Family winter tire test (not scientific) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blackmercedes · #1 02-20-2003, 04:57 PM

Well, here are the test vehicles:

1998 C230 with 195/65-15 Michelin Pilot Alpin tires,10/32 remaining.

1998 C230 with 205/60-15 Michelin MXV4 tires, 8/32 remaining.

1990 190E 2.6 with 195/65-15 Michelin Pilot Alpin tires, 9/32 remaining.

2001 C240 with 205/55-16 Nokian Hakka Q tires, 10/32 remaining

1988 Mazda 626 with 175/70-14 B.F.G. Winter Slalom, 10/32 remaining (despite FIVE seasons)

Today, we have some pretty icy conditions, and lots of new snow. Here are our observations:

1. On sheer ice, the Pilot Alpins, on all cars, are pretty much useless. You are nothing more than a road block. Heaven help you if you find yourself at a light with even the slightest incline. You're pretty much sunk.

2. In deep snow, the Pilot Alpins are okay, but not too helpful when things get a little dicey.

3. On packed snow, the Pilot Alpins are pretty good, but the tires are not well suited to the 190E, and it struggled even on packed snow.

4. The Michelin MXV-4's are NEARLY the equal of the Pilot Alpins in all winter conditions we found except for packed snow, and even there the Pilot Alpin's advantage was marginal at best.

5. The FWD Mazda ran away from the Michelin equipped MB's on ALL surfaces. It had no problems pulling away from lights on ice, and overall handling was superb. The 190E was blocks behind the 626 in no time. The Winter Slaloms are well suited to the car, and grip is phenomenol.

6. The C240 on Hakka Q's gave the Mazda a run for it's money, and on ice was it's equal. The Hakka Q's were so far ahead of the Michelin's it was startling. The C230 with ASR had it's orange triangle on pretty much all the time, the C240 hardly flashed it. If the 190E had ASR it would have burned the rear brakes out today.

My own non-scientific observations? Don't waste money on the Pilot Alpins. This is my first chance to use them in horrid conditions (all winter this year) and they're going in the dumpster in the spring. They are barely better than the all-season MXV4 in the winter. Just buy the MXV4's are leave them on.

For tough winter conditions, the FWD Mazda with the BFG's was tough to beat. This car was a nightmare in the snow on all-seasons, but an aggressive winter tire transformed it. FWD cars show more dramatic results from pure winter tires, contrary to popular belief.

The Nokian tires were incredible. The Michelin's might as well have been racing slicks in comparision. The ice traction difference was so great, it was almost unbelievable. Despite the lower profile 16" tires of the W203, the ice/snow traction was much better. Going to a -1 fit on the W203 would be a good idea.

Next fall, all the Michelin's will be gone, and Nokian's will be mounted. When I bought them, every place I shopped touted them as the tire of choice for my car. Bunk. Probably have the best profit margin...

dieseldude · #2 02-20-2003, 05:45 PM

Great write-up John - thanks! Nice having those various MB's in the family for the head-on comparo.

With 2 W124's, a W123 and a W126 in my family - many with new tires (including my new WR's), we could have some good test results as well. Too bad this winter in the Puget Sound has been one of the mildest on record

Gosh -4 F sounds COLD!!

Regards,
- Ryan

Pete Geither · #3 02-21-2003, 08:44 AM

Gosh

I've been running the Alpins for a couple of years on a couple of cars, and thought they did a remarkable job. Never actually did a comparison like you have though. Will definately try something different next year just to see. Thanks a bunch for the imput. Pete

Kuan · #4 08-22-2004, 11:24 PM

I was very very close to ordering a set of Pilot Alpins this year. I guess not! I picked up the Passat Wagon on Feb 28th and there was a snowstorm not a day later. The Wagon with XGT's and I was amazingly surprised at how good they were in the snow. Better than the old Taurus with Arctic Alpins!

moparmike · #5 08-26-2004, 04:08 AM

I am ordering a set of Nokian Haks and having them studded. What shocks the hell out of me is the fact that my Michelins do so well on snow/ice. Granted, I dont go out and try to do anything stupid, but it keeps me out of the way of the wreck-seekers.

Lesson #1 for snow/ice driving: Go get a big old land yacht, in sufficiently good repair to drive on dirt roads. Now, go find some rarely traveled, smooth dirt roads with some curves. Not any thing like "Dead Man's Curve overlooking a 50ft sheer cliff with pointy rocks at the bottom", but some that resemble a road course. Now, go do no less than 30mph, and more like 50-60mph. Make sure that tail-end comes out from under you, and learn to steer into it. Do that once a week all summer. You WILL be better prepared to drive on slippery conditions in any car. Or you will be at the bottom of that curve because you didnt listen.

Oh, and its mandatory that you yell out "Yeee-haaawww!!!" at least once. Oh, and if the law comes after you, use the nearest bush or bale of hay to jump something and escape.*:p

*disclaimer: That may only work for Hemi Orange-colored Dodge Chargers with a Rebel flag on the top. Dont say I didnt warn you.

Scott · #6 09-05-2004, 09:52 AM

I put Blizzak's on my 124 at Luke's suggestion. They were terriffic. On the first big snow fall I taught my teenage daughters to drive in the snow. We had to work at it to get them to skid.

The only problem was that I had them installed on chromed OEM rims and the rims leak due to chrome peeling off. Anybody have a decent set of 124 rims for sale?

dtf · #7 09-17-2004, 10:04 PM

You got snow already?!

Hakkapeliitta is all I use on both cars. Mounted on extra sets of rims too.