Perfect Tire for 500E

Hey everyone...

my dad is planning to get some aftermarket rims for his 92 500E. Me and him have been debating between EVO II and Brabus III rims. One second, he likes the EVO II's. The next second, when we're at the Sprewell Racing showroom and he sees the Brabus's, he's very W I D E - E Y E D. But in any case, it seems as if the Brabus will be the choice rims for the 500E, because he wants it to look stock, yet sporty, and thats what the Brabus III looks like; an oversized stock looking rim.

Anyways, the rim will be 17x8. So what tire size should we use? Should I stick to the typical 245/45/17? My dad doesn't want a staggered setup, so we'll just use spacers.
Any good namebrand tires recommended? The Nitto's on the 190E are great, but I don't know what my Dad feels like for his next tire brand.
Any help would be appreciated. THANKS!

[DSinger]

The Brabus rims look so unoriginal and fake. Get the EVOIIs. No real purist enthusiast would buy rims that aren't AMG or Mercedes unless cost were an issue, and Brabus isn't cheap. Not to mention, 8" is a hair narrow for 245 width tires. They'll work, but 8.25" or 8.5" works better. Get either EVOIIs or AMG Monoblocks...

I appreciate your insight on this matter DSinger...

but I was only purely asking for suggestions on performance tires, not aftermarket rim opinions. I used to like the AMG rims, but over time, they just became over abundant and I see them everywhere I go. I have great respect for AMG, no doubt about it, but I think their rims are becoming somewhat... "too stock."
But I mean you or any other member on this board no offense... its just my opinion... everyone is entitled to one.

[DSinger]

I understand. For pure performance (all else be damned), I've never driven on anything better than a Michelin Pilot SX MXX3. Otherwise, if comfort matters, the Michelin Pilot Sports are way better overall. That's about it IMHO.

[JCE]

I think that what you want from the tire and where you live is going to make a difference in tire choice. I agree that the Pilot Sport would be my first choice for handling, especially in SoCal, but if you lived in a climate like Seattle, or wanted a long lasting tire, or a comfortable ride, or great gas mileage as your main concerns, you might select a different tire. I would probably select the Sports anywhere, but my main priority is dry handling and not so much on the longevity or gas mileage or comfort.

[Chiragp]

Stay with 245/45/17.

For the best wear, wet traction, and decent dry traction with a decent tread life due to its Ultra High Performance All-Season Tread, then Dunlop SP SPort 5000 for $134:



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/dunlop/du_s5000.jsp


For the best bang for the buck Ultra High Performance Tire with great wet traction, and decent life for a no compromise tire in that category, for $145. the Bridgestone Potenza RE730:



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/bridgestone/bs_re730.jsp


For the best ride in a Maximum Perforamnce Tire, with the best wet traction throughout th lifetime of the tread, and decent wear and handling 98% of the Bridgestone Potenza SS-02s, the Dunlop SP Sport 9000 for $185:



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/dunlop/du_s9000.jsp


For the best tire in maximum hanlding, wet, dry, basically track performance, Bridgestone Potenza SS-02 Pole Position for $225 each:



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/bridgestone/bs_s02_pp.jsp



Sorry, and no offense to the Michelin guys here, but I know a couple of M3 owners who had the Pilot SX MXX3s came on as OEM, and many of them agree the dry traction is great, but its equal to the Bridgestone Potenza SS-02 PP if not surpassed a little by them due to their stickier tread compound, and the SS-02 PP are far better in the wet. The Pilot Sports in my mind are a great alternative to the Dunlop SP Sport 9000s, but I think performance wise the Bridgestone will still win.

I hope this helps.

[DSinger]

With all due respect, I must disagree.

The Dunlop SP9000 is a quality control nightmare and might handle 80% as well as other max perf. tires when new. My Mercedes tech says they take more SP9000s off cars due to various problems. HUGE quality control problems according to him. Also, for all tire recommendations for this car, the only all-season tire that would satisfy a 500E's needs is the Michelin Pilot XGT Z4. If you decided that cost was too high for S-02PPs or Pilot Sports, I'd probably advise the Yokohama AVS Sport or Continental ContiSport Contact. Both are great (for the price). Also, the Michelin Pilot Sport is a better handling tire than the Bridgestone Potenza S-02 Pole Position. Not to mention, with the problems their counterparts have been having, I won't buy from them...

[Chiragp]

No offense, but just because Bridgestone's counterpart has a tire in their model that has been known to have problems doen't mean the entire line is defective.

If I used that theory, because the M-class is poor on quality, and had a few problems when they first came out, doesn't make the entire Mercedes line as well as the Chrysler Line defective, and not touchable. Its like saying Mercedes makes the best cars, period. Except you are doing it in tires. If I want a sports car, I will buy something besdies Mercedes, If I want the best mix, I will consider my options provided.

If I have to pick M3 or C43, sorry the M3 will be picked. If I have to chose an E320 or BMW 530, the E320 for the luxury quotient, or maybe the Audi A4 2.7T Quattro as all around best value.

Matter of preference and fact, a BMW has less rear space then an E320. The Audi has the best balance in value. The Mercedes has the luxurious feel.

Same respect, tires are different, and serves different tastes.

[DSinger]

Point well taken. I'm just a rabid performance person (so you have to understand the extreme skew I see things from). Grin. ;-)

[Chiragp]

These tires are ultimate now if you want ultimate grip, off course at the expense of tread life.

Now we can't argue which performs better here

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/yokohama/yo_a032r.jsp

For what its worth...I have been running 245/45/17 pilot sports since last July in my 94' E500 up here in Seattle (14,000 miles)and have found them to be excellent wet or dry.I'm still at apx.60% remaining tread.Another 500E friend here has been thru 2 sets of "pole positions" within 35K mi.and he has no more "hookup" than my car.Neither car has been autocrossed (yet) but both have seen the north side of 145.I figure that my remainang tread should be prime for an autocross this summer befor replacment (hoping to go staggered 18"s next due to the good results with the pilot's!
just my .02
BRIAN POUNDER

[MikeyE430]

Can anyone tell me more about the Dunlop SP9000 "quality control nightmare" mentioned a couple of posts above? This is the only time I have heard this. Most reports on this tire are favorable. I am looking for low noise, decent wear, and excellent wet performance. Dry traction is secondary. THANKS!

[DSinger]

They tend not to stay round and wear very unevenly and quickly...

[Chiragp]

I have never heard anything bad about them. And considering they are OEM for Mercedes's higher end cars, I would trust them. I mean Higher end cars like Ferrari and Lambo usually use Bridgestone Potenza SS-02 PP or Pirelli PZero Rossos but they concentration is ultimate dry handling in my mind while being smooth and then second is wet traction. Honestly, how many ferrari owners take their cars out in the rain.

The Michelin Pilot Sports are great for Cars in wet too, but offer a higher premium for not much more. If you look at it, the cars that have real big concerns of hydroplaning use them and Dunlop SP Sport 9000s. I trust the Dunlop SP SPort 9000s cause they also used on the ML 55 trucks and are cheaper. I also like the fact that the 9000s have a higher tread wear rating.

All and all, No complaints I have heard from, and well Michelin finatics will do anything to get you into them. Its a matter or preference and budget, as far as quality concerns, no problems.

and am really happy. 245/45/17

Just my 2 cents. Here is what the EvoII wheel looks like on a 500E.




[Edited by EricH on 02-14-2001 at 03:45 AM]