I have a 1982 500 sel (eurocar) and will need to replace tires soon. I have P215-60R/16 Michelin XGT4`s on Centra wheels, I have been reasonably pleased with this combo. I am looking for input/suggestions on a replacment tire. Or a suggestion on a tire wheel combo. Let me know what plus sizes you have used and how they worked out as far as ride, handling and longevity of the tire

You have either been real lucky or inexperienced.

The XGT is the most noisy, rough riding Michelin going and the 126 car is totally unforgiving of wider tire combinations.

If you are set on the size combination (one size over on width and a half size over on height - probably better than the common mistake of using 225/50R16), then you should get a smooth (not M&S) tire like a Michelin MXV4 or for less money the X-one (not sure they come in that size).

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve, thanks , I think... I would like to think its luck rather than inexperience ( I too am ASE Master cert and entering my 25th year in the automotive aftermarket) that I am reasonably satisfied with the tire and wheel combo that came on the car when I purchased it. I do agree the tires are on the noisy side, as far as the 126 chassis unforgiving of a + tire setup, ummm Im not sure what you mean, I dont autocross or race it. The car exhibits a neutral feel on the highway, where I put on most of its miles.Not twitchy at speed and not sluggish to respond to driver input. I however will have to choose some tire that is M+S rated as I drive to several snow ski trips a year in Utah and Colorado. I am not necessarily looking for a Michelin tire as I find them to be overpriced and lacking in many qualities.

By inexperience, I didn't mean incompetance, I just refered to time spent driving 126 bodies with a variety of wheel combos. Not only have I owned at least three 126 bodies, I have probably aligned one every working day for the last 20 years.

I have driven them with all manner of wheel and tire combos, and can make two predictions: one they track poorly and are noisier than most with M&S tires and two, they have all that amplified by oversize wheel/tire combos. I pretty much feel that way about most MBs, but the 126 body is the most affected.

Unless you can find some method of stiffening the longitudinal support of the front axle, thats just the way it is.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician