Tyres for a comfortable, smooth ride?

[Manc Rick]

My W213 came with 17” wheels and I’ve just bought MB 18” wheels, not because they are 18”, but because they were the style I wanted and were at the right price.

I now need 4 tyres for said wheels. My current tyres on the 17s are Goodyear Efficient Grip which I’ve always thought were fine, but having done a bit of research, I discover that almost every tyre option is XL extra load (including the Efficient Grips on my 17s) which I believe have tougher walls. I wonder whether only the XL tyres are suitable for the W213?

Anyway, my question is (if anyone can help), which tyres should I go for with pure comfort in mind? I want something that will at least to some extent absorb the impact of the horrific potholes on the roads and something that is fairly quiet and preferably with rim protectors and definitely not RF.

I’ve been considering Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 3, 5 or 6, some of which have rim protectors, but I’ve read that the 5s are more noisy than the older 3s.

Other than that I’m thinking maybe Michelin Pilot Sports?

Any tyres that stand out to members as being soft / comfortable and quiet?

Thanks

 

[Gazwould]

Most are evolutions , so the 6 .

 

[Blobcat]

You need a decent sidewall for comfort… that’s a challenge with 18” wheels

Drop the pressures to the minimum you can (safely) and that will improve the comfort in whatever tyres you fit.

Just check the load rating requirement’s and go with that. I don’t remember having XL load rating on my W213

 

[Craiglxviii]

I find that changing the car to an S Class gives a smooth quiet ride

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

You are correct most tyre offerings for 18in wheels at the speed rating you require are XL ie strengthened sidewalls. I find the MIchelin PS4 a good tyre which has a rim protector or you can pick the Goodyear F1 Assy 5 which has the lowest decibel rating - not much to choose between the top brands really. As BC above make sure you don’t over inflate them if you want the best ride.

 

[Noddy 99]

Fulda Sport Control 2.

 

[oigle]

Consider upping ypur aspect ratio by one level - eg. from 40 to 45 or 45 to 50. That will improve the ride somewhat.

 

[JBell]

I have Goodyear F1 Assymetric 6 in 18" on my W204, they have massive rim protection, great tyres, smooth and quiet

 

[Rotorhead500]

Goodyear, Dunlop & Uniroyal tend to do well for noise & comfort, as do Michelin at a price.

A left-field choice you may look at... Cooper Zeon CS. I put a full set of the Zeon 4XS on other half''s XC60 - completely transformed the car over the Continentals it wore previously. Smoother, quieter ride, better steering response, and felt more stable on wet roads. It's now wearing it's second set... my father's Freelander 2 on its third.

 

[SL63 Mark]

I really can't tell much difference in ride quality between any of the premium Tyre brands on a Merc. (Michelin/Continental/Pirelli etc).

It's the car that makes the difference - as Craig says, an S class is quieter than a Defender, no matter what rubber you put on it.

Our Defender has huge ballon tyres, 285/85 R16s, and still sounds like a bag of nails, with all the ride comfort and refinement of a camel.

My SL is rides on 19s, with 285/30s on the rear and is very smooth and quiet. (unless you poke the loud pedal)

 

[Blobcat]

I really can't tell much difference in ride quality between any of the premium Tyre brands on a Merc. (Michelin/Continental/Pirelli etc).

It's the car that makes the difference - as Craig says, an S class is quieter than a Defender, no matter what rubber you put on it.

Our Defender has huge ballon tyres, 285/85 R16s, and still sounds like a bag of nails, with all the ride comfort and refinement of a camel.

My SL is rides on 19s, with 285/30s on the rear and is very smooth and quiet. (unless you poke the loud pedal)

That’s the tyre blocks on the Landy making the noise, the more off road focussed the worse they are for noise - 85 section makes for a comfortable ride though

 

[Craiglxviii]

I really can't tell much difference in ride quality between any of the premium Tyre brands on a Merc. (Michelin/Continental/Pirelli etc).

It's the car that makes the difference - as Craig says, an S class is quieter than a Defender, no matter what rubber you put on it.

