Author Topic: Tires  (Read 3997 times)

johnnymack

  • Full Member
  • Regular
  • **
  • USA, NH, Meredith
  • Posts: 76
  • 70 280 SL Auto
Tires
« on: February 24, 2017, 02:45:57 »
I'm looking for new tires , any suggestions? I've found a lot of info here but a lot is dated. I've got pirelli P 400 s . They are 15 years old ! , need to go !
JohnnyMack
70 280 sl auto

WRe

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Hessen, Seeheim-Jugenheim
  • Posts: 1453
Re: Tires
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2017, 08:01:07 »
Hi,
I use Vredestein Sprint Classic (185/ R14 90H with ridge) all the years and I'am very satisfied with them. In Europe they are really cheap (~ 90 €). Phoenix and Michelin are also appropriate but much more expensive. E.g. see Coker Tires in the US.
...WRe

http://www.eurotire.com/Vredestein-Sprint-Classic-Tire-detail.htm?productId=4631507&optionId=&ez=&pos=1
« Last Edit: February 25, 2017, 08:02:29 by WRe »

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4735
Re: Tires
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2017, 18:00:18 »
Vredesteins are a bit higher here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331876251746
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

thelews

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, WI, Mequon
  • Posts: 1954
Re: Tires
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2017, 18:05:49 »
tirerack carries the Vreds now, I understand.  Haven't looked.
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual #1543
1961 190 SL 23K miles
1964 Porsche 356
1970 Porsche 911E
1991 BMW 318is
1966 Jaguar XKE
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

CCollum

  • Inactive
  • Regular
  • **
  • USA, OK, Oklahoma City
  • Posts: 50
Re: Tires
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2017, 16:21:56 »
I have the Vredestein sprint classic 185 HR 14's and they've been great. I like the older looking tread they have too.

I believe the Mercedes Classic Center in California puts on Michelin Defenders of a size as close to the original as possible, but it is a different size. Tom Hanson of the MB Classic Center (also a member here) could tell you the exact size they use. I believe it's 205 70R 14.

Last year one of the Mercedes Classic magazines (the one put out by MB itself that came out as a complimentary issue with the Star magazine in the US anyway -- could have been a good year ago, but can't remember) mentioned the tires that should go on the Pagoda. It noted that using a size other than the original could cause stress on the suspension. However, with the MB Classic Center using the Michelin Defenders of an unoriginal size, I bet those are good too, even though the sizing is somewhat different.

When I considered all the options (Michelin Defenders of different size, Vredestein sprint classic of the correct size, Phoenix correct size, and correct sized Michelin classic tires from Europe), the Vredesteins seemed to be the best fit and value to me. They were half the price of the others, yet seemed to be a good tire with the correct fit.

WRe

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Hessen, Seeheim-Jugenheim
  • Posts: 1453
Re: Tires
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2017, 17:56:12 »
Hi,
In the Technicolor Manual here you find additional information about tire sizes: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/WheelsTires/TireSize.
In the registration document of my car an additional size (205/60R15 with 7Jx15 wheels) is registered. Never used them.
...WRe

johnnymack

  • Full Member
  • Regular
  • **
  • USA, NH, Meredith
  • Posts: 76
  • 70 280 SL Auto
Re: Tires
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2017, 18:36:27 »
I was looking at them , didn't know how they were on the road , thank you for the input , opinions.
JohnnyMack
70 280 sl auto

Tomnistuff

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, Qc, Levis
  • Posts: 946
Re: Tires
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2017, 19:36:43 »
I had Vredestein Sprint Classics on my 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 for two or three years before I sold it.  I drove them to Palm Beach from Washington DC and Back (about 2000 miles) and loved them.  They rode smoothly and handled like a dream, even on a very heavy high performance car.  I think I bought them from Coker in the U.S.  They shipped them to me via the Western U.S., Western Canada, then East to Quebec by Greyhound Bus.  It made no sense to me either.

I loved the tires, but for my 230SL, I wanted wide whitewalls so I bought Daimond Back tires.

Tom Kizer
Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

Jowe

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • Sweden, Västra Götaland, Gothenburg
  • Posts: 280
Re: Tires
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2017, 15:34:23 »
Johan
04/1964 230SL, European, manual 4-sp, power steering, 050/050 white, black leather, Blaupunkt (SOLD)

Sleek Lemur

  • Guest

StevenF

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, NY, Merrick
  • Posts: 410
Re: Tires
« Reply #10 on: June 15, 2017, 13:06:54 »
Any interest in Whitewalls?
1971 280sl
Red Metallic
Bamboo MB Tex