SLK Tyres

[Stafford]

Hi,

I have a SLK320 SE late 2002. I am about to fit new tyres and would appreciate any recommendations. My car is fitted with 7.5J x17 wheels and 225/45/17 tyres all round. Currently I have Continental Contact Sport but I find them prone to tramlining and hard riding although the handling and grip is good wet and dry.
I favour Michelin Pilot Sport 2 or Goodyear Eagle F1. Anybody have experience of these or other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[television]

Hello and welcome to the forum,,the conti's are a very good tyre and I am wondering if the tracking is a little out to make it tram line

 

[Stafford]

Nope, I had it checked recently and its spot on; I've always found the SLK a tad prone to tramlining but it's not a big problem. I guess I just fancy a change; I only do about 3000 miles a year in this car so tyre wear is not an issue. I have always used Michelins on my Historic rally Porsche 356 so I guess I have a soft spot for them. I used to rally a 280SL Pagoda which was fitted with Continentals but switched to Bridgestones after some very scary moments in the Alps! Maybe I just haven't been to lucky with them!

Thanks, any thoughts on alternative options?

 

[dave.robbo]

I would say the tramlining is down to the width of the tyres and the track width. Nothing to do with the (make of) tyres themselves.

 

[television]

Stay with a premium make and maybe go for a V tread rather than the straight in line pattern, I find them slightly noisier though.

The Pilot sport has a good name, as does the primacy HP.

The Dunlop SP sport fast response is also good, maybe the good year eagle F1 will be the best.

Its all very subjective

 

[Uncle Benz]

I have always had Michelin Pilot sport on my SLK and C32. Recently I was unable to get Mich's in a hurry and have Continental Conti Sport on the C32. The grip in the dry is superior to the Mich, but wet performance is not so good, which surprised me as I had always believed Contis to be sold more as a wet weather tyre...

I have never rated the Goodyear F1 very highly. In my experience they have a tendency to crack within the bottom of the treads if used hard.

I am sure many will disagree with me, but the same tyres can be very different from one type of car to another.

17's on SLK's always feel a bit trammy - just the way they are. If you don't like it, fit 16's...

 

[Stafford]

Thanks guys, yes Dave I tend to agree, wide tyres and a short wheelbase are probably the main cause; Malcolm, I was wondering whether a V tread would be a good option, but your comment re noise is something to be considered...hmm

 

[antijam]

I have the same car, albeit running on 18’s shod with Pirelli P Zero Rosso’s and also suffer tramlining – particularly at low speed – and a harsh ride. Certainly the large wheels and consequent low aspect ratio tyre are the root of the problem, and while I’m loath to change the (very expensive) wheels I’m also wondering if directional stability might be improved with a different tread pattern (I doubt that the ride can be improved without reducing the wheel size.)

The causes of tramlining are a complex subject, but there is a suggestion that tyres with a pronounced circumferential or directional tread pattern are more prone to the condition than those with a more radially orientated grooving.

Interestingly, the Continentals on yours and the Pirellis on mine have not dissimilar tread patterns featuring strong circumferential grooving.

For many years I ran an Alfa Romeo 156 with Goodyear Eagle F1’s . These were excellent in all respects – good life, excellent grip, sharp turn-in and no hint of tramlining – although these were on 16" wheels. I’ve not used them on an SLK.
The F1’s and also the Michelin Pilot Sports that you are considering both feature a more radially disposed tread pattern which just might ameliorate the tramlining.

My own tyres still have some considerable life left but for future reference I would be interested to know what you go for and whether they give any improvement.

 

[Stafford]

Valuable advise, Uncle Benz and Antijam, thanks. I agree, big wheels and low aspect tyres are always going to contribute to tramlining and a harsh ride but the better handling is worth paying the price. I find the faster the car is travelling the better the ride becomes. Your point about tread patterns is very interesting Antijam, I am still tending towards the Michelin Pilot Sport; Uncle Benz, if your were replacing the tyres now on your SLK, given you have had experience with both Mich and Conti recently, which would get your vote?

