Advice on weight rating for 18" tyres please

[Matt's Dad]

I need to replace a front tyre on my E320 CDI (W211) Saloon. It has 18” AMG wheels fitted from new, fronts are 245/40-18, rears are 265/35-18. All the tyres currently on the car have a weight and speed rating of 93Y. On the fuel filler cap, it lists the size of tyres and recommends Continental or Pirelli, but it doesn’t give the speed or weight rating.

I went to 3 different tyre shops today and asked for a Continental Sport Contact 2, in the size 245/40-18 and 93Y, so it matches the other front tyre (both rears are new Federal, was on the car when I bought it)

All 3 tyre companies told me that the 93Y was the wrong weight rating, and I should put on the extra load tyre, rated at 97Y - I don’t like the idea of having different weight rated tyres, and also I wondered if the 97’s would be a firmer ride? (it’s already quite firm with pressures at 32 front and 34 rear, so I don’t want it any firmer) I did search, but found both ratings listed

Does anyone know the correct weight rating for these wheels? I don’t mind buying a pair of tyres for the front if they should have the 97’s fitted, but if they should have 93’s fitted I’ll keep searching for the correct tyre.

Thanks for any input

 

[whitenemesis]

My first port of call would be the dealer, they should have the definitive answer.

 

[Matt's Dad]

I found a local today company which actually sounded like they knew what they talking about. They said the Continental Sport Contact 2 has been replaced with a SC3, and they are Mercedes original equipment, and listed as specific use for Mercedes. They also said the Falken 452’s are equally as good, but none available at the moment, and the Continentals weren’t much more (£138 each) - and my weight rating should be 93, although they said if buying a pair, 97’s wouldn’t really make much difference.

I had called the dealer about the weight ratings, and they didn’t really know what I was talking about.

I’m buying a pair, instead of 1, and at some time I’ll try and find a ‘proper’ wheel for a spare instead of the space saver, and use the half worn tyre that will be taken off.

I had my first experience of Kwik Fit today - what a laugh. The guy told me that I MUST only use the Continental, as Falken’s would be dangerous on my car! Oh and they wanted £244 per tyre!!! But said if I booked online I could get a discount?????????

 

[jefrs]

How did you get on with that spare?
I wonder if full size 18 off an AMG would fit on the spare rim or get into the boot-well. Besides they cannot be swapped front to rear because of the stagger and offset. Your space-saver is probably unused and likely to remain that way. Mine is 12yo and as-new. These days we just call the roadside mechanic in the armrest.

Current Mercedes stock fit around here seems to be Pirelli, their Rosso have bulging sidewalls and are comfy and quiet on the rear - 265/35ZR18 97Y
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 give me better braking and steering of the front - 235/40ZR18 95Y, a bit more harsh but better grip cornering and in wet, and they were well under £244+valve (giggles insanely and slides onto floor aka LSHIFOMT)

Do check your tyre sizes: 245/40ZR18 do not fit my S210 av with low sports chassis even with factory wide clearance arches. Some of the tyre dealers have the wrong data. If you have 'normal' av then 245 may fit. I am uncertain how many grades of sports suspension there are, but if you have had the AMG from new then you probably already have the rolled arches (the options are paired). Again S211 may be quite different, but it's an expensive mistake, and why I've got Michelin and not scuffed up Pirelli on the front.

 

[jimti]

How did you get on with that spare?
I wonder if full size 18 off an AMG would fit on the spare rim or get into the boot-well.
.

I always wondered what you are meant to do with your flat when you use the space saver.. You have a full boot and get a puncture, take the big wheel off the car, fit the small wheel. Put the big wheel into the boot, not enough room for all the things that were in the boot with the little wheel

 

[dougal74]

If you check out tirerack.com it will give you OEM spec for your car, assuming it was also sold in the US. With yours they only list the E350 Sport Spec with your tyre size.

It states OEM as SC3 or P Zero Rosso 245 40 ZR18 93Y for the front and SC3 or P Zero Rosso 265 35 ZR 18 XL 97Y for the rears. Understandable given it is rear wheel drive. So your Falkens on the rear should really be 97Ys. Tyres are over specc'd anyway though so as long you aren't carrying heavy loads all the time you should be okay!

Personally I like the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric or Kumho Ecsta SPT.

 

[jefrs]

I have found that there is a difference between US spec and Euro spec on tyre sizes, which is how I came a cropper with the 245/30 not fitting a Euro spec 235/30 on front of my S210 av sports (do note it is a different model but factory fitted with same AMG 18", tyre spec as E55). I'm thinking the US prefer a higher ride height. It is an expensive mistake.

If you import a car from the USA you have to fix the lights and the steering/suspension (to go round corners ;-).

 

[Krobar]

I found a local today company which actually sounded like they knew what they talking about. They said the Continental Sport Contact 2 has been replaced with a SC3, and they are Mercedes original equipment, and listed as specific use for Mercedes. They also said the Falken 452’s are equally as good, but none available at the moment, and the Continentals weren’t much more (£138 each) - and my weight rating should be 93, although they said if buying a pair, 97’s wouldn’t really make much difference.

I had called the dealer about the weight ratings, and they didn’t really know what I was talking about.

I’m buying a pair, instead of 1, and at some time I’ll try and find a ‘proper’ wheel for a spare instead of the space saver, and use the half worn tyre that will be taken off.

I had my first experience of Kwik Fit today - what a laugh. The guy told me that I MUST only use the Continental, as Falken’s would be dangerous on my car! Oh and they wanted £244 per tyre!!! But said if I booked online I could get a discount?????????

Make sue the SC3 you get is actually marked MO, Continental supply Merc specific and non Merc specific variants. MO is not normally extra.

 

[jefrs]

I have found that there is a difference between US spec and Euro spec on tyre sizes, which is how I came a cropper with the 245/30 not fitting a Euro spec 235/30 on front of my S210 av sports (do note it is a different model but factory fitted with same AMG 18", tyre spec as E55). I'm thinking the US prefer a higher ride height. It is an expensive mistake.

If you import a car from the USA you have to fix the lights and the steering/suspension (to go round corners ;-).

\my typo error above\ tyre size should be 235/40ZR18 fit front and 245/40 are too wide, rears are 265/35ZR18...