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  #16  
Old 11-08-2000, 05:34 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 474
Larry,

I completly understand what your saying and am suprised other people where confused by your earlier post. I was wondering if you know what to do though if your going to drive on a long trip in extremely cold climes (I'll be doing so around christmas to Quebec) I know for a fact that my family members up there have tires low on air in the morning hours due to night time temperatures below -25C and wind chills approaching -40C. Do you advise adding air to tires in those kinds of temperatures knowing they'll warm up on the highway somewhat afterwards? Any body have stories to tell on this topic? I have seen blow outs in the winter months around Belleville/Ottawa areas and wondered what I could do for peace of mind. Thank you MIKE MCKINNEY

------------------
'91 190E 2.6

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  #17  
Old 11-08-2000, 08:41 PM
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I would not add air to tires when it is that cold outside. Reason is that there is more than likely some moisture in the air line, and you may end up with a frozen valve stem seal. You could end up with flat tires, or tires that will have a slow leak.
If you have a heated garage or shop then not a big deal.
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  #18  
Old 11-08-2000, 10:03 PM
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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trent,

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. How could does it get out there in Calgary anyway? I've been out to Winnipeg once or twice and experienced -40C without the windchill warning in effect. That was several years ago. Are you going to put on snows this year? Any experience with a rear drive car at highway speeds during the winter? Any tips or stories would be much appreciated. Thank you Mike Mckinney

------------------
'91 190E 2.6
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  #19  
Old 11-08-2000, 10:55 PM
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Yes, Winnepeg can be brutal in winter. In Calgary, it can get down to -30 or -40, but it usually warms up as we get a lot of Chinooks. The warm temps are nice, but is can make for some slushy road conditions.
I will not be putting on snows, as I try not to drive the CLK when the snow is that bad. I did drive it last year to see how it would do, and was pretty impressed.
The ASR works very well at all speeds, and will very quicky stop any rear end movement caused by too much throttle and not enough traction. I have found that it will automatically disengage the cruise control if the ASR kicks in. Shouldn't be using cruise in slippery weather but I wanted to see what effect the ASR would have.
I have found that the ASR is s bit slow to let the power come back on, whether it is slippery or not. Once it cuts back on the throttle, there can be a lag (seems like forever, but is maybe a second or two)
Overall, the car has no problem in winter. I just worry about the morons in the other cars/trucks that have no concept of how to drive in snow/ice/inclement weather. When it is bad out, I take a vehicle other than my CLK.
As for rear drive experience in winter, I have only had one vehicle that was not rear drive, so I guess I have quite a bit of experience.
If you are in snow/ice, GET SNOW TIRES. All season tires will not compare when it really gets slippery. If local laws allow, and conditions warrant,get studs too.
What I like about the rear drive is the ability to steer the car with the throttle. Like on a dry suface, only the threshholds are much lower. You will learn to use smooth inputs for all controls if you want to have control. Big, sudden moves are not rewarded (unless you have space like an open field and want to have some fun)
I learned control a vehicle when I was very young, much to young to have a driver s license. My dad took me out in the half ton truck (GMC with a 454)to the frozen and snowed over field (I grew up on a farm) where there was no danger of hitting any thing, and I would slide, spin, recover, not recover you name it. Sure makes you comfortable behind the wheel.
Years later I would go for the real thing in a racing school, but that's another story.
As far as I am concerned, before people are allowed a drivers license, they should have to complete a course on car control of some sort. I think there would be a lot less accidents due to panic situations.

Sorry, kind of got going there. Didn't mean to ramble.
Best of luck through the winter.

[This message has been edited by trent (edited 11-08-2000).]
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  #20  
Old 11-09-2000, 11:43 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 474
trent,
Thank you for the tips. I was thinking of getting Continental SuperContact all season radials as they have a tire sale on in my area. Any experience with these? What about Blizzaks for the rears only? I am only a student at UWO and cannot afford much else this time of year. What about sandbags in the trunk during winter time? Anybody with advice please feel free to reply good or bad. Thank you MIKE MCKINNEY

------------------
'91 190E 2.6
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  #21  
Old 11-09-2000, 12:03 PM
LarryBible
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I ran Continentals 30 years ago when I lived in Germany and they were great.

