Monoblock IIs on a '91 129?

[chriswufgator]

Originally Posted by Whiteover Gray

You know what Chris, I love the 'sports'. I saw the thread you started a few weeks ago about tire racks' sale. It's a hell of a deal but my tires are new. I actually considered buying a new set and stroring them in my shed, just to get the free navigation. I can't speak for any of the other model but I like Continentals so much so that I wouldn't put anything else on my SL. The 'sport' tire ride is firm but not obnoxious. There great for high speeds on the hihway and perfect for local driving around the city. As for rain, can't tell you...I don't drive the SL in the rain. I certainly have no problem recommending them. Oh, and there the ContiSportContact model

Perfect, I think I am going to pick up a set. They seem to be very highly rated by Mercedes owners when you read through all the reviews on tire rack. They were OEM equipment on 2001+ R129s, so I'm sure they will work well on the car.

At $900-something for the entire set, including the $200 nav unit, I really doubt I will ever find a better price on ZR-rated tires. The PS2's are great, and I love the way they handle, but Michelin is really hitting the crack pipe lately when it comes to pricing. They've raised their already-insane prices on the PS2's twice in the last 18 months. The rears are now $400 apiece and the fronts $300+ apiece. I can get the entire set of Conti's plus the nav unit for about the same price as JUST THE REAR PS2's would cost (and I will need rears soon). That price is ridiculous and it makes no sense. Especially when the Conti's have a higher treadwear rating.

I think am going to get a set and try them out.

[Whiteover Gray]

Are you sure the ContiSportContact's are $900 for the set? I thought I calculated the set to be a little cheaper. Anyway, if you lived closer (I live in Davie), you'd be more than welcome to drive my car and test them out yourself before buying. Either way, let us know what happens. You better hurry though, I think Tireracks sale ends first week of November. If they extend the sale, that might be my christmas present to myself this holiday season.
Good Luck.

Mark

[chriswufgator]

Originally Posted by Whiteover Gray

Are you sure the ContiSportContact's are $900 for the set? I thought I calculated the set to be a little cheaper. Anyway, if you lived closer (I live in Davie), you'd be more than welcome to drive my car and test them out yourself before buying. Either way, let us know what happens. You better hury though, I think Tireracks sale ends first week of November. If they extend the sale, that might be my christmas present to myself this holiday season.
Good Luck.

Mark

I am going to get the ContiSportContact 2's I think. They are a bit more expensive than the 1's, but they are supposed to be nice.

[gqmagic]

Do you guys have a tire place locally similar to Discount Tires? I have one near me who will match/beat any of the best prices I find. Those guys aren't selling many tires these days, I went to get a alignment the other day and the guys were just sitting around (no customers). Passed by a few days later, same thing, empty bays guys just sitting around.

[chriswufgator]

Originally Posted by gqmagic

Do you guys have a tire place locally similar to Discount Tires? I have one near me who will match/beat any of the best prices I find. Those guys aren't selling many tires these days, I went to get a alignment the other day and the guys were just sitting around (no customers). Passed by a few days later, same thing, empty bays guys just sitting around.

Ya, we have a discount tire here, but they kind left a bad taste in my mouth. I was calling around on a Saturday trying to find a place with a Hunter Road Force balancer, and they were one of the shops in my area that came up on Hunter's website. I called them, and the guy asked what kind of car etc., and quoted me $40 PER TIRE.

I literally said to him "You must be smoking crack". This is the same road force balance that the dealer does for $69.00 for all 4. I waited 24 hours, went to the dealer, and saved $100+.

So they may have cheap tires, but I have found that the only way to balance some tires (especially PS2's) correctly is that Hunter GPS7000 machine. I do a lot of highway driving and have found that these cars are really sensitive to balancing issues. If I bought a set of tires from them, I'd have to pay something like $20 apiece for "installation" (cause' we all know that's rocket science, and I'm sure they'd just over-torque my lugs anyway) and then another $40/wheel for balancing.

Costco installs for free, so I usually buy from them and then take it to the dealer for a $69 balancing. I come out a couple hundred ahead of Discount Tire, Goodyear, Tire Kingdom, etc., whose tires may be a couple bucks cheaper, but they make it up on the "back end".

