It's snowing here in PA and my car Sucks!!! Those Michelin tires 235R45 17 are no good for this kind of weather. It just slips on the slightest hill. I am thinking about getting four new wheels and have some snow tires mounted on them...



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Peter L. House
1998 Sport E430
Azure Blue

All MBs suck on snow... Even the ASR doesn't help...
My 560sec sucks also when it is raining :(

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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Light, nimble car with gobbbbs of power. I wonder why all of those front wheel drives are zipping by? :p Sounds like you need a 4matic or ML.

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Good snow tires on all wheels, such as Blizzack's or other manufacturer's equivalents are really beneficial in snowy/icy conditions. Problem is if you don't drive in cold conditions the tire life diminishes. AWD and much broader array of all season tires are even better in snowy/icy conditions.

I use Michelin XGTV4 on my 4-matic and logged about 9K miles in snow country last ski season and the combination does well in some fairly horrific conditions. I've used them for about a third that so far this season and they continue to perform well.

I STRONGLY recommend a set of Michelin Arctic Alpins for this kind of weather. I just put a set on my 300E and they perform miracles!! 124s are especially bad in foul weather, but these tires are great, and the ride is not even noticeable from all season tires! Actually, it's a tad bit softer because of the thinner sidewalls, but the handling is wonderful. I recommend them to everyone who comes into the shop and so far I have had almost 15 people bring me a set to mount and balance and not one complaint yet! Blizzaks don't ride as good as the Michelins do, and their sidewalls tend to be weak, so I'd stick with the Alpins. Hope this helps!



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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'79 6.9 (SOLD) :(
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8

I recently drove through a snow storm in the Chicago area in my 98 E320 with Michelin Pilot Alpin tires. The only problem I encountered was taking off from a stop. The traction control (ASR) kicked in even with the transmission in winter mode. I learned to go very very easy on the accelorator. After getting up to speed the car handled very well.

phouse, you may have to get a set of 16 inch wheels. See "Standard OEM for 99 E430 Sport" in "Wheels & Tires" forum. Those 17 inch tires don't have enough sidewall to be really effective.

Peter,

I agree with Aaron. You definitely need 4 snow and ice tires installed. I know it's an expense, but believe me, after you get them, you won't believe you got by without them. (Come to think of it, you are not getting by now!)

I bought a set of Artic Alpins for my wife's car this year and they make a big, big difference over the all season tires that they replaced.

I have also used snow and ice tires for years with my Audi Quattro. Even with an AWD car, they make a difference. Remember, your tires are your only four contact points with the road.

Good luck.

Whats that saying about a carpenter that blames his tools?? :p Really, if you drive in winter than you need winter tires. Mercedes has done their bit with 2nd gear starts and ASR but they can't account for every driving situation.

Up here in the snowy North, two sets of tires and rims are the norm. If you experience city driving than "ice radials" of stock size are OK. If you take to the ski hills where deeper snow is expected, than more aggressive tread one or two sizes narrower than stock are advisable (seems odd but results in greater traction due to more veh. weight per sq. inch of contact patch).

A shovel and survival kit in the trunk should accompany any highway trip and don't write any cheques with your right foot that your insurance company can't cash.

Here in Pennsylvania we don't always "get a real winter," but when we do, it's often pretty respectable. I had Blizzaks on my Volvo which I sold back in July, along with the Blizzaks. I haven't tried Michelin's snow tire, but I can say that Blizzaks transformed that RWD Volvo in snow. Instead of going 10 to 15 mph on packed ice and snow, I found myself driving 45, then getting annoyed at the BMW's crawling along at 10 mph :)

Snow/Ice tires are the answer. It is well worth the money for a 2nd set of wheels and tires.

The difference is night and day.


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Noah
1999 C43
4Noah.homepage.com

My 500E scared the s**t out of me in the snow with the 17s...it now wears 225/55-16 Toyo Observe snows, and it gets around better than my wagon (with the same tires)!! :cool:

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE