Favorite tire for 107?

[matt7531]

I need a new set of 15" tires on my 84 380 SL. If you have found a good brand that wore and handled well at a good price, please let me know! Thanks!

[RickM]

Originally Posted by matt7531

I need a new set of 15" tires on my 84 380 SL. If you have found a good brand that wore and handled well at a good price, please let me know! Thanks!

I am extremely happy with the Sumitomo HR200s. Quiet, wear very well and handle very respectably. From Tire Rack exclusively @ $42. Price and availablity may have changed.

Can't beat them.

[Roncallo]

I dident want to get anything but a european brand name for my SL. The name Kumo just sounded wrong for a fine German sports car. But when I compared price and performance I couldent justify a Michelen.

They work great and are cheep as dirt.

John Roncallo

[Strife]

I have been happy with my Kumho's although they may be a just a little less "sticky" than I'd like. But I got the "3-season" tires, not the all year, so...

[el Miguel]

I'm running 16 inch Avon Tech M500s on my 500SL. They are a summer preformance tire reccomended by Luke. If the weather is cold, they are a little rough until they warm up and then.. ride like silk. I only have about 700 miles on them but so far..so good. They are more expensive than the tires mentioned above but I'm only using the car in fair weather so they should be on the car for a good while.
Mike
1984 Euro 500SL 105K

[Richard1]

i've been very happy with the pirrelli sport veloce p6000....good commuter tire for me. i think for the next set, i may try the kumo though.

[myanoch]

I have been looking for tires for a few months
I think that I am going to buy the BFGoodrich Traction t/a
Instead of the 205-65-15, I am also changing to 225-60-15
Theses tires are .1 of an incher taller but are .750 wider
only 3 revolutions per mile less
and match the 7" wheel better
The Goodrich is rated real good
Just my 2 cents

[matt7531]

I had a set of TAs on a Pontiac I owned, and I was not happy with them. They seemed to wear a lot faster than I expected. I am kind of shy about them as a result. I'm a little shy about using Japanese tires as well, just like a previous poster who said it was more about the looks than the tire. How about Dunlop - I've found a set of Dunlops that are H rated and only cost around 60 bucks a tire.

[Tom McMenamin]

I am on my second set of Bridgstones. I received 70K on the first set and these are wearing at aprox the same rate. (Turanza)

I never thought I would buy Bridgestone as I thought they were inferior. What is inferior are the Michelins. They only went 40K.

The key to tires, is not the tire as much as alignment and shocks and balancing. I am a convert of Hunter Wheel Alignment. I am going to tell you that a Hunter Alignment will change your ride! I wouldn't have believed it until I did it on advice from this site. Buy what you want but get a Hunter Alignment.
After all, they improved my Bridgestone ride and my concept of the tires.

[matt7531]

I hate to sound dumb, but what's a Hunter Alignment?

I had Firestone check out the car and they said it only needs a couple of outer tie rods and an alignment before the new set is put on. They only want to charge $269 so I will probably go for it.

On another subject, I have seen both 7" wide and 6.5" wide 15" tires reccommended for the 107. Any pros and cons? Would using the wider tire cut gas milage? I can get a really good deal on 7" wide wheels right now, and get rid off my ugly 14" bundts.

[abe g]

I give my experience for what its worth based on last 7 years. Changed original 14 " bundts for 15 inch late model german aluminum. Had 4 flats due to slow leakage around rims. Possible due to slight curb bumps. Went back to original 14 inches, and no problems for over 5 years! Be careful what you wish for! good luck, Abe G

[Broxin]

Bump

What is a 'Hunter Alignment?' How would I find a shop that has Hunter equipment?

[Earlybird]

Hunter makes the best tire allignment equipment. I was trained on the Hunter light allign but now they are all computer operated.

[davestlouis]

The Hunter family lives in St. Louis and they have a private museum/collection of neat cars, inlcuiding some Mbz's. They also have several low-mile Cadillacs from the 1970's and earlier. And yes, they make fine alignment equipment.

[Roncallo]

Hunter makes excelent alignemt equipment. But the quality of the jub is still in the hands of the technician.

John Roncallo