A few years ago, I put a set on my '96 E300D because they were much less expensive than Michelins and they were again great.

In sharing posts with another fellow who bought a new C240 at the same time I did, he said that he had Continentals and they were very noisy. I did not have that problem.

They seem like a lot of tire for the money. When I bought them a few years ago, I mail ordered them and it seemed that Continental was making a push into the North American market. I don't know if they were selling them cheap to get some market penetration or they were just cheaper made tires, but I was happy with them.

You can go to the featured cars forum and find the C240 posts to read about his bad experience. He is so dissatisfied, he posted a remark that he is going to scrap them and put on a new set of tires. That's pretty dissatisfied.

Driving as many miles as I do, I go through alot of tires. I've probably driven close to a million miles total on Michelins and have never had anything to complain about. They are round and always balance out well and last a good while. My experience has been that even though they are expensive, you probably spend less money per mile, just because they last a long time and if they require rebalancing, it's because you lost a weight or something.

Good luck with your decision.

------------------
Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, manual, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles
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  #22  
Old 11-09-2000, 12:56 PM
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Mike,

Try to get all 4 winters if you can. No good having traction if you can't change direction or stop.
Even a good set of used winters is OK (check them over carefully though). You can save some $$ that way.
Weight in the truck (sandbags) does help. Don't go overboard though. Remember, all that weight has to be stopped too. In the past I have put 100-150 lbs in the trunk, as far back as possible. I do the same in my truck, but a little more weight.
Blizzaks have good grip, but seem to wear fast. I have had good success with Pirelli W210P as well. They last longer, and aren't very noisy.
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  #23  
Old 11-09-2000, 06:18 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 474
I did a 360 spin accelerating up to 60km/h in the rain today!!!!!!!Only accelerating moderately and I lost the back end!!!!!If I hadn't thrown in opposite lock as soon as I did I probably would have hit a telephone poll if it went around again!!!!!! The Bridgestone Potenza's I have on there now are garbage!!!!!!!!!! (195/65R15's) I am spending all my available money at this point on new tires. I was thinking about Michellin X1's or MX4's (195/60R15's). I was wondering if anyone has had experience with these tires and had any thoughts on them. They seem like an exceptional tire, they have 100% more water channeling ability then the Bridgestone's are are rated for 100,000kms. Any thoughts trent, Larry ? anybody?
Any imput greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!
Thank you MIKE MCKINNEY

------------------
'91 190E 2.6
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  #24  
Old 11-10-2000, 07:31 AM
Nick Jamal
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Hi folks, couldn't help but contribute to this Canadian-dominated thread!
Mike:
I've probably seen you around campus as I'm in London right now myself...
I've had Bridgestone RE930s on for a couple of seasons - they're very stable, firm and grippy for an H-rated tire, but tend to wear quickly. I think you'll find the X1s squishy, especially if you have fun at 190kmh on the 401... you should go with dedicated winter tires on this car, for sure. Don't bother with Blizzaks (had them), save your money and head over to Canadian Tire (just grin and bear it) and pick up a set of their Nordic Ice Trac tires - they're probably made by Bridgestone anyway, are a fraction of the cost and are S-speed rated, even though they have a multicell compound (most others are Q-rated). I've used them for 3 winters now, and they are an excellent tire.
See you around...
Regards,
Nick
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  #25  
Old 11-10-2000, 08:57 AM
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Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 474
Nick,
It's nice to see another Canadian brother out on this page! Your at Western too? Thank you for the advice on the Bridgestone's but I ordered the Michellin X1's this morning before I saw this post. I have confidence in those tires (H rated 195/60HR15's). They are on my father's '01 Volvo S40 and I have personally had that car up to 230km/h on the 401 eastbound around the Woodstock area. These tires offer exceptional wet weather stability aswell so I do not regret my decision. If anyone else has bad stories on this tire or think I'm a dummy for purchasing them, let me know. I love all the comments I have received!!! Nick thanks again for this post (love to see as much Canadian content as possible!). What do you drive? What is Q rated?

