Well, the rainy seasonn finally really kicked in here about a month or so ago and I finally had the time to go out and get new tires for my car.

Driving the car with the new tires on I was totally happy!!! I loved it, it was like a new car!!! My GF was in the car with me and she just laughed at me saying, how can you be so happy about new tires???

Well, I am. Anyone else here get happy about new tires?

Iggy

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2006 - Suzuki Gran Vitara (2.0 L fully equipped) Like this car so far except for trying to put on the seatbelt.
1988 - 190e - 2.3L - 172K miles (It now belongs to the exwife)
1999 - Chevy Blazer LS Fully Equiped - killed it June 2006
2001 - Honda Civic EX - 68K miles (sold June 2004)
1963 - 220S - Dual Carb 6 cyl. (sold)
1994 - Yamaha WaveRaider (fun to ride)

me. I get happy at new anything for my car. Lightbulbs, coolant, brake fluid etc etc etc. I'm just a happy person I suppose.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

I recall when I put tires on the G500. I was as happy as a pig in some mud.





It does feel like a new car, it sooo odd...

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Shoot, I get all happy after I WASH my car. Put some new tires on it and I'd be damned near ecstatic!

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I just put a new set of 4 Michelins on the W210 and it's like a new car. Funny thing is I replaced with almost the identical tire (same as Symmetry but with new Primacy name) but the handling is so much more responsive. The old tires were about 4 years old, had about 45,000 miles on them, and were evenly worn. I wonder if the sidewalls can deteriorate enough in 4 years that I can tell the difference?

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Not to long ago I got new tires for the 1980 300SD, even got a new spare. I think I told everyone, I have never bought a brand new spare before. It is a good feeling to know that your spare is good. I even called my mom, and told her to have my dad check her spare tire for the proper PSI in her spare tire. Talking about tires the 1972 220D parts car I just got, has the original spare tire. I will put it in my 1970 220D for the next GTG.

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1976 240D
1976 240D parts car
1970 220D daily driver

I love putting new tires on. Always necessitates a late night cruise on a *preferably* newly paved road.

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

That "new tire smell", puts a little extra bounce in my step

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I consider my Michelins on my Lexus a "mod". . .

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". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

new tires are great, I ordered my Contis from tiresdirect I think, great deal too

Just put new Michelins MXM4's on my E350 4matic. Got rid of the OEM Conti's and now have round tires that don't track every rut in the road. It now drives like a Mercedes should.

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MBlovr
'59 180 Dad's original
'59 180 Dad's 2nd one
'67 250SE Dad's last one
'59 220 SE My first one
'62 220SE Coupe second one
'89 190E 2.6 5spd third one
'06 E350 4matic (sold)
'10 E350 4matic

I always liked the smell of new tires. It reminds me of times when, as a kid, I’d go into the neighborhood bike shop to see all the new bikes. I’d walk around the store, check out the paint, the chrome, the spokes and gears in close detail, while delighting at the intoxicating scents of new rubber, plastics, and the oil used to lube the chains; but mostly it was about tires. It was the scent of freedom. It was the scent of the future. It was the scent of independence!

As time went by, even though I didn’t visit bicycle shops, it was always an honor to “need” new tires. Sure it was expensive, but it was, after all, a chance to visit the local tire dealer. Before I stepped through the tire store’s doorway, I’d have gone through at least half a dozen ads in the local newspaper and in Autoweek. But shortly after crossing the store’s threshold, the scent was captivating. It was akin to a euphoric, seductive drug. A drug that inspired safety, a sense of security, and of adventure. New tires were a sense of power. It was a chance to learn the car’s prowess anew.

The tires would always cost way too much, and even though money mattered, I’d always downplay that part. The soft grippy look freshly mounted tires, the tread so deep that light seemed to disappear in the chasm between the treads, soft nibs of rubber from the tire forming process sticking out everywhere, the pale blue, green and red dye along the middle of the tread that would disappear after a few weeks. And the scent. For some reason I always bought tires at the end of the day. Seeing new tires on my car was a sun-down event. The look of new tires in fading light made for a moment when the car was reborn.

Later came a time when new tires represented a decision point. Should I buy new tires or start looking for a new car? I never liked buying a new car, even a new-used car. The expense. The uncertainty and cold feet. The bank loan and the battle to ignore the cost of interest and depreciation.

As my income increased, I opted for nicer cars, performance and luxury cars.

When I started looking at Mercedes I was surprised because they often didn’t come with the best performance tires. Tires weren’t so important to Mercedes, I guess. Somehow the tires got relegated as just another part of the machine. Sure they were speed rated, but not as purrdy and somehow not as important as tires on a Porsche. Tires were important, so when it was time for replacement, I always bought higher performance tires. Not the best, maybe one step below. After I bought my first Mercedes, I stopped thinking about replacing the car after only a couple tire changes, but along the way I also lost the sense of enthusiasm for the delight new tires used to bring.

As the years past, the intrigue for tires started to fade. Tires became just another thing needing occasional attention. Another nuisance-obligation in too-busy a life. And then, after 45 years dappled by purchases of tires for motorcycles, cars and trucks, I bought another bicycle. The scent of the tires is what stands out in my mind most from that day. Since then riding a bike has always brought a sense of joy that is unmatched in its way. It is at times a way to find the simple freedom I experienced as a child. Funny how the pursuit of a busy life can make you loose track of some of your goals. After a while you succumb to the world of bigger things yet may be unable to find the objects which bring you pleasure.

I still find the biggest sense of freedom when riding my bike, and I hope, especially on this 4th of July, that the reader finds something which provides a sense of freedom, even if it is the scent of new tires. That is, after all, a scent of independence.

All of which reminds me … my bike needs a new rear tire. Heh.

I love new tires, I always need to check the balance at some triple digit speeds.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Very nice essay!

I love putting new tires on a car. I never let them get much past half wear before changing them. They start getting slippery and hard and its time to go.

I used to go for the higher performance tires too but after my MIchelin MX$'s wore out in about 20K twenty years ago I went back to the more mundane Michelins.

If I want sticky feeling tires I'll take out my autocross car with the slicks that pick up pebbles and look like a sesame seed bun after a run.

New tires and new shocks make an old car feel all new again!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.