This question might have been asked before. I am about to buy four news tires. I have a 2000 ML320 with ML430 7 spoke wheels with 275-55-17" tires. The tires are Dunlap Granktrak. I would like opinions of a better all around all season highway tire. Thanks

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Bruce Hat
2000 ML320 50K miles
1997 Jaquar XJ6 41K miles
1992 300SL 70K miles - Mint
1995 E320 Wagon 105K miles "Sold" - 10-6-04
1998 E320 "Totalled" - 1-14-04

If you want to know how crooked a stick is, just lay a straight one next to it.

It's not the tall sails that bring a ship to the port of destination, but the unseen wind.

Uncle's quote to me at 12 yrs old "Why walk when you can Bogaloo"

Michelin All Terrain. I've got 25k miles on it and they are still running strong, plenty of tread left. It's got good traction on snow.

I just replaced the 255/65/16's on my 2000 ML-320.
I investigated tires and ratings for several months and here is what I came up with.

TOYO Open Country. toyo.com

They have held the top quality award for 7 years running.

Dealers tell me that they don't have to stock TOYO's just order in a set of 4 and 99.9% of the time they are near perfect balance and run out.

Priced at $105.00 ea. installed, wow is that cheaper than $160.00 +

The ride - never had any tire ride this smooth at all speeds.

Tread looks aggressive but there is little to no noise.

The Dunlop Grank Track never rode this well, changed the entire ride and response of the ML.

Good Luck

Don't like buying foreign??? I just looked at a Chevy Equinox at the dealer, The Engine was made in China, the Trani was made in Japan and the SUV was assembled in Canada. - NAFTA I guess.

SmithIns,

How long have you had the Toyos? I am seriously considering them for my 98. I am hope to put off replacing them till after the first of the year but I have been shopping for prices. I have a quote from the local Tires Plus for $95 per tire mounted with lifetime balance and rotation. That souned like a really good deal compared to the Michelin and Bridgestone. How many miles have you put on them? It seems you are pleased with them is that correct?

Thanks,

I put a set of Nokian WR tires on mine. Have driven them year round for the last 25,000 miles. Fabulous in the snow/ice/slush/rain. Have made hundreds of trips to and from snow country on them. Delightful and quiet the rest of the year. The ML is so well balanced, the tires have identical wear and haven’t been rotated.

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I just put the Toyo's on about 1000 miles ago, so I have no feed back on life of the tread.

All I know is that they ride great and if I get 50,000 out of them for the price I'll be very very happy.

The last 30,000 on the OEM Dunlap's was pain and misery, got 50K out of them but a lot of vibration and cupping which was probably my fault for not rotating them often enough.
Cupped out at about 20K.

Good Luck

I just put yokohama geolander hts051's on my 98 ml320. Great ride & handling, much better than the oem dunlop grandtrek. Quiet too. Recently read consumer reports low rating, but the tires still rated among the best in the first two categories. I am waiting, with fingers crossed, to see how it compares to the grandtrek's in snow. Cost was $109 installed & balanced. I didn't know about the Toyo's at the time I bought.

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87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)

I"ve heard good things about the yokohama geolander , don't think you went wrong there.
Actually, I think the local MB Dealer has put a number of them on MB's and had good feed back.

They did price me out the Dunlap Grand Tracks at my 50 K service, Seems like they were about $550 mounted.

Ties dealer told me that the Dunlaps are just a cheap Good Year!!.....I really don't know, except I did not have good luck with them.

I've posted before that I have Cross Terrains and like them. At this point I can say I have 54K miles on them and they still have sufficient tread that I should easily get 60K miles. They have worn very evenly; I rotate them every 5K miles.

I just put four Generals on my 99 ML320, after removing the originals at 62K, with tread left! I think the Generals are the best all around tire for this car --based on my own experience on two ML's with Generals (my girl friend's also) and comments from users in sites like TireRack.com .. All of the top tires are good, but some are just better... The Generals ride well and wear like iron ... my vote has to go with them .... they are available for any wheel size also.

Ben Carter
95 Corvette 27K
99 ML 320 62K
76 450SEL 128K

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

Thanks for the replies. I spoke to Luke at Tirerack. He suggested the Bridgestone Dueller HL-Alensa in 275/55/17 for my ML. He said it's a new tire and would be just what I want for a nice ride and great handling in the ML. I'm in a suburb of Phila. in PA so we get some snow but not brutal amounts. The ride comfort, wet traction and handling is most important to me. Ordered 4 from him at a very fair price. Should have them on by this weekend. I'll post what I think of this tire after a few hundred miles. Luke reccommended the Yokos for my SL when I went up to 17" amg wheels and they are just great, so I would think these tires should be good.

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Bruce Hat
2000 ML320 50K miles
1997 Jaquar XJ6 41K miles
1992 300SL 70K miles - Mint
1995 E320 Wagon 105K miles "Sold" - 10-6-04
1998 E320 "Totalled" - 1-14-04

If you want to know how crooked a stick is, just lay a straight one next to it.

It's not the tall sails that bring a ship to the port of destination, but the unseen wind.

Uncle's quote to me at 12 yrs old "Why walk when you can Bogaloo"

Well Luke came through again. The Bridgestone Dueller H/L Alenzia (275/55/17) is a great tire. The ride is real good. Handling, noise, smoothness have all improved considerably over the Dunlap Grandtreks TG35. It's also a very handsome tire with a nice looking tread pattern. Now I know why Lexus puts almost the same tire on the RX330 and their other SUV's. The H/L stands for highway luxury and it means it. I think this tire is a winner, at least the first 300 miles of driven has proven that.

Thanks Luke

Bruce Hat

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Bruce Hat
2000 ML320 50K miles
1997 Jaquar XJ6 41K miles
1992 300SL 70K miles - Mint
1995 E320 Wagon 105K miles "Sold" - 10-6-04
1998 E320 "Totalled" - 1-14-04

If you want to know how crooked a stick is, just lay a straight one next to it.

It's not the tall sails that bring a ship to the port of destination, but the unseen wind.

Uncle's quote to me at 12 yrs old "Why walk when you can Bogaloo"

Yokohama tires have been selected as the best for M-class by Automobile magazine in 2001, and the Dunlop tires were on the second place. Dunlop is less expensive, so I got them and had no problems in Minnesota!

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1999 ML320
100,000 miles
77K - engine failure


http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...inneapolis.gif

I read they are near equal to Michelins.

I just ordered a set of Kumhos.
$470 Mounted -balanced - tax + $40 hazzard insurance.
3 week back ordered.

12/7/04
The tires came early. Ive only been on them 4 days. They have an agressive tread design (directional) and are quiet.

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Steve Danville
what i did myself.
CPS
rear shocks
MAS x 3.
SparkPlugs (twice)
Fuel pump & Filter
Window switch
replaced both failed horns with Honda horns.
Cleaned ERG Tube
Oil changes
Oil consumption Fix
Brake Pads
A/C Recharge
Anti-Freeze change X 2.
Front Shocks. Monroe. $90
Mercedes Warrenty Work:
Harmonic balancer,power steering clamp. Cat converters.Drive Shaft Bearing.s
Replaced Outer Lower Tie Rods and front lower ball joints at 156,000 miles

On my 3rd set of tires:

#1 Dunlop, bad in the rain, only got 41K
#2 General cheaper than Michelin but noisy
#3 Yokohama Geolander excellect tire, quiet, good in rain; not seen snow yet

Puchased from Tirerack.com excellent price and service.

However they are T rated tire, one step below ML320 original. Still enough to support a heavily loaded ML