Go In Snow??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rmmagow · #1 12-05-2005, 09:14 PM

1983 300D w123
I'm planning to buy 4 new snow tires for this car. How is the 300D in the snow with snow tires? I'm not going to stud them since I'm in RI and the roads are not iced up all winter. I have two choices, my rear drive Mercedes or my rear drive Mazda. The Mazda had 4 new snows about 5 years or so ago and if I remember right it helped quite a bit. How much weight should I put in back. I generally like to carry kitty litter since it'll help with traction too if needed. Mostly, I'm asking those of you who need to drive these in really crappy weather, do the snows make a world of difference on these cars. I used it last winter on not very great regular tires and got into a lot of trouble a couple of times. Going to use 195/70 14s. Firestone winterforce tires.
Thanks for any and all advice.

buyabsellonebay · #2 12-05-2005, 09:35 PM

Snow tires are worth the money. I run four studded on all my vehicles. I keep them mounted on their own rims and don't put them on till I need to and take them off as soon as I don't anymore. They last me for years. For you I would use Nokia hakkapalita or Brigstone Blizzacks. They give you the proformance of a studded tire without the studs. They both are great tires, not cheap but worth the money. You have the right idea with the narrow tires. They perform better in the snow. A bag of sand in the trunk is a good idea. I don't use any extra weight back there the car is heavy enough. I pull my two snowmobiles with my 300d in the snow with no trouble.

will66 · #3 12-05-2005, 10:13 PM

I recommend the Bridgestone Blizzacks. I have run them on my 83 240D for 2 winters, and this year put them on my 83 300SD. They make a huge difference, and I cannot image trying to get through winter without them.

300TD · #4 12-05-2005, 10:27 PM

I have run snow tires on my 300TD for the last three years. I had Firestones for two years. They were worn out this season so I now have Michelin X-ICE. Today was my first day with them on the car. Highway ride is great with no extra road noise. The car with snow tires handles very well in any snow. We'll see about the new tires in the morning - prediction is 3"-5".

Since putting snow tires on our three cars, I would not go through a winter without them. The other tires are Blizzaks on a Subaru Wagon (2wd) and Michelin Arctic Alpins on my son's Honda Civic. All are on dedicated rims.
I picked up a set of alloy rims from the scrap yard for $125.00.

Checking your post - those are the same Firestone Tires that I had. I would have gotten them again, but Costco does not carry them.

Hope this helps.

Paul

t walgamuth · #5 12-05-2005, 11:26 PM

i always buy all season michelin tires. and in a 300d you need a hundred pounds in the back to really go good in the snow. i have never bought snow tires. but i always keep good tread on my tires and never go wider than stock. narrow tires are best in snow.

studs are long ago made illegal here. to hard on the roads.

dont put salt in the trunk. sand is best. or other heavy objects like extra wheels with tires on them. course if you have four wheels in the trunk you dont have much room for anything else.

the most important thing is to have a little more weight in the back than on the front tires. if you have more on the front snow tires wont help that much.

tom w

KPMB82 · #6 12-06-2005, 12:11 AM

I run a set of 4 Nokian WRs year round. They are severe weather rated and have an 80k mile warranty. I have 2, 70lb tubes of sand in the trunk. So far they have been great in the snow and other weather we get here in Denver. For what it's worth. By the way Discount Tire ordered them for me at a good price. Good luck.

MikeL · #7 12-06-2005, 12:37 PM

Don't drive in the snow in New England without them if you absolutely have to get where you are going and there's snow on the road..I've been using (cheap) Dunlop Graspics ($50 each from tirerack as I recall) for 4 years now from Dec to March on dedicated bundt wheels. They aren't hi-tech (and are less than 1/2 worn) but have an aggressive block pattern. I use bags of water softener crystals for weight since I already have them. Add 100-150 lbs in the trunk stacked as far forward as possible (or more if there's really deep snow), keep a full tank of fuel, and the results are amazing. Once the roads are cleared, take the weight out. I haven't got stuck yet and I've commuted long distances in all sorts of winter conditions. Even experimented on some dirt hills in the backyard with 300lbs of weight in the trunk and 8" of snow on the ground and couldn't believe the traction and climbing ability.

MikeL

jaoneill · #8 12-06-2005, 04:36 PM

My 190D, with aggressive all seasons on the front, snows on the rear and 150 lbs of sand over the rear wheels is as stable as any car half again its weight and will climb hills in the snow better than most front wheel drives with all seasons.

With over 40 years experience driving in snow country (averaging over 40K miles a year) I would caution all not to make the common mistake of running half worn all season tires in combination with snows on the drive wheels. All four tires should be close to equal. I have seen the results of this many many times, most recently last Friday, when a close friend spun 4 times and ended up upside down against a tree; needless to say that it totaled his car. He had just put new snows on the drive wheels and left the half whipped all seasons on the rear.

Jim