I am contemplating purchasing new tires for our 94 e320. First off let me say that I am not a tire afficianado by any stretch. Ratings and sizes spin my head

I currently have Michelin mxv4 plus 195/65R/15 91H Radial XSE DOT M3TA tires on original factory wheels. We bought the car used a few months and during the pre purchase inspection the tech suggested 2 new front tires in the near future. I am now at the point where I want to do something about the tires. Next weekend I am planning to drive from Jacksonville to Cleveland to Jacksonville and visit family and friends. All told probably 3000 miles of driving when the trip is over.

I looked at SEARS website and found the same tire H rated for around $130. I figure after mounting, balance and other costs I am looking at what, $700? Ouch

Here is a typical day in the life of our E320...first off its my wifes daily driver, she's a very passive and cautious driver, drives 35 in a 45 zone, commutes about 3 miles roundtrip to work on neighborhood streets. Other times we may take an occasional weekend trip of maybe 500 miles roundtrip, car may see 100mph on a rare occasion (only if I am driving and shes nodded off) . Neither of us are speedfreaks. The car will maybe see 15K - 20K miles in an exceptional year and probably under 10K miles most years. I have a passion for Miata and use them for my daily drivers so the miles will stay off of the E320.

I am just looking for a good all around tire for general use at a reasonable cost.

I have searched the forum and just about everyone loves the Michelin MXV4's that are currently on the car. I am not overly impressed nor dissatisfied with them. They are on their last legs so I do not have a good base for an opinion of them.

Others have mentioned Dunlop A2's, ContiTouring CH 95 (I like the $63 price mentioned for Tire Rack), Pirelli's and others. Our spare tire, which is actually now on the passenger rear is a Pirelli P600. I am not sure if it was the best of the last 4 tires on the car from th elast tire change or if it was just purchased to use as a full size spare.

Like I said I need tires installed this week. I'd like to keep cost to a reasonable level, but still maintain a good ride and above all maintain safety. I's like to buy the tires in a one stop shopping experience. In and out in a reasonable time frame with the least hassle as possible. I want to leave with a good feeling of buying something good and not feeling that I was taken to the cleaners.

Is Sears a decent place to buy tires? Many have suggested Costco I may have a look there tomorrow. I know the post was long but I appreciate your time, experience and knowledge. Thanks

I did a search at Tire Rack and here is what I found...


They have the Continentals for $57

How does it work when I order these and then take them somewhere to have mounted, balanced and such. Does anyone sell these in a store, like a Sears, Costco or something?




http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?startIndex=0&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&search=true&vehicleSearch=true&sortValue=1 8&dg=true&sortCode=38050&width=195%2F&ratio=65&diameter=15&minLoad=S&loadRank=2&manufacturer=Contine ntal&manufacturer=Dunlop&manufacturer=Michelin&manufacturer=Pirelli&manufacturer=Yokohama&speed_rati ng=HR&speed_rating=VR&speed_rating=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR&performance=GTAS&performance=H PAS&x=26&y=13

I'd stick with the Michelin MXV4 Plus tires.

Check out many of the recent postings by stevebfl.

A tire discussion came up this past week and his 20+ years in owning his own shop tells him that there is no tire that comes close to the Michelin's. I know they're expensive, but they're worth it.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

can you post a link to that discussion? thanks

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/gtas.jsp

This is interesting. A comparison of some of the tires mentioned. The MXV4 Plus and The Continental CH 95 appear to be close in almost every category. Is the MXV4 really worth twice the cost?


Here is tire racks best sellers for the 94 E320

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareMostPop.jsp?autoYear=1994&autoMake=Mercedes-Benz&autoModel=E320&sortCode=38050&width=195/&ratio=65&diameter=15&minSpeedRating=H&minLoad=S&search=mostpop&vehicleSearch=true&speed_rating=HR&s peed_rating=VR&speed_rating=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR&

You could just buy dealer take off rims with tires, then youd have new tires and new rims, thats what I do.

I love michelins, I think they are worth the money, I have them on all of my cars. You can look in like automagazines and find the adds for tire places, you know tirerack, discount, and then you can get them for cheaper if you show them the add. I got Michelin MXV4s for like 550 mounted blanaced and lifetime rotation and balance. Just find a deal.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

I too believe that Michelin makes the best tire in the world, period, end of story.