[chriswufgator]

Oh ya. One more funny story related to that Saturday. I really wanted to get the balancing over with, since I was going on a road trip, and wanted the annoying vibration gone.

I finally got around to calling Goodyear, and they quoted me $45 per tire! I thought Discount Tire was a rip, but that really takes the cake. $180 for Road Force balancing. Ya rite.

But in my calling around, I noticed everybody kept asking me what kind of car it was, and a light-bulb went off in my head. So then I called another goodyear location with the Hunter machine, and asked for a quote for balancing and just told him the tire sizes. When he asked me what kind of car it was, I told him it was a Mustang with aftermarket rims. So the quoted price, you ask? $25 per wheel.

Now, I'm not 100% sure whether they are all trying to rip off their customers and jack their prices up when they hear "Mercedes", or whether the second location just had a different pricing menu than the first location, but I'm leaning towards it being a scam.

In any event, even that $25 apiece was still twice what the dealer charges, so I just waited and got it done the following week.

[gqmagic]

Originally Posted by chriswufgator

Ya, we have a discount tire here, but they kind left a bad taste in my mouth. I was calling around on a Saturday trying to find a place with a Hunter Road Force balancer, and they were one of the shops in my area that came up on Hunter's website. I called them, and the guy asked what kind of car etc., and quoted me $40 PER TIRE.

I literally said to him "You must be smoking crack". This is the same road force balance that the dealer does for $69.00 for all 4. I waited 24 hours, went to the dealer, and saved $100+.

So they may have cheap tires, but I have found that the only way to balance some tires (especially PS2's) correctly is that Hunter GPS7000 machine. I do a lot of highway driving and have found that these cars are really sensitive to balancing issues. If I bought a set of tires from them, I'd have to pay something like $20 apiece for "installation" (cause' we all know that's rocket science, and I'm sure they'd just over-torque my lugs anyway) and then another $40/wheel for balancing.

Costco installs for free, so I usually buy from them and then take it to the dealer for a $69 balancing. I come out a couple hundred ahead of Discount Tire, Goodyear, Tire Kingdom, etc., whose tires may be a couple bucks cheaper, but they make it up on the "back end".

I meant a store similar to Discount Tire not them actually, I have a store near me American Tire Depot who beats Costco, Discount Tire, and Tire Rack too.

[Whiteover Gray]

Hey Chris, My Mercedes is at the Firestone in Davie to get the tires balanced as we speak. I had it out today on the highway and felt it "shimmy" a little. The Firestone down here has the Hunter GPS 80000 and uses the "tape" instead of the weights. The price: $39.00 and I just so happened to get in the mail today a coupon for $10.00 off. Brought the price down to $29.00. When I asked him if he had the Hunter GPS 7000 he smiled and said,"How do you know about that?". I told him about the forum and he laughed. Nice guy. Nice price. I'm sure some will find it cheaper and some more expensive. It's amazing how the prices fluctuate in different regions. I honestly believe some people try to hose you when you say have a Mercedes.

FYI,
Mark

[chriswufgator]

Originally Posted by Whiteover Gray

Hey Chris, My Mercedes is at the Firestone in Davie to get the tires balanced as we speak. I had it out today on the highway and felt it "shimmy" a little. The Firestone down here has the Hunter GPS 80000 and uses the "tape" instead of the weights. The price: $39.00 and I just so happened to get in the mail today a coupon for $10.00 off. Brought the price down to $29.00. When I asked him if he had the Hunter GPS 7000 he smiled and said,"How do you know about that?". I told him about the forum and he laughed. Nice guy. Nice price. I'm sure some will find it cheaper and some more expensive. It's amazing how the prices fluctuate in different regions. I honestly believe some people try to hose you when you say have a Mercedes.

FYI,
Mark

Oh I'm sure that's exactly what happened to me. As soon as they heard "Mercedes" the price went through the roof. They were definitely trying to hose me, as was later confirmed by the other Goodyear who tried to hose me also, but still gave me a lower price when I lied and said it was a mustang. Lol.

I will try Firestone. Hopefully they won't try and pull the same stunt.

[Florida SL]

Just a follow up. The wheels fit perfectly and look great! Thanks for the help guys.

Burke