Our Defender has huge ballon tyres, 285/85 R16s, and still sounds like a bag of nails, with all the ride comfort and refinement of a camel.

My SL is rides on 19s, with 285/30s on the rear and is very smooth and quiet. (unless you poke the loud pedal)

You’re now reminding me of Terry Pratchett’s description of a camel, running at speed.

(For those unfamiliar, You B******* is the name of the camel, and in the Discworld series, camels are the greatest mathematicians there are- the time they spend chewing is actually pondering the mathematical realm.)

 

[Manc Rick]

You are correct most tyre offerings for 18in wheels at the speed rating you require are XL ie strengthened sidewalls. I find the MIchelin PS4 a good tyre which has a rim protector or you can pick the Goodyear F1 Assy 5 which has the lowest decibel rating - not much to choose between the top brands really. As BC above make sure you don’t over inflate them if you want the best ride.

That’s what I was thinking, but on the tyre websites, for my wheel size, the Assy 5 is 71db whereas the Assy 3’s are either 69db without XL and without rim protector or 70db with. Some Assy 3’s are MO (Merc) and most are not.

Some Assy 5s are A rated for fuel and some are B rated… I didn’t realise the same tyre model / same size can have varying specs. Makes it even more difficult.

I’d go with Assy 5 if it weren’t for the higher Db rating, so I’m leaning towards Assy 3 which is more expensive (despite being an older tyre).

 

[Manc Rick]

Also, I’m seeing :

GY Assy 3 - Merc van
GY Assy 3 - BMW
GY Assy 3 - Merc

Is there really a difference between the same tyre with different manufacturer OE names?

Assuming there is, anyone know what the difference is?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

If a MO tyre is offered by a manufacturer it has slightly different build characteristics regarding profile and tread to enhance handling apparently so better to stick with it

 

[DSK]

In recent years the Goodyear Eagle F1 and Michelins Pilot Sport in their latest guises have come along way in delivering an exceptional level of performance and being sublime on the motorway, along with performing well to around the 1.8mm region.

I haven’t tried Any Conti’s after the Sport contact 3 and some time ago they were that but more sublime in terms of motorway cruising (and getting the back end back in more sublimely) that the Eagle /Pilot of that era. I’d expect them to still be great in this area but have never delivered the outright performance that the Goodyear and Michelin do.

Based on what you say you nerd I’d say look for a premium brand with the lowest DB rating.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mioba]

ahhh a good old tyre thread.
Pump your tyre size into one of the myriad tyre sites and compare the specs (noise, fuel, stopping distance) and go from there.

 

[JBell]

That’s what I was thinking, but on the tyre websites, for my wheel size, the Assy 5 is 71db whereas the Assy 3’s are either 69db without XL and without rim protector or 70db with. Some Assy 3’s are MO (Merc) and most are not.

Some Assy 5s are A rated for fuel and some are B rated… I didn’t realise the same tyre model / same size can have varying specs. Makes it even more difficult.

I’d go with Assy 5 if it weren’t for the higher Db rating, so I’m leaning towards Assy 3 which is more expensive (despite being an older tyre).

Assy 6

The fuel and noise ratings change depending on load rating etc

 

[5w155t0ny]

Goodyear, Dunlop & Uniroyal tend to do well for noise & comfort, as do Michelin at a price.

A left-field choice you may look at... Cooper Zeon CS. I put a full set of the Zeon 4XS on other half''s XC60 - completely transformed the car over the Continentals it wore previously. Smoother, quieter ride, better steering response, and felt more stable on wet roads. It's now wearing it's second set... my father's Freelander 2 on its third.

Seconded on the Uniroyals.
Got a full new set on the CLK couple of months ago and the car rides nicely and there is not a lot of road noise.
Good price as well through Asda tyres with fitment at local Formula1

 

[mioba]

Seconded on the Uniroyals.
Got a full new set on the CLK couple of months ago and the car rides nicely and there is not a lot of road noise.
Good price as well through Asda tyres with fitment at local Formula1

I got tyres through Asda at a very good price. I was not impressed with formula one when he got the rattle gun out to tighten the bolts. Put it down and get your torque wrench out I said.