The perfect tire pressures- For E500 / 500E - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 01-24-2003, 11:36 AM

I have 17 inch Evo II rims with Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
245/45ZR17

Max pressure is 51 lbs.

Who else has run these exact tires and could suggest optimum front and rear tire pressures?

yhliem · #2 01-24-2003, 05:14 PM

"optimum" tire pressure depends on the kind of driving you will be doing and the conditions in which you will be driving. In performance driving, the optimum tire pressure will change every few minutes as road temperature and conditions change and as tire temp. and condition changes.

as i don't take any of the cars on the track (not yet, anyways) i don't stress about finding the so called optimum pressures. for everyday driving i just use those that are recommended by the automobile manufacturer.

they are, of course, found inside the fuel filler door.

yhliem · #3 01-24-2003, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tom woolner
Ditto. I have 17x45x145 POS 3's on AMG rims. When I bought the car in Tennessee, it had Dunlop 9000 Sports. I over inflated them on the ride back to CA, and used them up.
I use the gas flap recommendations, although i hear the specs are a bit dirferent in Europe.

Yeah, european specs are different because their driving styles and habits differ from ours.

tom woolner · #4 01-24-2003, 07:04 PM

Ditto. I have 17x45x145 POS 3's on AMG rims. When I bought the car in Tennessee, it had Dunlop 9000 Sports. I over inflated them on the ride back to CA, and used them up.
I use the gas flap recommendations, although i hear the specs are a bit dirferent in Europe.

E MOTION · #5 01-27-2003, 10:53 PM

Unless your tracking your car, you should set tire pressure to the michelins specs for that tire thus giving you optimum wear and semi-optimum performance (depending on tire temp). Although, if you drive your car the way it should be driven, your going to prematurely burn through the tires regardless of the pressure.

yhliem · #6 01-28-2003, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by E MOTION
Unless your tracking your car, you should set tire pressure to the michelins specs for that tire thus giving you optimum wear and semi-optimum performance (depending on tire temp). Although, if you drive your car the way it should be driven, your going to prematurely burn through the tires regardless of the pressure.

i disagree.

let's say that the 'optimum' pressure that michelin recommends is 32psi. a 3800 lbs car (500e/e500) on 32psi is going to wear the tires a hell of a lot faster than a 3200lbs (honda civic-ish) car on 32psi

i maintain that you go with the CAR manufacturer's spec for tire inflation because the car's weight, weight balance, power, etc will affect the tire temp and wear rate.

which is not to say that there can't be ANY variance at all. adjust the pressusres for what the purpose is. but as far as daily use "recommended optimum" pressure, you're better off going with the car specs.

Michael · #7 01-28-2003, 03:13 PM

I have a similar setup; 17" by 8.5" AMGs with Michelin Pilot MXX3 (the Sport's predecessor) in 245/45-17. IMHO I'd run 35 lbs front & rear - more than adequate contact patch, relatively even wear, and no squeal on turn-in. Running less pressure I felt the shoulders were wearing a bit prematurely; with more pressure you've got a rock-hard ride and the tire will likely "crown" and wear the center more than it should.

These are my street recommendations, BTW; track specs are VERY different since you gain 10+ lbs (I've seen as much as 16+, thereby exceeding the tires' specs ) in the fronts after only a few laps around a road course!

E MOTION · #8 01-28-2003, 07:48 PM

Sorry guys, I thought I typed mercedes specs (not michelins). Next time I'll preview before posting.

#9 01-28-2003, 08:53 PM

This is the type of feedback I'm looking for. I am interested in street use- and perhaps the info I want is in the reccommended tire pressures for the E500 Limited as I am using the same rims.

On the track tires heat up- and of course some may have seen the tire heaters on F1 tires-so they grip right away and pressures don't vary as much. But should I go to a track for a little fun it would be nice to know what people like.

It is frigging cold in New England now- and when there is no salt/sand on the road I like taking the car out in the oxygen rich cold air as it seems to get a little more spirited. I was wondering about cold weather pressures vs warm weather pressures - more specifically.

E MOTION · #10 01-29-2003, 12:17 AM

I looked in side the gas door of my car and Mercedes recommends between 30-36psi in front and 35-41psi in the rear depending how much weight is in the car. I would assume this would not vary in the E500/500E regardless of the year. When I bought my car it had the same set up you (erase) have on your car, EVOII's with 245/45/17 pilot sports. The tires were shot and the car would vibrate at any speed over 55. The previous owner had the pressure set at approx 36psi at all corners. The fronts were cupped around the outer edges and the rears were crowned in the centers. I believe these tires were put on the car when it was imported, 1/98 with 35k miles. I bought the car 7/02 with 65k miles on it. Not knowing the previous owners driving style, but I dont think he'd know who Schumacher even is, the tires still looked damn good for having 30k on them. Keeping in mind what psi Mercedes recommends, I think its something youd have to screw around with to achieve maximum performance based on your driving style and outside temp.

Michael · #11 01-29-2003, 07:11 AM

Remember, in real cold weather you'll have VERY little temp pickup, so I'd shoot for 36-37 hot (or 35 cold, aprox). In the summer, I'd run 32-33 all around.

On the track, you're gonna pick up 10-12 lbs in front, and around 8psi rear. Also, to make your car neutral (no push nor oversteer) you'll want a full 10lbs hot pressure higher in the fronts. A set of slicks gave their lives finding this out

#12 01-29-2003, 11:08 AM

The summer pressures you are reffering to are cold temps right? Can I safely assume that you want the "hot" pressures to be the same regardless of summer or winter? Not taking into account track driving?

Michael · #13 01-29-2003, 11:48 AM

I'd indeed want my hot temps to be pretty similar regardless of weather. And the numbers I used (32-33) were approximate cold pressures in warmer weather.

Hope this helps

Flash Gordon · #14 01-29-2003, 11:58 AM

I have been, for many years, add about 3 lb on top of the manufacturer recommendation. I have been able to get very good wear out of my tires. Obviously, alignment, tire rotation are also crucial to wear. Don't forget if you only stick to the exact recommendation, you tend to under inflate most of the time simply because the tire loses pressure gradually. You need to inflate your tires more often in cold weather, like what we have now in the Northeast. In cold weather, for every 10 degrees drop in temperature, you lose one pound of pressure

The topic of tire pressure is similar to the topic of which brand of oil is the best. Everyone has his opinion!!! But the fundamentals still apply:car manufacturer recommendation, temperature variation, ride comfort, etc. not to mention personal preference

The trade-off is the wear of your tire.

#15 02-17-2003, 04:12 PM

With 35 lbs front and rear- I get a feeling that the car tends to wander at highway speeds. With 31lbs (winter pressure) I felt that any surface imperfection on the road surface "pulled" the car.

Still hunting for that Ideal.

For a larger size rim- should tire pressures change vs smaller rim adn higher sidewall? Which direction?

To the E500 Limited owner- what is the manufacturers recommendation inside your fuel filler door?