Tyred out

[JonA4]

I discovered a 3" nail in my rear tyre for my C200k Sport (225/40/17 W Continental Contact 2 MO) the other day so it was off to my local Nation tyre center. What a surprise, it's a special Merc spec tyre at a cost of £191 and they would have to order one. So on I went to a small indy, again out of stock and a cost of £200. I eventually went to Kwikfit who, again, they hadn't got one in but did their very best to get me one within a few hours. Three hours later it was fitted and they did a really good price of £150 fitted!

Top marks Kwikfit. They didn't even scratch my wheel either.

 

[rf065]

You would probably have got the same tyre for less than £100 from mytyres or etyres.co.uk

Edit:
mytyres, £90.70 plus fitting
etyres, £100.70 fully fitted

Russ

 

[The German Flower Pot]

i always goto mytyres

18" falken 452's for £71 each inc P&P

 

[grpar]

Presumably you mean 225-45-R17 91W ... ?

Event tyres would have fitted one at your home / office for £110.00.
Etyres would have done the same for £101 (non MO badged).

 

[Dinnie]

i always goto mytyres

18" falken 452's for £71 each inc P&P

You'll need to pay fitting on top, about £8 to £12 (will include disposal of old tyre).

What does the MO stand for and is it necessary to purchase one with MO for a MB? Presumably M for Mercedes.

 

[jberks]

MO is Mercedes Original Equipment but this normally means that either the tyre is exactly the same as a non MO one (only more money) or its a slightly softer compound so doesn't last as well (rides nicely though which is why MB fit them - that plus the fact that they'll get them cheap because of all the people who'll then buy them as replacements.

In reality non premium brands are equally as good (Falken, Khumo, Federa etc) and cost 1/2 as much.
Mine - Mytyres again - Federal 245/45/ZR17 £73 fitted - Great grip, nice ride and the last set lasted the same mileage as the previous continentals.

 

[Copydeck]

My 320 coupe was fitted with Fate tyres which are Argentinian when I bought it. As it was a new set I will keep them and so far no dramas. They make tyres for Continental in Germany apparently.

 

[JonA4]

Wow, I didn't think there was that much choice!!! I was under the impression I had to stick with the very expensive MO Conts. I guess when I need to change two tyres it's back on line I go.

Thanks for all your help. I couldn't find the mytyres web address though?

 

[rf065]

Wow, I didn't think there was that much choice!!! I was under the impression I had to stick with the very expensive MO Conts. I guess when I need to change two tyres it's back on line I go.

Thanks for all your help. I couldn't find the mytyres web address though?

mytyres.co.uk or
etyres.co.uk

Russ

 

[jberks]

Wow, I didn't think there was that much choice!!! I was under the impression I had to stick with the very expensive MO Conts.

You and a great many others - which is why they do it. Conti provide tyres to MB at very little or possibly nothing, knowing that lots of owners will insist that the tyres fitted remain standard. Hence lots of after market sales.

I fell for this too a few years ago. bought a 3 year old C class that had Pirelli P600s on it. So, I insisted on the same when they wore out. A few weeks later I looked at the spare to find it was a completely different make. Who knows what it was delivered with. At that point I realised it didn't actually matter. So long as they are decent you'll be fine. There are lots of reviews and comments on the web these days, you just have to do a bit more homework . I tend to do what I do with computer bits. Look at the price range available (£40-£150 for my car) and aim for around the middle. I aimed for around £60-£100 and in my case, one of the cheaper end options seemed to get better reviews that many of the more expensive options. So far - 25,000 miles, no complaints, though I'm told that the smart money is on Khumo and they do ride a little softer so i may get them next time.

 

[colinallcars]

Kwik-Fit are doing an offer on Continentals at the moment (ends 24 May) - 30% off if you buy 4. Brings them in under the etyres prices for most sizes.

 

[joem]

Costco are the best option for Michelin, they are the biggest Michelin reseller in the UK.

However, I think that unless you have a high performance front wheel drive car, budget tyres are the best and cheapest option. - Avon appear to be the best value for grip, quietness and wear. I have also used Nexen which are cheaper and grippy but a bit too noisy.

My C200k estate has had Avons for 10k miles and are at 4.0mm on the rear and 5.5mm on the front. They remain grippy and very quiet.

I have only had bad experiences with Continentals.

 

[JonA4]

I must be honest, when buying tyres I would always look at the big Contis, Mitch's, B'stone etc first because I know these names. What I have now learned is that these are not always the best option.

Could we start a list of the best of the rest? The lesser known makes that we are all happy with?

 

[rf065]

One make which seems to come first or second in most recent tyre tests are Vredestein. I use them for winter tyres and would have no hesitation buying them for summer tyres too as long as the price was right.

Russ

 

[jberks]

Vredestein are very good. Seem to last well too, though whether I'd class them as budget I don't know. Cheaper than Conti though.
One obvious one is Khumo which are well regarded and I'm on my 2nd set of Federals though they seem to be getting tricky to get hold of which is odd considering I was offered them as an alternative to the khumos I asked for.

 

[darrenb1707]

I must be honest, when buying tyres I would always look at the big Contis, Mitch's, B'stone etc first because I know these names. What I have now learned is that these are not always the best option.

Could we start a list of the best of the rest? The lesser known makes that we are all happy with?

Falkens always seem to get a good review. I'm intending to put them on mine soon. I recently bought a wheel and tyre package and it came with Nankangs (allegedly who are made by Yokohama). They are cr*p.....fine for grip but the tyre noise is horrendous!! :sad:

 

[jayeastanglia]

nankangs are well known by tyre fitters to be rubbish and hard rubber..Vredestein are ok tyre a little soft compound which is good for grip but not so good for wear leval..A harder compound will make the tyre last longer but at the expense of grip.
I like kumho and falken tyres personally
And yes I am a mobile tyre fitter who knows what he is on about.
also it does pay to ring several people as some will say whats you cheapest so far never let on until they give u a price if theres is dearer then say so a few places will not bring the price down to match but will now throw in wheel alignment which is worthwhile if u are going to have 4 tyres fitted

 

[moosehead]

I've been running Kumho's on the wifes SLK and previous Ford Cougar for the last 5-6 years. I replaced the original Conti rears on my C Class at 15K miles with Kumho KU19s (assymetric). Excellent tyres but they only acheived 14K miles. I subsequently spoke to Kumho UK and they recommended the KU31s (directional). I now have them all round and having done 14K miles on the rears I wouldn't be surprised if I get 20K miles from them (the fronts are half worn). The KU31 seems to perform extremely well in wet and dry conditions and they are as quiet as the Contis. The best thing is they are half the price.

 

[jberks]

Vredestein are ok tyre a little soft compound which is good for grip but not so good for wear leval

And yes I am a mobile tyre fitter who knows what he is on about.

This proves the problem with personal opinion. I swapped the contis on my E240 for vredesteins and was particularly impressed with the way they lasted. From memory I did well over 25k on them and they had loads left when I sold the car - something I couldn't say for the contis. Hence I chalked them up as long lasting ...

 

[Myros]

So far I can't fault Barum Bravuris

I like them so much they are on all three of our motors now. They seem to do the job better than the Michelin Pilot premacy I was using before on the 202, and I certainly like them better than the Uniroyals which were on the SL, and I like them just as much as the Goodyear Eagle NCT5 which were on the 210.
My old Michelins, which I have knocking around for spares are starting to crack on the sidewalls and they are only 3-4 years old and have only done about 22,000. The tread is still ok at about 4.5mm.
They come in at about £58 a corner plus vat. Very Quiet and comfortable and grippy in the wet dry and cold. Made by Continental in France or Czech.