Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

[JB]

I currently have Michelins on Ole Blue (275/55r17) but she will need new shoes soon.

There seem to be a lot of brands and models offered: Michelin, Dunlop. Hankook, Bridgestone, etc.

For traction, quiet ride and longevity what do you recommend?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

I know the Michelins are expensive but thats all i run on mine.Our company trucks all switched from Bridgestone and Generals to Michelin.They last much longer.
Kinda like the old saying you get what you pay for.
My other car had Hankooks on it when new.I put Michelins on it as well,much better ride.
Also my chevy truck has got over 60,000 miles on its Michelins and they look only half worn..

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Michelins! Puts all the other ones to shame. I wish I had a link at hand to show you how the Michelin is constructed. It is unique in the radial world. It is the smoothest running (right down to bald) and one of the most durable and high mileage tires on road.

I think it is one of the few things that the French got right. (wines of course included)

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Michelins have become my favourite tires, after 157K miles, my F150 is on it's second set of LTX / MS P255/70 R16.
I got 91K miles out of the first set, i also found them to give a comfy ride.

 

[JB]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Well, the Michelins on Ole Blue have a shade over 97K on them, but I just get shudders at the prospect of a Grand for a set of tires.

Haven't heard from the ML guru, Skinnywater, yet, but it seems unanimous so far.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fi...4723&typ=Truck/SUV&rcc=&rd=17&ar=55&tc=MMIRH0

Coming in at a wee bit less than a grand, this may leave you with some change for gas.

 

[JB]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

:%

After mounting, stems, balancing, road hazard guarantee and Sales tax they will come to well over a Grand.:''(

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Sorry for the late post JB.

Straight from the instructors mouth at Mercedes training.
"Michelin is the prefered brand on our products. This brand offers the best all around quality for handleing, comfort, reliability and quality."

There are a lot of good tires out there JB. In my experience some may out perform Michelin is some areas, but none will be as consistant "excellent" in a broad spectrum as Michelin.
Pirrelli's and Yokohama's may stick but they wear fast.
Conti's and Dunlop are "good" tires but are hard to find.

For a SUV/Sportute, BFG A/t's are "excellent" tires, prolly better than Michelin in a lot of instances where greater traction (snow) is encountered. Yet only slightly behind Michelin in the type of use you will be doing.

Consequently Goodyear is the worst, they are loud and square.

 

[JB]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Well, that ices it. This may be the first request for a comparison ever that got a unanimous response!

Thanks, guys.

Now I have about 5K miles to find the bux.

 

[JB]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Well, that ices it. This may be the first request for a comparison ever that got a unanimous response!

Thanks, guys.

Now I have about 5K miles to find the bux.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Consequently Goodyear is the worst, they are loud and square.

Amen to that Skinny. The last time I bought a non michelin tire, it was Goodyear. I ran them for 5k miles and offed them. For the last 30 years I've claimed that they were like running down the road on dried out corn cobs.

Give me Michelins or give me Death.8)

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Well, that ices it. This may be the first request for a comparison ever that got a unanimous response!

Thanks, guys.

Now I have about 5K miles to find the bux.

Hey JB, you might look at alternative tire sizes and styles for your MB. I have a Toyota Jelly Bean van that used low profile Hipo tires. They stuck like glue but gave poor mileage. I ended up using an alternative tire style (in Michelin) that was a bit more conventional and a bit more affordable. Again, these were recommended alternatives, not something that I just dreamed up.

 

[JB]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Is there such a thing as a recommended alternative for my Ole Blue?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Is there such a thing as a recommended alternative for my Ole Blue?

Tire manufacturers tire charts will show them if there are any. Case in point (I think I mentioned before) My Toyota Previa van came with low mileage, hipo, low profile, expensive tires. The Michelin catalogue showed a more conventional, better priced, higher mileage alternative.

Also JB, be sure to check with Costco. They can order almost anything Michelin at much better prices than you will find anywhere. Also, if you can combine that with one of Costco's periodic $60 off coupons, you'd be good to go.

If you don't need them tomorrow, now is the time to check.

FYI, I just ran my Ford E-150 workvan off the edge of a gravel driveway today. Hidden in the grass strip was a big chunk of junk concrete. It took out my two left tires. I had to get towed out on a flatbed.

I called the local Costco enroute and they did not have that tire in stock so I diverted to Sears. They were literally 25% higher, for the same tire that I had just purchaced at Costco the year before.

I took the damaged tires back to my neighborhood Costco. They prorated them and gave me a cashback adjustment under the Costco included road hazard warranty.

With the tow truck, the tire mounting and an alignment, that was a 6 hour ordeal today. Horrible waste of time. Grrrrrrrrrr!

 

[Link]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

JB
I can only say for this area of course. And only one store.
Discount tire has always beat everyone else on price and service. For the last 20 years.

Just last month my mother in law had a tire going low.
(after five years) She thought she might need new tires.

Not only did they fix that one but found a nail in another one.
Fixed both, check the balance on all four and rotated them for free.
I already knew this and had told her. But they also told her that she should get another 20K on them before replacing them.

On Michelin's
While in Germany In 1977 I bought a 1967 911 Turbo Carrera
It had another brand of tires on it.
In order to pass the safety check I had to put Michelin's on it.

I told the old German inspector that I was just shipping it in a couple weeks to sell for a profit in the States.
He said: You say that now. But when you drive it south to ship it, your going to open it up.

He was correct! 8)

 

[JB]

Re: Say, Skinnywater; Tires for ML430

Okay, that is settled. Michelins it will be.

Next question: "Cross Terrain" (what I have now) or the Michelin HiPo model that I can't remember the name of that is not all-season but costs about the same?