CWA, the Pilot Alpin is a good snow tire. Read a full review on winter tires here, with ratings, including the Alpin:

http://www.meimann.com/docs/Winter_tire_test.pdf


As to using non-stock sizes, well, that's a personal choice. I wouldn't want to go with a 75 series since I don't see any advantage to using that at all, and it will cause your speedometer to read lower than actual by a few percent. And handling will be poorer. A 205 has some debatable benefit (assuming 205/70) but the same still applies... to do this properly, put a 205/70 on a 7.0 wheel, not a 6.5. I don't quite understand why everyone wants to second-guess Mercedes engineers when it comes to tire size on older MBs....

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I know why MB engineers should be second-guessed in the area of tire selection!

1) 195/70/14 tires were selected by MB engineers 20+ years ago when they designed the 123 chassis. Radials were still relatively new technology then. Tire technology has come a long way since then.

2) I am quite certain that MB consulted extensively with tire manufactures regarding the best tire for the 123, and heres the point, at that time period-20+years ago.

3) Auto manufacturers don't make tires! Anyone buying a new car knows that even the OE tires are warranted by the TIRE manufacturer, the Automaker wants no part of tire problems.

Michelin specifically states that the 205 is a perfectly acceptable upgrade to the 195. They will sell them for that use, warrant them for that use, etc. I don't see how anyone but Michelin, the maker of the tire, can say with absolute certainty, that a 205 tire MUST be on a 7" wheel. If Michelin okays the 205 on a 6.5" wheel and stands behind their product then I don't see how the MB engineers would have any problem with it.
RT

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I'm about to disagree with rwthomas on something:

I've got a really good reason for sticking with the 195 and not going wider: tire chains. I've got enough clearance on either side of the tire for normal tire chains. If I went wider, I'd have to get the low profile ones which are made with a slightly flimsier chain. (Relatively speaking, of course.)

As I need chains now and then, and 10 extra milimeters of snow tire wouldn't be enough, I'll stick with my 195s.



edited to add: of course....I don't have a W123, mine's a 126, so maybe the wheel wells in a 123 could take that.

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1984 300SD: Hilda the veggie vundercar

Thank you for the link to that tire test.

After reading that I think that I might go with the Artic Alpin. That shows better performance than the Pilot and is less money too. I was trying to stay with the "H" rating but the "Q" rating may be good enough as I never drive over 99 MPH anyway.

And for my next summer tires I'll consider the X-One as that comes with a great mileage warranty.

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current Benz
'87 300TD (white) 168K (on the odometer as of 15 April 2004)
past Benz owned & miles I put on them
'62 190D 20K (white)
'63 190D 20K (beige)
'65 190D 35K (white)
'73 220D 175K (metalic green)
'79 300D 135K (metalic blue)

driving a Benz diesel since'77

I've been running Yokohama Avid's on mine in the 195 size and don't have any complaints. I liked them so much that I put a set on the Honda CRV. They beat the Toyo tires that were on there all to heck and back.

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Jim

Radial tire technology was NOT new to MB engineers when they designed the 123. Radials were introduced in the US in the very late sixties, and took several years to be accepted by the American market. They were introduced in Europe by Michelin right after WWII.

70's or 75's will work well on these cars.
I prefer the 75's only because these are the "P" tires and are for the most part where the highest mileage tires are found.

Merry Christmas,

I have Yokohama Avid Touring on both my 81SD and 86 SE and would buy them again. they are quiet good in the rain and are 80,000 mile rated,out the door at Americas Tire with life time balance and repair
(balanced on latest hunter machine weights on both sides of wheels ah la L.B.) for $284.00 set of four.........
William Rogers..........