
 

Monday

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View attachment 42157

1. Mercedes recommend Pirelli P Zeros. But that was back in 2002 and I guess that technology has moved on. Should I put Michelin Pilot sport 4s on there?

My 2016 R231 SL was supplied on Pirelli P Zeros on 19" rims (as was my previous 2007 SL350 but on 18" rims) so MB's recommendation appears to still stand. But then manufacturers seem to fit whatever is to hand/cheapest current supplier deal. My last EClass was on Bridgestones, the current one on Michelin Primacy.
The 19" rims are also standard on the R231 but the suspension is presumably designed for them. The ride is firm as you would expect but not unduly so. I'm not clear that changing the tyre brand would make any significant difference to ride comfort?
 

LostKiwi

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I'm not clear that changing the tyre brand would make any significant difference to ride comfort?
He's also wanting to go 1" bigger on rim size and that will affect comfort.
Tyre can also affect it - Runflats for example ride notoriously hard and tyres with a softer sidewall (non-XL Uniroyal RS3s for example) give a plusher ride.
 

Monday

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He's also wanting to go 1" bigger on rim size and that will affect comfort.
Tyre can also affect it - Runflats for example ride notoriously hard and tyres with a softer sidewall (non-XL Uniroyal RS3s for example) give a plusher ride.

Fully agree the detrimental effect of increasing diameter over standard fit. But as wheel size inevitably increases with each new model (or so it seems) suspension appears to be designed accordingly. Thus the 2007 SL was on 18" P Zeros as standard, the 2016 SL400 is on 19" P Zeros as standard and the ride feels much the same. My new E300 coupe is on 19" Michelin Primacy Run flats and the ride is very supple indeed in spite of that but not quite as "armchair" as the preceding E350 on 18" Bridgestones. But then the coupe has more sporting pretensions - or so MB assure me,,,,,, so that is more down to suspension I suspect. But a trial run in a similar E300 with 20" Run flats did not feel a lot different.

So, yes, changing rim size, or substantially changing tyre characteristics (eg runflats from that which the manufacturer originally fitted seems likely to be detrimental, not to mention expensive, as was pointed out above.
 
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ninjamagic

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Okay - I think I'll stick with the 18" wheels for now.

So the question is: Which tyres to get? And are run flats worth it (do they even work with this car, so TPS need to be calibrated differently?) -- do they add unnecessary weight to an already heavy car -- or piece of mind to a driver who has no spare wheel?!
 

John Laidlaw

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Forget runflats,horrible ride with questionable benefits...
Goodyear assymetrics as mentioned , Michelin PS4 , Vredestein ultrac vorti I’m sure others are good....
 
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ninjamagic

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I think I will go for the Goodyear assymetrics. Thanks everybody!
 

Monday

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Forget runflats,horrible ride with questionable benefits...
..

Agreed, I wouldn't have runflats if I had a choice in the matter. But with the suspension designed to cater for them, they seem OK. And some peace of mind now that there is no spare? That said, with two E Class over 6 years, one with a spacesaver and one with an AdBlue tank (very reassuring), never needed to use either. Hope I haven't shot myself in the foot.......
 

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