z rated snows, for 3 years now. Only drove less than 30,000 miles since 9/2014

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

I usually need to replace my Michelin tires due to dry rot before they get seriously worn down and i like to drive quickly if not (IMO) really fast .

I've had a fe that suffered edge wear from mis alignment or my bashing curbs but they grip well (no squealing noises, those come from my occasional passengers) and seem to wear like iron .

Unlike many, I keep a sharp eye on the tire pressures and tend to run slightly higher pressure than the label suggests .

Everyone should try chalking or striping their tires to discern the proper inflation pressure for their particular vehicle , loads and driving habits .

I've never had to reduce cold tire pressures, only raise them up .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I've used Michelin for over a 15 years. Never had an issue. They've always impressed me.

Now a moot point as sadly, Michelin has discontinued the 195/ 70 R13 tyre size, so your next best option is the Continental Ecocontact 6 (if available) - excellent tyre and it is made in the factory correct 175/ 80 R14 size.

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Why I will never do business with "DieselKraut" again

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-used-parts-sale-wanted/378935-why-i-will-never-do-business-dieselkraut-again.html

Cheap tires are a false economy, and potentially a hazard. Tires are the most important system on a vehicle. No, it's not the brakes or the steering, none of that does a thing if the tires aren't doing their job.

I recently drove my girlfriend to an absolutely vital doctor's appointment after an ice storm - drove on ice the entire way, see the attached photo. Made it to the appointment with zero problems. I wouldn't even attempt that on $50 tires.

Look at any test of cheap tires vs. better brands. The cost difference really isn't that big, but the performance difference sure is. Here's just the first one I found:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTcxNw3raNE

I'll sacrifice in a LOT of other places in my life before I'll sacrifice decent tires.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Some folks simply cannot afford the better tires due to co$t .

I was in that boat for decades and hated it .

Some here will falsely claim there's no benefit, maybe they're broke, maybe they're ignorant, don't beat up on them until you know what for sure .

I use synthetic multi viscosity oils in all my engines, even the old worn out and worthless ones because fully synthetic oils stop the wear cycle pretty much dead wherever it is ~ I have one old Honda 90CC Motocycle with well over 40,000 miles, it neither smokes now knocks but it's clatters a LOT .

Oil is the very cheapest Mechanic you can get .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

A valid point, cheap tires are better than bald tires. I was in that boat myself when I first left the nest, and my parents never got out of that boat. That wasn't the claim that was made, though.



I do not agree that $50 tires give adequate performance. Maybe in a dry climate all the time, but I'd take a second job and sell assets before I put $50 tires on my car. Even my utility trailer got better tires than that.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

You put too much importance on tires.

The speed and the way you drive is way more important.

I've never caused an accident and that's despite the fact that I've always driven on the cheapest tires I could get and only replaced them when they were either completely wore out or lived in a state where they wouldn't pass inspection.

I will never forget the time when I was coming home from work during a snow storm in the north-east and a guy whose just overtaken me in his somewhat new awd subaru spun out right in front of me. Yet my rwd benz on dry-rotted tires always got me home safely.

Just because you skated doesn't mean it was safe nor wise .

My entire career has involved wrecks so I got to see up close and personal what happens when you're tooling long straight and narrow going 60 MPH and a tire blows .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

You're a hazard to yourself and those around you. Glad you've gotten away with it this far, hopefully you don't kill anyone else when your luck runs out.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

I've always had excellent results with Michelins and Pirellis. They wear great, give super bad weather traction, and they stand behind them when they don't get the advertised wear mileage (the Cummins/Dodge always wears them out before the mileage warranty runs out). Worth every penny.

Dan

It's really unfortunate but more often than not, people who cannot afford to own a Mercedes often buy a used one and destroy it. Not changing tires, using Chinese parts, delayed or deferred fluids changes/ maintenance, the list goes on.

It's almost as if the car symbolizes their refusal to accept their financial circumstances. But it's hard to own a car that can bankrupt you if things go wrong.

The previous owner of a car I just purchased hadn't changed his tyres since 1997!! How I drove the car back to my home without experiencing a blowout I'll never know. I've since replaced them with Continental.

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Why I will never do business with "DieselKraut" again

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-used-parts-sale-wanted/378935-why-i-will-never-do-business-dieselkraut-again.html

Another happy General Altimax RT43 customer here. I had them on my '87 300SDL and even driving it at 10/10ths around the Sports Car Course at Daytona they handled themselves well.

My new-to-me '91 350SDL came with some Prime Wells. They're gone as soon as the Pirelli P4s I just ordered come in.

There's that old (very true) saw about 'the most expen$ive car you'll ever own is a cheap Mercedes' .

Very true, I'm a junkyard junkie so I get to see some really nice oldies that were driven 'till they droped then discarded .

I wouldn't have been able to afford one in my twenties, glad I can now .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

There's a reason I don't actually own one of these cars. Just about any 4 cylinder Japanese car from the last 20 years would make a far better daily driver.

When life calms down a bit, the truck is likely getting replaced as well. Just don't have the time or inclination to turn wrenches anymore.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Christuna all true. If one is that worried about handling and stopping distance buy a newer car.

JSBach:

I do not think a single M tire for a 90s mid sedan diesel MB costs $600. Just never mind...