AMG 18" All-Season Tires - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

2fast4u · 06-04-2005, 04:57 AM

Folks,

Need your expert advise or opinion on which tire size I should go with for the Toyo Proxes S/T (all-season tires) that I have my heart set on. I have read allot of great reviews about these tires. I live in New Hampshire and we do have snow (on and off)at least 3 months during a typical year. I like the look of the 18" AMG wheels, but am not into swapping my tires/wheels every season.

I have a 2003 ML350 with AMG 163 18x9 Wheels (i.e. ML55 Wheels)) that I recently purchased with 255-55-18 Michelin tires on them. The tires need to be replaced and I am leaning toward the 285-50-18 (ML55 Tire Size). I know that the Toyo Proxes S/T's come in both the sizes, but am concerned that the wider 285-50-18 inch size will not perfrom as well in the snow and the local tire company recommends the slighly slimmer 255-55-18 tires. Your thoughts???

Thanks!

jdbower · 06-04-2005, 10:24 AM

I still highly recommend my setup. ML 430 rims wrapped in Dunlop WinterSport M2s for winter and some nice summer tires (Dunlop SP9000's in my case). I was far too concerned about wide winter tires in NJ and decided that I didn't want to compromise with the Pirelli Ice and Snow in an 18" form factor. Swapping out tires is tough, but since I rotate my tires every six months or so anyway there's no real problem swapping out rims.

C-Rod · 06-04-2005, 08:50 PM

l have to agree....l'm not a big fan of all-season's.....l run the Toyo Proxes ST's 285-60-18's in the summer, and the Pirelli Ice and Snow's 255-60-17's in the winter.....All-season's don't work that well, with the 55..too much power..lmagine JD, with all-season's..l don't think so.......[xx(]

LOCHS 2 · 06-04-2005, 09:21 PM

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1210596&posts=4&hl=tires

I LOVE the Dunlop SP9000s. They are awesome in dry and wet conditions. The best tires I have ever owned on any vehicle--worth the price! But in snow---well, they are just dangerous and very risky. Luckily I have had only three instances of driving in snow the last two winters in Chicago but I was VERY nervous for good reason. I had a near accident in sleet as the ABS was working but the car just would not stop. Luckily I hit a dry patch before barreling through a red light. I'm totally happy for 350+ days a year with these tires. But it's like an insurance policy that you'll enjoy when conditions are the worst if you go with all seasons. I'm still contemplating the risk and have not replaced yet. I have to before this winter as they are wearing down but I'm enjoying the "slicks" in this warm weather [great traction!]. If I wasn't so cheap I'd do the smart thing and swap ML430s in the winter like JD. But I'm too vain to not have my AMGs.

2fast4u · 06-06-2005, 10:15 AM

I greatly appreciate the feedback. Still trying to determine which size All-season Toyo Proxes ST's I should go with on my ML350 on 18" AMG rims. I assume they will work in the snow - otherwise why would they make them in these sizes.

I am not into swapping out rims/tires. Anyone else have any additional feedback?

Thanks,

Doug

AdamNelson · 06-09-2005, 11:58 AM

I have the same setup as JD.
I love the 9000s and the Wintersports, and having a second set of wheels makes the swap easier and gives the shop less opportunity to damage your wheels while mounting the tires. Chipping the enamel on the brake calipers is another story.

The Wintersports are excellent in wet and snow and they're so close to the 9000s in dry weather that I haven't even swapped back to the 9000s and AMG wheels yet. I'm just procrastinating. One of these days...

AdamNelson · 06-09-2005, 12:03 PM

And the cost of the second set of wheels is recouped in under three years. I paid around $200 a piece (something like that) for new ML430 wheels at the dealer. Swapping tires on one set of wheels (18" and up usually costs double) is $40 per wheel, twice a year. Just switching rims/tires cost me $10 last fall at Pep Boys (tell them it's equivalent to a tire rotation) or $32 at the dealer.

2fast4u · 06-15-2005, 07:27 PM

Well ...I installed the 255/55/18 Toyo Proxes ST's on my ML350 with 18" AMG wheels. The ride is reasonable, but I do not like the look. The tires look small for the vehicle (they due no justice to the AMG rims) and they look too aggressive for a Mercedes - they look like they belong on a jeep.

So now I am looking at 285/50/18's in either a good Michelin X-Terrain (not sure of the size/availability/equivelant tire) or the Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico's. These new Perelli's have been getting great reviews from both ML and BMW X5 owners (including snow). They also look like they have a great profile for the vehicle.

Any good feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

C-Rod · 06-15-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

2fast4u - 6/15/2005 9:27 PM

Well ...I installed the 255/55/18 Toyo Proxes ST's on my ML350 with 18" AMG wheels. The ride is reasonable, but I do not like the look. The tires look small for the vehicle (they due no justice to the AMG rims) and they look too aggressive for a Mercedes - they look like they belong on a jeep.

So now I am looking at 285/50/18's in either a good Michelin X-Terrain (not sure of the size/availability/equivelant tire) or the Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico's. These new Perelli's have been getting great reviews from both ML and BMW X5 owners (including snow). They also look like they have a great profile for the vehicle.

Any good feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

Fastman....No disrespect here, but why would you have gone with 255's...You should have gone with 285's from the beginning...255's would be great for winter, but way..too thin for the summer look....Personally, l think the look is incredible...Take a look at the 285,60,18's on my other ML...

2fast4u · 06-16-2005, 01:16 AM

C-ROD,

Thanks for the feedback. I looked at your profile and only see a black ML430 with Kumho 285/60/18's that look nice Any pictures of the Toyo Proxes ST's - 285/60/18's? Why did you go with 60's and not the recommeded 50's?

Any feed back on the Perelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrical's - they look like a great tire.

Thanks,

Fastman (I like that - too funny!)