 

[Juddian]

Goodyear F1's, my opinion, a superb tyre with superior wet grip, lovely easy handling and reasonably quiet...

once warm that is, the first few cold miles will see wheelspin easily provoked and it will take a few miles to iron out the flat spots where the tyre has stood, not a huge problem for the high mileage driver but it is for someone using the car on short commutes.

Its so annoying that i have 4 x 225/45 x 17 F1's almost new sitting in my garage, they have been replaced by Toyo T1R's which have none of the above problems, but are fairly noisy, you just can't have everything.

 

[The Rock]

My wife used to own the 230k version but only had the standard 16" wheels.
Interestingly you state that you have 7.5J wheels front and back, but I'm pretty sure the standard front wheels are 7J and the rears 8J. This meant that the front tyres were 205 55 R16 and the rears were 225 50 R16.
Do you think your tramlining might be due to your front tyres/wheels being a bit too wide? That's where I'd look first. Perhaps you could borrow someone else's front wheels for a test.

Rock

 

[television]

My wife used to own the 230k version but only had the standard 16" wheels.
Interestingly you state that you have 7.5J wheels front and back, but I'm pretty sure the standard front wheels are 7J and the rears 8J. This meant that the front tyres were 205 55 R16 and the rears were 225 50 R16.
Do you think your tramlining might be due to your front tyres/wheels being a bit too wide? That's where I'd look first. Perhaps you could borrow someone else's front wheels for a test.

Rock

Interesting thought though most wheels were staggered, a few were not

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/information/fitting_chart/mercedes-benz

 

[Uncle Benz]

Since you ask, I would put the Michelin on it again. I don't really have the time or inclination to experiment with it, but the Michelin do the job, provide reliable and predictable performance in all the conditions I am likely to encounter during its summer only usage. They have never disappointed, so why change them??

As an aside, I will not be fitting Conti's to my C32 again either.

Michelin bore, me!!

 

[davidsl500]

I have Eagle F1-GSD3 on the SL and I personally rate them better than my previous Pilot Sports. Excellent in the wet as well and just love the tread pattern !!

 

[rf065]

I have the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's also, I rate them better than the original Conti's and certainly better than the Bridgestone Potenzas which were not very good in the wet.

Also look at Vredesteins, they have been taking first place in a lot of tyre tests over the last few years, and are very good tyres.

Russ

 

[The Rock]

As we're on the subject, I wouldn't fit Goodyear Eagle F1s to a W210 again - they last about 5 minutes on 18" AMGs. Seriously, if you get more than 20K out of a set you're doing well. I can get 26K from Ventus (Hankook) tyres and they're cheaper too.

Currently I'm running Runway Enduro 916s (Very cheap, a bit noisy but good mileage). I can't really comment on road holding because I'm a cruiser not a bruiser. I've just put a pair of Pirelli PZero Rossos on the rear (purely because the Runways are just a tad too harsh for my liking, if I'm honest and I thought I'd try something completely different) and I'm hoping for good things. If they don't give me any noticeable improvement on mileage I think I will go back to the Ventus's.

Michelin's were over £190 each last lime I looked so that's a non-starter for me. The Runways were £86, Ventus's £125 and Pirellis £150.

Good luck with your SLK.

Rock

 

[rhud]

A150 Classic SE with 15" steel wheels - 90 per cent pottering about on indifferent roads. Anyone any tyre recommendations for me, please, with the emphasis on comfort?

 

[television]

I have been searching every site for the last 2 weeks for tyres for my new 19" wheels on the SL. Kwik fit on line are the cheapest by a long way. One just prints off the on line price and take it to any branch where they will then honor that price.

As the side wall height goes down the larger the wheels I have opted to go down from 285 x 30 to 275 x 35 on the rear, this give another 8mm in height, and for the front I have gone down from 255 x 35 to 245 x 40. the basic same cars comes with 255 x 45 all round. I do not think that the 8mm will make much difference size wise, but the risk of rim damage should be lessened

 

[MarkCL]

Hi Malcolm - have you tried Protyre? http://www.protyre.co.uk - always seem to be the best for me I've found so might be worth a check?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[television]

Thanks Mark,,I have done one check with the nearest one to me and the prices are good, and I am waiting to see if they can offer a 98+ load index. They mainly do the Dunlop

Waiting for a call back