Pilot MXM, or Pilot Primacy for 2001 SLK 320?

[widsk1]

I contacted HBL and it said Pilot MXM is discontinued and the replacement is Pilot Primacy.
Other MB dealer, American Service Center has Pilot MXM tire in stock.

I visited Michellin web site and found the following information.

Pilot MXM:
High Performance: 8
Everyday Handling: 8
Wet Traction: 8
Winter Traction: 4
Max Tread Life: 5
Quiet Ride: 7

Pilot Primacy:
High Performance: 8
Everyday Handling: 9
Wet Traction: 8
Winter Traction: 3
Max Tread Life: 3
Quiet Ride: 7

To me, Winter Traction and Tread Life(I got 43K on my MXM) are more important than Everyday Handling.

I contacted Merchants Tire and they said they don't have a performance tire shop in Manasas.
The shop mananger in Tysons even asked me to go to HBL for tires.

Including tire and service, Merchants' price is roughly $60.00 cheaper for 4 tires than American Auto Service's, and Merchants gives Lifetime Tire rotation. Merchants need to order tires and it takes 2-3 days and American Auto Service can install them on next Monday.

Is it worth to spend more money at the MB dealer without having lifetime Tire lotation?

I also heard that Merchants will be bought by a bigger company. In that case, do you think any warrenty and free service will be valid after the company merge?

[Brian_R170]

If you buy tires that are discontinued, then later damage a tire beyond repair, you may not be able to find a matching replacement. Several people complained about this in 2000 because M-B shipped alot of '99 models with Pilot MXX3s and Michelin discontinued them near the end of 1999.