Sorry for the delay, Joan, Chaca(our chocolate Lab, and I just returned from New Orleans. We drove in the rain on Mich MXV4 tires and never had a wiggle. As to your wiggle or vibaration, any time a rotating mass is running off of it's center, any thing can be generated. On the typical wheel diameter on a passenger car, 1/8 oz out off balance at 60 mph has the tire impacting the road at 80lbs. Phone 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES and request the "Technical Data Book" for your model Benz. All of the wheel information is there. Return to your tire dealer with the book and you'll have the info you need. Inbetween time return to your tire dealer and request center tooling and all weights to be attached to the inside of the wheel. Tape on and clip type. This also protects your wheel finish. This may help a little. Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston.

Donald
wiggle smiggle

Will do as you suggest. I'm about to purchase a set of wheels and will have them shod as you suggest.

Does everyone on this forum have dogs? (JCE has a Golden Retriever, I have a Golden Retriever and my wife has a Black Lab, you have a Chocolate Lab....)

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David

His:
2003 Dodge Durango SLT
2002 BMW E39 530i Sport
1988 Mercedes 300TE
Hers:
2003 Chevrolet Suburban
1999 E430

I have a new set of MXV4 Energy's on the 560 SEL. I reside in snowy Madison, WI. No complaints. An MB shop owner tried to talk me into set of snow tires, but these are good enough, IMHO.

Oh yeah, have a black lab named "Babe." Gotta love those labs!!

All the Labs we're aquainted with own Benzes. It just goes with their nature. This is our third, we've had all of the colors. All of ours are of The Castlemore and Briarcoat lineage. When assigned to GB on the Vauxhall Motor Car, I made contact with the kennels in Scotland. Our three lassies all are from there. You're right, Love those Labs. Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston.

Donald
bark bark

had all 4 tires replaced with Michelin Pilot Sports.I live 9n Florida, and the roads are madeof coral, so tires wear faster there.I was told by the tire place to expect the tires to last 15-18,000 miles if they are rotated every 3000 miles ( every oil change interval).I'm a conservative driver. Can I really only epect a maximum of 18,000 miles?

I don't know for what reason the tire company told you as to only 18,000 miles on your new Miches. If that is true, and you are a conservative not a F-1 driver, I would have bought a less expensive tire. Even if your highways are coral based and not loose gravelled coral then you should get the same mileage as from any other surfaces. 60,000 miles if kept properly inflated and rotated and balanced every 5,000 miles should be attained. If you get 75% of that figure you sure beat the socks off of your dealers estimate. I would consider contacting Mich and ask for thier estimate.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from straight and narrow Houston.
Donald

I too had new MXV4's put on my 300E and love them. Of course there were Goodyear GT's prior. Am running Pilot Sports on my 400E and love those too. I know nothing about tires, other than Michelins are superior to everything else, in my experince.

Oh yeah, I have 2 Akita's, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. They love Mercedes and jazz!

Brian W.
92 400E
90 300E
87 260E

I have a question about the XGT-V4 replacements. How much better are they then the XGT-V4's? My Integra came with XGT-V4's and they sucked in the rain and snow and made the car a nightmare to drive in questionable conditions (the stock XGT-V4's were in the trash can after about 13,000 miles and barely worn). I realize they are V rated tires but they are supposed to be "all season" tires. They were replaced with Goodyear Eagle something or another which were worse, then I put on some Nitto tires which were very soft tires and wore out in about 12,000 miles. Ever since then I put some cheap generic Grand Spirit tires on and have been pretty happy with the wear and traction, but the ride is harsh. Anyhow, I would prefer to put Michelins back on my car, not XGT-V4's but something that will give a good ride and not wear out so quick, Im not so worried about dry traction cause I dont push my car at all, I am mostly looking for wet traction (cause the car is far to eager to spin the front wheels when its wet or snowy outside), good ride and little wear. Thanks for your help. By the way the stock tire size is 195-55 15, which only performance tires are made in that size, what kind of similar size (preferably smaller) could I get some MXV4's or the Pilot XGT-V4's (I think thats what they are) in? thanks for your help.



[Edited by pezzy on 02-06-2001 at 05:59 AM]

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Adam,
2003 Volkswagen Golf GL 24,000 miles. 1.9L I-4 TDI 5spd.

1986 300E. 115,000+ miles. 3.0L I-6 1st daily ride, around town only. (Gone)

Quit your "crapping" around and get Mech MXV4 or MVX4 what ever and end your Crapping around.
Nough said!
Happy Trails Beep Beep from french tires made in japan Houston
Donald, El Cheapo

The Pilot XGT H4 is a 60k-mile tire. I just got a new set, installed and with lifetime rotation, flat fix, etc for $66.

Thank you Michelin and America's Tire.

The originals had a little less than 18,000 miles on them. They wore great for such a short period of time, with the shoulders holding up well under pretty hard cornering and they actually went a little thin in the middle due to my running them at about 5-over-recommended.

I was surprised when the tech pulled my original and we discovered they were only 18,000 miles used (I don't keep track of this stuff). His first question was "So do you take EVERY corner sideways?!" I replied that indeed I did and please fix the situation. Then he tried to tell me I was stuck because Michelin only allows a 500-mile leeway on scheduled rotations for warranty to be in effect (5,000-mile intervals as spec'd) and that I had missed all by more than 500 (but less than 1500) and that Michelin wouldn't reimburse them.

His manager brought him back to the reality of the situation. I like the tires - excellent value and good performance for an all-season tire. Provided you have your shop rotate/document and you can keep to the schedule.

Interested: what would TireRack do in this situation?