------------------
'91 190E 2.6
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  #26  
Old 11-10-2000, 09:44 AM
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: ajax, ontario, canada
Posts: 773
hi all,

i use Pirelli P600s on my 190e2.6 for summer. Admittedly, these are not the best tires you can buy out there, but i succumbed to the Canadian Tire sale then before learning about this website and all the recommendations with tires (either that or i had a wad of Canadian Tire money back then).

although these are M+S tires, and the "M+S" rating being practically meaningless (being related only to tread pattern and not compound), my traction suffers when it is cold and wet. I believe the rubber compound is the culprit, which hardens and loses grip when the temperature falls.

as such, i have to be especially careful driving in the fall, when it gets cold and usually rains (like now). That means less late-braking, and less exuberant apex-clipping for me. All the more because the benz steering is too slow, and the steering wheel too large to catch a slide effectively.

my next summer tires will be michelins.

Shyne, you can visit the Tire Rack site for tire speed ratings (e.g., Q-rating).


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  #27  
Old 11-10-2000, 10:45 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Jacksonville, FL USA
Posts: 113
If any of you would like to know about high performance tires I got some tips. Whatever you do do not buy Michelin XGT-V4's, avoid these tires at all costs, these tires came stock on my Integra and they are junk. They are good for dry pavement driving but thats all they are good for, the ABS system in that car got a good workout when it was wet outside. Until I got new tires I was terrified to drive in the rain. I replaced the tires at about 11,000 miles and am now driving on some cheap Grand Spirit tires that excel in every area. I paid about 50$ a tire for these compared to about 120$ for the Michelins.

------------------
Adam,
1986 300E
1997 Acura Integra GS-R
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  #28  
Old 11-10-2000, 12:35 PM
LarryBible
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No surprise. Most V rated tires are not considered rain tires. I had a set of V rated tires on my Vette. They were great in every way except for quick wear of course, and rain traction.

Good luck,

------------------
Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, manual, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles
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  #29  
Old 11-10-2000, 03:24 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 474
Thank you all for your reply's on the tire issue. I went with the Michelin X1's
(195/65HR15's) for $118.00 per tire installed
(I live in Canada=good price) I think I made the right decision with the combination of excellent wet weather traction these tires offer(excellent water channeling) and the H rating helps when I decide to travel somewhere on the highway. I had them installed this afternoon since I had no class today and drove home in the rain. Very pleased with the handling!!!!!!! But my original problem with the rear diff still has not resolved itself. I am wondering about changing the diff fluid and was wondering if this could be done DIY and if so whether or not I would need ramps or jack stands to undertake this job. Larry do you use ramps for you DIY oilchanges? Anybody else do something different? Anyone have any tips? I have changed the oil myself before on other machines but both were riding lawn tractors so I was wondering about tips. Thank you for everything folks!!!!!!Any additional replies greatly appreciated!!!!!!
THANK YOU MIKE MCKINNEY

------------------
'91 190E 2.6
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  #30  
Old 11-10-2000, 05:09 PM
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Soperton, Ga. USA
Posts: 13,648
SHYNE - it is a do it yourself job if you have the ramps, the right socket and a torque wrench. Make sure you remove the fill plug first and make dog gone sure that it is raised securely! You do not want to put your body underneath and be torquing something that could possible roll off of a ramp or fall off of a jackstand. Take a long hard look at it and make sure it is SAFE to crawl under before crawling underneath.
good luck
engatwork
'95 E320 - 95k miles
'97 Honda CRV - 75k miles

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