It's ridiculous! I've been scouring the market for anything - anything! that's at least V-rated in the stock size for my '94 E320. Nothing. The Bridgestone dealer seems to offer the Turanza AR10, but there's a rather lengthy lead time on availability, and I'm not even sure if that's a summer or all-season tire (look where I live!).
I was in the same situation when I first bought the car almost three years ago. I swapped out the stock 15's for a set of 16's and Y-rated 215/55R16 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx's for precisely the same reason: I couldn't find any stock-sized tires rated higher than H. The Dunlops grip extremely well, but the old 124's handling seemed a little off with such "oversized" treads: Turn-in is rather lazy with some tangible pavement scrubbing, and the back end seems to want to step out at every corner, and there's little comfort to be had to boot!
So, now these tires need replacement, I'm mulling putting the stock rims back on. I've found a few H-rated summer tires, such as the goodyear Assurance and the Sumitomo HTR 200.
So what do you guys think? Should I do the H's? Or should I wait for the BS dealer to stock up on the AR10s (which look like summers but probably aren't?)
__________________ Shady
I drive too fast to worry about cholesterol. My CarDomain corner 1994 E320: Full circle. 1987 Mercedes 300E: Regrettably sold. They sure don't make'em like they used to. 2x 2009 Mazda 6 JDM 2.5 MTX: Most people are mediocre by choice! 1991 Mitsubishi Lancer: Mom's. Don't ask.
All of these are on a list I made after scouring the net for a day. None, however, are actually on the local market. Which is exactly the point of my original posting. That said, I obviously would particularly like to have the P6000.
Tire shipping is pretty costly in US, so I guess going to SA would exceed the purchase price?
Why do you need to go better than H-speed? Do you drive above 200kph on regular basis?
Yeah, the cost of having them shipped to KSA would simply be prohibitive. So there's that, plus the fact that they have to go through customs and then the standards and specifications people, which could take weeks. I'm not going through that much trouble for a set of tires. I don't drive at 200+ km/h as often as I used to, but the occasion does come up.
Vehicle: 88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Location: REHOBOTH BEACH, DE
Posts: 1,975
The reason you're only finding H-rated in stock sizes is because you don't need any higher speed rated tire.
The stock 124 is far from needing a V or higher speed rated tire...
Why spend more for that which isn't required ?
Poke around in TireRack.com At least you will be able to see what is available in all brands. And I would think that summer tires would be the right choice.
Anziani
The reason you're only finding H-rated in stock sizes is because you don't need any higher speed rated tire.
The stock 124 is far from needing a V or higher speed rated tire...
Why spend more for that which isn't required ?
The shriveling heat of the wind does nothing to cool the coarse asphalt as the thrum of rolling rubber resonates through your bones. The dry air turns yellow with the blowing dust that curls and swirls as you speed by. There is no end in sight, and no beginning, either. The loneliness of the yellowness all around you is so unbearable you almost want to cry. But the scorching heat of your tears only makes your face feel even more like leather. You push along and push ahead, and watch the needle twirl its way to three digits, knowing that day will become night as your longing for home grows as hot as the orange disk of the sun in the distance.
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