Which tyres?????????

[Scissorwoman]

I need a new passenger side tyre.....but I have a dilemma....do I replace only one or do I do both???? One is knackered and the other has a good few thousand miles left in it....best do both????

Second dilemma.......what sort of tyres.....suggestions welcome.

I do mainly motorway miles, so relatively high speed D), got alot of expense on at the mo, so dont wanna be spending a months salary on tyres but by the same token I don't want crapola!!!

Don't wanna take the advice of tyre places cos I don't trust 'em!!! Much prefer taking the advice of the good people on here who know and adore their Mercs.....

 

[a6jus]

Hi
I would be inclined to change both, or if you have a full size spare that has not been used. how about using that one and replacing with the half decent front tyre?
You would only have to pay for one tyre and two wheel balances and valves!

 

[Myros]

definitely both

and depending on the wear on your other two, you might end up with all four, as I did. Go for the same make and spec, if you are happy with the ones you have already. If not, you might have trouble if you put two different tyres on either the front or the rear axles.

See the various threads on tyre types we had running a couple of weeks ago.
Money where mouth is, I'm running Barum Bravuris on my 500SL and my C280, and they are easily as good as the Michelin Pilot Primacy they replaced, and about 60% of the cost.

 

[jberks]

It depends on how many is a good few miles. - Ideally match tyres across axles and then front to back - but it really isn't that critical unless your name is Shumacker.

In reality, if one tyre is at say 5mm and the other is shot, then I'd be tempted to simply replace the worn one. At the end of the day, it's going to a better situation than you're in at the moment just by virtue of the fact that you replaced a worn tyre with a new one, and the disparity between then will be either unchanged or improved. People get scared of a mismatch but I believe its all rather silly. If the road surface where each tyre lands was identical then fair enough, but with camber, road repairs, puddles etc, each tyre is in a different situation at any point anyway. Provided they are all in acceptable condition, irrespective of make, you're 99% of the way there.

As far as front to rear matching goes, the dealer replaced the rear tyres on my car when I bought it and they were a different make to the fronts. I never found a problem.

When money was no object, I tended to replace all 4 with top of the range stuff all at the same time. (4 Continentals please) Now, I'm starting to be a bit more canny and have not yet found a downside.

After getting quotes of £150+ per corner for big brands (I needed 4), I've fitted Federals to my E class for around £80 each. Grip is excellent and they are quieter that the originals too. I am told that they may only last half as long as the Continentals but so far the Jury still is out and they seem to be coping with the mileage very well. The way I look at it, if they only last 50% of the time of the originals then it's borderline, but if as I suspect, we are looking at 75-80% then they are better value and I'd rather have new tyres more often, than live with worn ones for longer, especially if it's cheaper into the bargain.

Don't go for really cheap ones, but Khumo, Federal etc are the upper budget brands and are really rather good.

 

[Scissorwoman]

Cheers for all your advice....very much appreciated...

I'm gonna do both front ones (rear are excellent..they were replaced when I bought the car in Feb)....I've decided to go for the Pirelli P6000....I found out I can get a 20% discount with Kwikfit via my work....so not going to be the nightmare I envisaged...!!!

 

[nialler]

Just replaced my ones on the S320 with Kumo's, excellent tyre and up to €100 cheaper than the continentals. Wanted Federals but they didn't import them at that size into the country.

 

[Slaphead]

Just replaced my ones on the S320 with Kumo's, excellent tyre and up to €100 cheaper than the continentals. Wanted Federals but they didn't import them at that size into the country.

Where did ye get those Nialler? I put Dunlops on the wife's 200te for €80 each last week.

 

[mstar]

for all round ability Dunlop Sport Sp 01 A's are my reccomendation