went ahead and bit the bullet, well actually, wrote the check and put new matched rubber on the road. New balanced tires make a huge difference in the feel of the car. She's still a bit of a pig in the curves, but she hangs in there now! Tracks right straight down the road and now I know what you guys are talking about when you say "the Mercedes feel"...feels great.

The old tires, while they looked good always kinda worried me. Mike told me 1 was made in 2001, 2 in 2003, and 1 in 2005....3 of one off-brand, and the fourth was a never-heard-of-it tire. The car had always felt like it was fighting with it's own 4 corners....I reckon it was! I had planned on a all wheel alignment, now I think I'll watch how the tires wear in and then make that call.

BTW, I asked about the differences in front to rear tire air pressure that's posted on the door pillar. Mike said to run 35# all the way around unless I want the new tires to wear uneven. He said, she said, they say....hey, I don't know! I do know I like the way it feels now!

Grabbed a burger on the way over to the tire shop. It was raining, I looked out and these two guys were circling the wagon, looking it over hard. I was the only guy in the place, so we ate lunch. Just a couple of "Mercedes-Coneheads" that love these old cars too! Got a standing offer to sell, just give 'em a call...that made me feel better about "investing" more money into this ride! So far, new front shocks and new tires have had the best bang for the buck with this car.

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Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

1984 300d Turbo 137k
Always Replace All 4 Tires, Same Size And Tread Design Go To Tirerack.com For Correct Size And Best Tire

Tires are where the rubber meets the road. Man that sounded cheesy, but they do make a huge difference. A good set of Michelins will make any car nicer.

What brand did you get?

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Got Goodrich Control Plus, P205/70R14's...on the car for $259.38, which sounded much better than $475 for 4 Mich's. I'm fast aproaching my budget ceiling with this project! And the cruise is still out, the seats need work, and in the rain I found out my windshield leaks...nickles and dimes, a billion here and there and pretty soon you're talking about real money!

My red-headed wife says I'm a "tight-wad SOB", I prefer to think of myself as "fiscally responsible", although I suspect she is correct.

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Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

..........hope that they are not out of round by too much.........

Drive on a perfectly smooth road at 7 mph.......see if you feel anything........

what other tires are good and can one put bigger rims on a 78 300SD?
I don't know what's on it now, but I'm betting it's stock rims.

Ginny

Michelins are worth the price, they last much longer than cheaper tires. Before I had MIchelins on my 300CD I bought Goodyears; $250 for all four. Less than half a year later tire tread was half gone, with a almost a year with the new Michelins no wear of the tires what so ever!

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Goodyear...........

I'd love to see a set of tires that are perfectly round (can't feel anything at 7 mph) and will go 100K........and pay $60. per tire...................


you get what you pay for.