I have a new 2000 E430 with the 5 spoke light alloy wheels. I do not see any weights on the outside. I hope the wheels are balanced and the dealer did not leave the weights off just so the car looks nice.

I am sure I will need to get new tires someday. I have a few dumb questions:

1. I read on this board about "inside" weights. What do they look like and where are they mounted?

2. When I get new tires, should I insist on getting "inside" weights?

3. Do all tire stores pretty much know how to handle mounting tires on alloy wheels... do I need to go to a specialty tire store or back to the dealer?

4. What about mail order tires, such as from tirerack.com, and asking a local tire store to mount it?

BTW, the tire is Goodyear Eagle F1 235/45ZR17 with the funny unidirectional tread on it. Any comment on this tire? Is Michelin tire better?

CC:

Chances are good your wheels have "inside" weights. These are thin lead weights with a "double-stick" tape on the back. The wheel/tire balancing machine actually tells the operator how much and where to locate the weights. The weights are located on the inner surface, thereby preserving the clean look on the outside of your rims. You definitely DO NOT want the "crimp-n-smash" weights from our parent's days :)

As for mail-order tires, I just had tires installed on my Astro van yesterday, and I asked the dealer that very question. His reply (makes sense) was this, "By the time you add shipping, risk of a defective tire, possible return, you may save a couple bucks at most." I would have saved about $20 on a total of $380 -- not worth the hassle of mail-order if you ask me. But, everyone has a different threshold. This is just my opinion.

Hope this helps and enjoy your ride!!!

Brian ('86 2.3-16V)

Thanks for your reply. I have been getting our tires from Costco. I guess will probably need to find a "real" tire dealer in town. I am not sure they have those "inside" weights. :)

Speaking of mail order tires, I have saved a bundle from the TireRack. I bought some Michelin tires for my Explorer, and saved close to $175 from what local stores wanted. I also bought some Yokohama AVS Sports for my MB, and saved around $75 PER TIRE from tirerack. The tirerack is a great and friendly place to deal with!

I agree with SS109. I saved $100 per tire for Goodyear Eagle GAs through Tirerack compared to the Lexus dealer's price.

If Costco has the same tire for a few bucks more, then Costco might be the better option. However, I don't think they can install tires over 17 inches in diameter.

Eric

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'00 E430 w/ Solaris H-7's
'99 SLK230 Sport

ss109,

Did you have any problem getting a local dealer to mount your mail ordered tires? Did they charge you extra because you did not buy the tires from them?

BTW, how do they ship tires anyway? In a box? Fed Ex? UPS?

Tirerack ships via UPS. Usually they strap the tires together in pairs.

By the way, be sure to click on the Tirerack banner ad here in the Shop Forum to go to their site rather than bookmarking it. MercedesShop gets credit for all clickthroughs to Tirerack and all tire purchases but, only if you click on the banner ad above. You don't pay a penny more for your tires and it helps keep MercedesShop going.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

SS109:

That's correct; UPS handles TireRack's tires by just strapping them together with clear tape. You receive your tires strapped together, two at a time; but since they are rubber, they should not exhibit any damage in shipment.

Yes, local tire-change shops will charge you to change tires. Normally, the cost of changing and STATIC balancing is included in the cost of tires; normally dynamic balancing is more expensive than static; that's why they cost more than from TireRack than from your local guy. Also they cost more since TireRack has less overhead. Simple cost of doing business.

By the way, my local gas station charges US$5 for the change, per tire, and US$6 for the dynamic balance, per tire. That's US$11 for each tire.

In order to do a proper cost analysis, you should add all the charges together - Cost of tire plus shipping plus mounting/balancing for TireRack vs. cost of tire, plus local tax, plus mounting/balancing at tire dealer. Only in this way can you make an INFORMED decision about which way to go. Note, however, that if you live in one of the states in which TireRack is physically located, they must charge you the local state sales tax anyway; this is a state law. So again, become informed by asking.......Andras

Bill,

Thanks for the tip about using Tirerack's banner in Mercedesshop.com. I just ordered a set of tires. I hope this helps Mercedesshop.com because your site is awesome.

Eric

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'00 E430 w/ Solaris H-7's
Brabus 19'' Monoblock V, 2 piece
H&R Sport Springs

'99 SLK230 Sport

Thanks Eric!

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC