Here are several posts to another list regarding Nokian WR's on my '92 W124 Sportline. I've now run about 3,000 miles all over the mid-west in the recent snow and ice. These are 205/60 HR 15 on the 7" rims. They also offer an XL version which has stiffer sidewall.

Took my new tires to dealer for mounting on wheels I saved last year when I bought 4 of the 8 hole replicas at Tire Rack.

I promptly left on a trip from northeast Tennessee to just south of Nashville. First, I immediately discovered that it was difficult
to adapt to the soft sidewall of the H rated tire. This is probably aggravated by the tread design of the tire. There are a lot of siped rubber
blocks. When you take a sweeping turn on the interstate they don't track like my V rated Dunlops do. The tire response is delayed and then
they sort of start turning on their own. They require correction in sweeping turns.

They are also a little noisy. This is probably to be expected in this type of tire.

On a positive note, the dealer charged a grand total of $24.95 to mount and balance all 4 tires! I asked if that was a mistake and was told
that this was the correct price.

So now I am debating whether I can stand these tires for the next 3 or 4 winter months. I may be better off going back to the V rated tires.

Next post.

What I didn't say in my last post was that there was this slight vibration that felt like it was coming from the rear. I mean slight , but irritating. Time prevented taking it back to the dealer. Checked the internet and found a local tire shop that had the fancy Hunter Balancer.

Took all four tires to them for analysis and rebalance, as applicable. They found one wheel with a slight deformity. I took them the brand new spare for the parked '93, never driven on. We tossed the 12 year old Michelin Z tire. They re-balanced all 4 tires. They provide a computer print out on each wheel. They had the correct plastic coated weights. I put the wheels back on this evening and went for a spin.

Dead solid perfect! Zero vibration up to 80 mph.

Looks like forecast is for Sleet, Freezing rain, snow in Chicago tommorrow, so I will get to test them out.

Just arrived in Grand Rapids, MI after an evening run from Chicago. Heavy snow from Benton Harbor north. I have been a little critical of the new Nokian WR's, but now I am changing my tune.

These tires are amazing. the left hand lane was covered over. Sometimes just slightly slushy. These things just seem to slice through the snow. The car isn't knocked off course when changing lanes in the snow. Averaged probably 65 safely , with the Euros and PIAA fogs going strong.

Supposed get 4 to 8 tonight.

Next Post 12/22/05 about 3,000 miles later (long business trip )

The Nokian WR's have seated , if that's the word for the slight wearing in process. They are vibration free at 80 MPH, and briefly at 100 MPH just to see. I could easily see myself with these year-round, but they are not as stable as the V-Rated tires in sweeping interstate curves .
I will go back to the summer V rated tires in a couple of months.


Steve White
Johnson City, TN
1992 300E Sportline 217K Anthracite Grey
1993 300E Sportline 252K Black Pearl