That said, they are EXPENSIVE. Some of their methods that kept their products FAR superior have been copied by a few other manufacturers, so you can now get a few tires that are much closer to Michelin quality and a substantial cost savings.

Your tire use, as you describe it, does not demand a set of great handling tires. I use my 124 as my work car. I caught Continental CH95's in one size larger than my car calls for at $44 on sale from tire rack. They don't offer the handling of a Michelin, but they work fine for my purpose and will certainly last much longer than the performance Michelin.

If the Continental CH95 in your size is down to $57 on tire rack, IMHO you just will not be able to find more tire for the money. These tires require very little balance weight and are very uniform meaning there will be no objectionable stiff spots as in many other inexpensive tires.

As far as getting it done quickly, simply go on the Tire Rack site and look for an installer near you. I put on my own, so I don't know where this is on their site, but it should not be difficult to find.

After finding the installer near you, order the tires and have them shipped there and pay whatever freight cost you need for them to be there within your time frame. You might also check the Continental website to see if they have a local dealer where you can just have it done without all the ordering and installer locating.

Once the tires are there, make sure the installer DYNAMICALLY balances them with weights on the inside AND outside of the rim. Many stores want to put weights only on the inside so that the wheel does not get scratched. If the wheel does get scratched a little, that is a small price to pay for smooth at all speed tires. Believe me on this, if there are no weights on the outside of the wheel, raise H&!! until they balance them correctly.

These tires will last you many vibration free miles if DYNAMICALLY balanced and occasionally rotated. With your wifes driving style, she will absolutely NEVER know the difference, and when you drive it on trips, going down the Interstate on smooth, vibration free tires is the same whether they are expensive Michelins or a good, well balanced alternative.

My $0.02,

Larry,

Thanks for the info. I was hoping I would hear from you

I called around today and found the following

Costco has Michelin MXV4 XSE 89H 563.63 out the door tax incl, lifetime rotate, balance, road hazard, etc

Tires Plus has Conti CH 95 for 357.70 out the door tax incl, lifetime rotate, balance, add $3 per tire for road hazard, no plugs, inside patch only and then rebalance, prorated if non repairable

For $200 difference do I go with Michelin or go with Conti?

If you have 200 dollars go for the michelins. My aunt just got tires from costco same ones and she loves them. There is a post about costco tires.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

This is a decision you must make for yourself. I have given my input. For your driving styles do you need the better handling at the cost of a softer, shorter lived tire? Remember, since the Michelin is a softer compound thus will not last as long, the long term cost is greater than the $200 initial difference.

I saved so much on my Continentals and with a proper dynamic balance they are silk smooth. Again, for my purposes they will serve me well, if I was aggressively driving and wanted the added handling precision, I would go with the Michelins. Will you or your wife ever be able to tell the difference, with her driving slow and you only driving on the Interstate?

Good luck,

I have an appt on Tuesday for four new Continental CH 95'S

Thanks to everyone for their input.

I think this is the correct decision for YOUR particular needs.

Again, I can't overstress the need for correct balance. See that they use weights on the inboard AND outboard planes of the wheels, if you let them static balance with weights ONLY on the inboard lip, you will have a vibration, period.

Good luck,

I have a pair of michilin mxv4 195 65 15 from my 89 300E mounted on the original rims excellent condition. They are just sitting in my garage collecting dust. sold the car last year and have no need for them. anyone interested, contact me at email drmspce@aol.com

Well I ended up with the Continental CH95's 195/65/15. I purchased them this past Tuesday from Discount Tire in Orange Park (Jacksonville), FL.

I paid right around $350 for the set out the door. They even dismounted the best of my 5 tires and remounted and rebalanced it as my spare at no extra charge. It was my original spare, a Pirelli P600 with about 80% tread left. The manager even gave me about 6 or 7 business cards stamped with "free flat repair and free rotation for friends and family".

I drove it around town after the install and they seem to perform rather well. I drove it on interstate...rock solid, no shimmy or uneasiness....on city streets the performed just as well. Better than my worn Michelins

I am leaving this afternoon for our trip to Ohio and beyond and I will write a post trip review in a couple of weeks.

Did they use weights on both Planes?

Have a safe trip,