I have done all the research on tire rack, read all of the feed backs and surveys. I have searched this forum and read the tire opinions too. I now have some OE 15" rims and need tires. What I have narrowed it down to is:

Michelin MXV4 Energy Plus H rated - $123.00 each - These tires are awsome, I have had them on a BMW and on my current 1983 300SD (14" rims). These tires look, ride and wear good. I bought them from tire rack 4 years- 60K ago. But the price now $$$!!-I do not want to spend this much!

Michelin Pilot XGT H4 - $ 85.00 each - Have them on my newly acquired W124, verdict is still out on these tires but they look good, ride good, handle good, a little noisey? wear? Would they be ok on the W126?

Yokohama AVS dB - $ 70.00 - Good price, reviews are good, but...damn the tread pattern and side walls are ugly! Also I have a hang up putting anything Japanese on a German Car!

Thanks for imput fellow Benzers...Happy Thanksgiving


James L

__________________
1993 Mercedes Benz 300D 2.5 205K (ex wife's)
1984 Mercedes Benz 300SD 320K (SOLD)
2004 Mercedes Benz C240 75K
1995 GMC Sierra 2WD 5.7L 188K
1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD 239K (SOLD)
1987 BMW 325i 220K (SOLD FOR SALVAGE)

609 Certification

James L:

We have the Michelin XGT H4s on our 84 Celica. They seem to handle and wear pretty well. They are slightly larger/wider than their indicated size - even though they were the correct size for the car, they rubbed just a bit on dips and driveways, and the allignment had to be spot on to fit well. Even then it is credit card clearance between the tire and suspension upper bits on the Celica. It is probably just the Celica as it is a GTS with the factory spec over size/extra wide rims (for 1984, that is).

We have the Yoko AVS dBs on our 98 C230. They are more comfortable and quiet than both the XGT H4s on our Celica AND the Pilot XGT V4s on our 300E. The handling seems pretty comparable between the V4s and the dBs. They were about 2/3 the cost of the V4s as well. I am happy with their performance, so the looks don't matter to me. I don't mind Japanese tires on my 2 Reich Rockets any more than I do French tires. Good luck on your selection!

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Would they be ok on the W126?

Why, absolutely.

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

I vote Michelin.


Note: Avoid Firestone.

People should have learned the first time around in the '70s about Firestone.

How do French tires belong on a German car more than Japanese? After all, the Japanese and Germans were allies once upon a time.

My (560SL) Yoko AVS db's are very quiet, responsive, and excellent also in the rain. I like the tread design, they leave a rad foot print.

MY Michelins are just expensive.

The Yoko sidewalls, kept clean and dressed, are just black and don't call attention to themselves.

With the db's some might find the pile of money left over to be much more attractive than any tire.

JMHO

__________________
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, A.D. 1759

Roger
1975 240D
1986 560SL

We need a poll ...

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Roger, You have me re-thinking on these AVS dBs. I went to the Yokohama site to try to get a better view of the total tire and sidewall. Nobody around here has them to look at. Thanks for all the replys, I think the XGT H4 Pilots may be to performance oriented for my W126.

__________________
1993 Mercedes Benz 300D 2.5 205K (ex wife's)
1984 Mercedes Benz 300SD 320K (SOLD)
2004 Mercedes Benz C240 75K
1995 GMC Sierra 2WD 5.7L 188K
1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD 239K (SOLD)
1987 BMW 325i 220K (SOLD FOR SALVAGE)

609 Certification

I bought Bridgestone RE950's in the standard 195/65-15 size. I didn't want to trade-off fuel mileage for the slight increase in corning performance. BTW, these tires a great! Going through standing water and general wet roads is next to amazing. The tech at tire dealer who installed them repeatedly told me that they really start to perform after about 300 to 600 miles. He was right. And to think I was going to spend more money for lower performing Michelins. Check out the ratings at the Tirerack.

Jeff

I just put a set of Yokohama AVS dB on my 126 and I love 'em. They perform very well, and noise isn't an issue at all. But, they're a 245/40/18, so I'm not sure my input would apply to your situation b/c of the large difference in size.

I was hesitant about Japanese tires on my MB, but I'm very happy with them.

P.S., Ya they do make an awesome footprint, I think the tread pattern looks cool as hell for what that's worth.

we just had our first rain of the season on SoCal. This traditionally leaves a film of summer oil/rain water on the road - quite slippery. I tested the Yoko AVS dB under these conditions, and the Mich XGT V4s as well. Not a completely scientific test, as the 300E with the Michelins weighs about 200 lb LESS (!!) than the C230, has a longer wheelbase, and has 15" wheels instead of the 16"ers on the C230. Also, the XGTs are about 40% worn, and the Yokos are new. But you work with what you got!

I tried 2 tests. In a parking lot, I took the cars up to 20, and stomped on the brakes. The Michelins broke loose on the braking, the Yokos didn't. On the street, I found a deserted intersection, came to a full stop, then accelerated around the corner in a hard turn trying to brake the rear end loose. The Michelins slid momentarily at the apex of their turn, the Yokos didn't, even at harder acceleration. I had to work HARD to get the Yokos to slide on this test, (1/2 throttle, full lock on the wheel) and then it was only a momentary slide.

Again, not a definitive test, but enough to convince me that the Yokos are as good as the Michelins in the wet for my purposes!

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

I put the AVS Db on my daughter's '88 420SEL and have been very pleased with them -- excellent performance for the price and extremely quiet.

But then again, I went from Pilot Sports to the Sumitomo HTR-ZII on my C43 AMG (again very pleased for the $$), so I'm open-minded towards Japanese tires.

I am going to go with the Yokohama AVS dbs V rated mainly from the reviews and recomendations from this forum, the tire rack and Yokohama web sites. Thanks! I will be calling the tire rack soon.

Will changing rims from OE 14" to OE 15" rims (1983 W126 300sd) require any spacers or have any offset problems?
Using the Yokohama AVS dB in 205/65/15 of course.

__________________
1993 Mercedes Benz 300D 2.5 205K (ex wife's)
1984 Mercedes Benz 300SD 320K (SOLD)
2004 Mercedes Benz C240 75K
1995 GMC Sierra 2WD 5.7L 188K
1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD 239K (SOLD)
1987 BMW 325i 220K (SOLD FOR SALVAGE)

609 Certification

James L.,

You will be happy with the dbs!

I notice you Live in NC. We took the new (well they had 1000 mi on them by this time) Yoko db's through the stretch of Mountains between Chattanooga and Tacoah (?) GA on our way to relatives in Charlotte and Cary. The tires LOVED the sharp curves! And noise? Well, they didn't make any, at least none that we could hear above the sound of the 560SL knifing through the air.

__________________
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, A.D. 1759

Roger
1975 240D
1986 560SL