I will be putting on my Michelin Arctic Alpins in a couple weeks. I have about 8-10,000 miles on 'em over 2 seasons.

They look OK. I just measured tread depth with a gauge and they measure 7-8/32s. Is this OK for another season?

Also, anyone know what the little triangles on the sides of the treads are? Some sort of wear gauge?

Incidentally, I got them on MB replica wheels from TireRack 2 years ago. Great service!

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Steve
'93 400E

Steve,

Don't put the snow tires on so soon-I'm afraid you will attract snow and we'll have a winter like the last one!

Last winter my Arctic Alpins were in their third year with about the same miles on them as yours. I got around OK in my 1998 E320, but that has ASR. There was a noticeable decrease in traction on snow and ice from the previous two years however. Over the years we usually replaced the snow tires on the prior Mercedes we owned after the third year even though there was plenty of thread on the tire. It seems like by the end of the third season the traction was to a point that I didn't feel confident of getting around without getting stuck somewhere.

Since you are going into your third year I think you should be OK in most situations.

Bob I.
1998 E320
1995 E420

Hey, Bob,
Thanks for the input! Yeah, I'll put it off for a few weeks, but, you know, here in paradise, you never know when that first snowstorm will hit . . .


My other project is to switch over to 500E sway bars once I get the parts (an early Christmas present). Will be having Mark Bertelsen do the work -- have you been to his shop yet?

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Steve
'93 400E

Steve,

Go ahead and install those Artic-Alpins. Based on the number of miles you drive, you should be okay with another season. The snow-going ability starts to diminish after about 6/32nds. But unlike the Blizzaks, the Michelin's tread is the same all the way.

I'm installing another set on my wife's car. We got three seasons on the first set of Arctic-Alpins. We went down to about 3/32nds and could tell a difference towards the end of last winter.

Bill

Thanks, Bill and Bob,
Sounds like I'm good to go for this season but probably need to save up for a new set for next winter.

I had forgotten about the notion of having the same tread compound all the way through, compared to the ever popular Blizzaks. I originally picked the Arctic Alpins simply because it tested better overall in a Consumer Reports comparison; sounds like I'll replace 'em with the same, or MAYBE spring for some Pilot Alpins. I would imagine, though, that the tradeoff for better handling would be poorer snow traction.

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Steve
'93 400E

Yes, you would have poorer snow AND ice capabilities with the Pilot Alpins. Like most everything in life, it's a trade off.

I'm into my third year with Pilot Alpins - need them on the car about 6 months a year

Oh well, they really wear well as I'm sure the Arctic Alpins do

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Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto