My $0.02...

I think the Nokians are the best - period. I personally use Toyo Observe X-10 winter tires. They are excellent as well and much cheaper than the Nokians (though slightly more $ than the Alpins). I've also used everything from the Canadian Tire brand snow tires to Michelin Alpins to Blizzaks. The Nokians lasted a long time and kept their gripping ability over several seasons worth of driving. I found that both the Alpins and the Blizzaks were great at first but after a couple of seasons quickly lost their performance.

The Toyos have been great. I'm on my third season with them and they're still gripping very well. They're at about 50% tread but still performing, although this will be their last season. If I can afford Nokians I'd use them, if not it will be another pair of Toyos.

P.S. I live in Canada and frequently travel 500 Km+ a week on county roads which dish out everything from black ice to powder snow to packed snow to blowing snow, etc. I quickly learned that a set of good snow tires is a MUST for my 300E. It is simply not safe to drive on all-season tires in the winter with these cars, especially since tire technology has come such a long way.

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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

Carman, I spun my wife's '99 E300 TD in the rain and in a corner - it has ASR and that didn't help. ASR on your car probably wouldn't have helped either. I can't stand it and I think I am going to look into an aftermarket defeat switch for the ASR.

lol...I agree it is relatively useless if you know how to drive and have appropriate tires.

ASR = Acceleration Sensitive Right-foot

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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

Is there hope?

Can I switch out that so call sort of defeat switch on my car to a true on/off switch? I've seen them for the 93-94 500E's but not for the 300 or 400E system. I've often wondered if I could just disconnect the system, but I would perfer a defeat switch. ASR is probably good for the average TODAYS driver, its sort of scary with the power coming back to autos.
I remember when I was sixteen, working as a grease monkey at my uncles Dodge/Plymouth dealership. He got a Cornet model in, a blue one, and he asked me to go fill her up; uncle John, the mechanics, local chief of police were watching me out the show room window (unknowly to me) and knowing I would gun it around the corner. Well I did notice a differnet sound to the engine, and as expected I did I gun the engine and the rear almost caught up with the front, yep it was a Hemi, and ASR did not save my butt. My uncle taught me how to drive fast with road manners. i loved those hemi's
enjoy your drive, timreid

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timreid
1992 400E
euro lights
500E sway bars
210 16in wheels