Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Mercedes-Benz Wheels & Tires

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 11-12-2006, 02:07 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Blue Point, NY
Posts: 25,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apotheoun View Post
Hi Brian,

I see you have an '84 SD, which may still have the original 14" bundt wheels like my newly aquired '84 300 SDS (stick-shift). Do you have Michelin HydroEdge tires intalled on this car too? I see they are available in the original specified 195/70 R14 size. I just had this very same tire and size on my former 240D, and loved the bad weather drivability of them, even though they were oversize for those steel rims. I felt safe.

The SDS just came with a new set of Yokohama Avid 205/70 R14, which look good but scare me to death in the rain, so far. I am getting virtually no traction starting from a stop, up hills and around curves. The SDS is really slipping in the rear, like the 240D never did. Tire pressures seem correct. Is the SD W126 body more prone to fish-tailing than the W123, or is it purely those cheap but highly touted tires?

Is there an advantage to return to the original 195/70 R14 size in a Michelin HydroEdge, over the larger Yokohama's? Does anyone have experience with either tire, or have a good recommendation? Thanks in advance!

Garth

The SD still has the 14" Bundts with Michelin MX4 215-70-14's. These tires have proven extremely durable and are approaching 90K. They were originally purchased when I had the W123 and I transferred them to the W126 four years ago. They are getting a bit long in the tooth due to their age.

The Hydroedge are on the '86 SDL and I've got no complaints regarding them.

Can't comment on the Avids. I've got two of them on the front end of the Dodge Van, but, the van never pushes it's tires to any kind of limit.

I don't think the W126 is more prone to sliding the back end around. If the tires don't suit your driving style, the vehicle is going to slide more than you wish. Most 80K tires have such hard compounds that sliding them in the rain is not all that difficult to do. Can't tell you if the Hydroedge is prone to sliding.........the SDL is never pushed to it's limits.........but, I can say that I have complete confidence in the SDL during heavy rain and speeds of 75 mph. There is never the slightest feeling of sliding.

Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 11-12-2006, 02:24 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 81
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton View Post
The SD still has the 14" Bundts with Michelin MX4 215-70-14's. These tires have proven extremely durable and are approaching 90K. They were originally purchased when I had the W123 and I transferred them to the W126 four years ago. They are getting a bit long in the tooth due to their age.

The Hydroedge are on the '86 SDL and I've got no complaints regarding them.

Can't comment on the Avids. I've got two of them on the front end of the Dodge Van, but, the van never pushes it's tires to any kind of limit.

I don't think the W126 is more prone to sliding the back end around. If the tires don't suit your driving style, the vehicle is going to slide more than you wish. Most 80K tires have such hard compounds that sliding them in the rain is not all that difficult to do. Can't tell you if the Hydroedge is prone to sliding.........the SDL is never pushed to it's limits.........but, I can say that I have complete confidence in the SDL during heavy rain and speeds of 75 mph. There is never the slightest feeling of sliding.
Thanks Brian!

I think my driving style (or lack thereof) has little to do with the tire slipping. It is hard to get this car started at a green light, or track correctly around a corner without fish-tailing, at all, even at low speeds in the rain. These Avids just slip and spin!

It's thrilling to hear you have 90K on those MX4's. Isn't that a large size for those bundtcake wheels, or is this within normal limits? The HydroEdge does not come in a 205, or 215/70 R14 size.

Garth
__________________


2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 11-12-2006, 03:36 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Blue Point, NY
Posts: 25,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apotheoun View Post
Thanks Brian!

I think my driving style (or lack thereof) has little to do with the tire slipping. It is hard to get this car started at a green light, or track correctly around a corner without fish-tailing, at all, even at low speeds in the rain. These Avids just slip and spin!

It's thrilling to hear you have 90K on those MX4's. Isn't that a large size for those bundtcake wheels, or is this within normal limits? The HydroEdge does not come in a 205, or 215/70 R14 size.

Garth
It sounds like the tread is very hard and the wet weather performance has got to suffer........

Yep, I'm +2 on the SD. Actually, they look quite good on the vehicle.......tend to fill the wheel wells better. But, the sidewalls are huge and the vehicle has a "floaty" feeling at times. The ride is still poor. Haven't figure that one out yet.

My plan for the SD is to use the 15" wheels (15 hole) from the later W126. I've got a set that I may have powder coated and then the SD will probably get the 215-65-15 Hydroedge, in similar manner to the SDL.

You might consider the same approach. A set of 15" can be had on e-bay on occasion for reasonable costs. But, you can also get burned. I had to toss out two wheels on a "good deal" that I got on e-bay for four of them.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 11-14-2006, 02:58 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 81
Michelin HydroEdge Rules!

It's a rainy dreary November day here in Philadelphia. The roads are relatively slick with all those fallen leaves....

I took my SDS to the nearest National Tire and Battery, fifteen miles north, donning the pre-existing practically new Yokohama Avid 205/70 R14 tires inflated 30 pounds in front and 34 in the rear. Even though these tires were inflated to the specs inside the driver's door post, it was a white knuckle experience getting there. These tires kept spinning at intersections, and allowed the SDS to fish-tail aimlessly around several right angle turns. I began to wonder why I just bought this 23 year old car!

But I was on a mission to see those Michelin HydroEdge's...

After some minor negotiation at NTB, the price and trade-in of the Yokohamas seemed palatable, and the switch commensed. The HydroEdge's were selected to match the original bundtcake wheel tire size of 195/70 R14, and so they are slightly smaller than the former Yokohamas. Even so, I could immediately feel the improvement and difference in traction and handling. The new tires are smaller, but effectively have more rubber in road contact. The ride is also firmer and more responsive; better than the cushy, floaty feel of the former tires. Believe me, I tried hard to get these new tires to spin out and slip, but it just wasn't happening! Stepping on the accelerator translated into responsive acceleration even on the slickest intersection surfaces.

Since the weather had not changed, I am sold! I lost that white-knuckle fear and hit the curves and corners with confidence. How these two tires could be so different is beyond me. The SDS feels like it should feel to drive, at last. So my first comparative impressions of the Michelin HydroEdge tires are a definite thumbs-up!

Garth

__________________


2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

Last edited by Apotheoun; 11-14-2006 at 03:09 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page