C63 tyre setup question....

[Jamesyc63]

Hi guys recently bought a 2013 C63.

The tyres currently fitted are:

Rears - Eagle F1

Fronts - Falken FK510

Are these tyres good for these cars? I hear theyre super sensitive about tyres and the wrong ones can cause this crabbing feeling so wanted to check please.

Thanks a lot

 

[Mark83]

Mis-matched tyres is never good.

I swapped the OEM Continentals for Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (not 4S as I run 18s) and have been impressed so far.

 

[markjay]

Mis-matched tyres is never good....

As above.

It's not illegal and it's not an MOT failure (unless different type i.e. radial and non-radial are fitted on same axle), but it's not a good idea.

Modern driver aid systems assume same level of friction on all four corners.

 

[Mark83]

It's also a red flag for me if I'm buying a used performance car. If the previous owner is scrimping on tyres, where else have they scrimped on the running costs?

 

[markjay]

Spot on. Although, if brand new, then it may have been the dealer who replaced the tyres before selling the car.

But either way, a second-hand car (any car, not just performance car) with 4 identical decent-brand tyres and equal wear is always a very good sign. Anything else needs investigating...

My W204 came with 4 Bridgestone tyres with 5.5mm at the front and 5.0mm at the rear. I didnt like the tyres at all (ride too 'sporty' and too harsh for me) so eventually had them replaced with softer Dunlops - but setting that aside, seeing the tyres on the car was a reassuring sign as to how the previous owner treated it.

There are other things to check, of course. But in my book a second-hand car presented with four different makes of budget tyres is a cause for concern, especially if the tyres are part-worn so clearly not recently replaced by the dealer.

As above... makes you wonder what else has the previous owner skimped on?

 

[markjay]

PS... the 2016 Vitara I bought last week has 4 Conti tyres with 4.9mm at the front and 5.2mm at the rear.

But as the car only has 8,500 miles on the clock, these Contis are likely to be the original tyres that were factory-fitted to the car from new.

 

[Jamesyc63]

What are the best brands to put on these cars.

What is likely to happen with odd tyres fitted what are you going to be feeing from the car

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

It's also a red flag for me if I'm buying a used performance car. If the previous owner is scrimping on tyres, where else have they scrimped on the running costs?

Considering the terrible inner wear characteristic on a 204 shape AMG without a proper alignment done by the likes of WIM, I’m not surprised some owners refrain from spending £180 per corner at the front end only for them to look brand new on the outside and badly worn on the inner

Mine are shocking to the point I’m debating why spend all the money on mps4s at the front. I have them at the rear, best tyres for these cars I think. But with a good contact not selling them currently (previously had fantastic deals on prices for them all round) I’d rather buy used with good tread

The above presuming an owner isn’t local to a place that knows what they’re doing with a hunter machine, that is

 

[rOckyAMG]

What are the best brands to put on these cars.

What is likely to happen with odd tyres fitted what are you going to be feeing from the car

Goodyear Asymmetric 3's

Michelin pilot sport 4s if you have 19's or just the 4 as @ash59fifty-uk pointed out.

I think the 4s are not available for the 18?

 

[Deletedmember130310]

What are the best brands to put on these cars.

What is likely to happen with odd tyres fitted what are you going to be feeing from the car

it might be better to spend c£10 on having a full 4 wheel geo alignment check before dropping £500-£800 on new tyres

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Should read c£100 for an alignment check (not £10)....

 

[Athey]

Running ps4’s all round on 18’s. Not had the car long but just replaced the front 2 for £230. Rears need doing soon as only 4mm tread on them. They grip well, even under occasional hard acceleration, and other that, all I can say is you only have a small patch of tyre contacting the road, so fit the best you can afford.

 

[AMGeed]

I agree mismatched tyres are not ideal, I've only just done the same thing today replacing a pair of Falken ZE914's on the front of my E55 with Goodyear F1 asymmetric3's
Before you go changing either brand, be assured neither are bad. I have a lot of respect for Falken's and I'm only changing because I feel the Goodyears are an improvement.

In your position I'd just replace the Falkens when the time comes, or at least before the bad winter weather sets in.
And another +1 for getting the alignment checked at WIM in Chesham. A lot cheaper than new tyres due to premature wear.

 

[rf065]

Wow, what a load of tosh on this thread!
The Goodyears are great tyres, but Falkens are good tyres too. Unless your thinking of racing Lewis Hamilton on a track day, what's the problem? Even if you were, put racing slicks on your car & winter tyres on Hamiltons and he'd still beat you!

 

[abar121]

OP, if it drives fine to you, keep them as they are.

FWIW, a friend fitted Falken FK510s to the rear of his E46 320d yonks ago. With PS2s on the front, it was fine in the dry and became an oversteer machine in the wet! I loved it, he ditched them

 

[Jamesyc63]

OP, if it drives fine to you, keep them as they are.

FWIW, a friend fitted Falken FK510s to the rear of his E46 320d yonks ago. With PS2s on the front, it was fine in the dry and became an oversteer machine in the wet! I loved it, he ditched them

thanks mate it feels fine driving straight but on cornering, especially if stationary ansd then turn a corner as you use throttle it feels a bit like tyres are skipping a bit. the fronts are brand new FK510 and rears are eagle F1. the rear feels absolutely fine so im wondering if 2 identical front would cause this skipping feeling? they are meant to be decent tyres.

Would 4 wheel alignment be better to get done as surely the tyres are fine if new?

 

[Deletedmember130310]

thanks mate it feels fine driving straight but on cornering, especially if stationary ansd then turn a corner as you use throttle it feels a bit like tyres are skipping a bit.

Would 4 wheel alignment be better to get done as surely the tyres are fine if new?

Yeah at normal driving speeds, taken to a merc specialist, all diagnostics on the Star machine were fine. Went for a 30min drive together and they noticed/felt no issues that i could feel

I am tad confused as to when this behaviour occurs - on the one hand it is at normal driving speeds, on the other when pulling away from a stop. I can see those might be viewed as the same but the car is under slightly different loads when pulling away from a stop, especially if accelerating reasonably hard, which might be relevant.

As suggested, best to get it to a wheel alignment specialist for them to check over.

 

[AL3X]

I’ve driven C63s in both matched and mismatched tyres and not noticed anything like you describe. I would perhaps suggest there’s an issue somewhere else or maybe there’s an egg in one tyre?

One thing I’ve noticed about PS4S is they’ve lasted a hell of a lot longer than most tyres do on these cars

 

[abar121]

Yep, time for an alignment / trouble shooting. Something doesn't sound right at all.

 

[Jamesyc63]

I am tad confused as to when this behaviour occurs - on the one hand it is at normal driving speeds, on the other when pulling away from a stop. I can see those might be viewed as the same but the car is under slightly different loads when pulling away from a stop, especially if accelerating reasonably hard, which might be relevant.

As suggested, best to get it to a wheel alignment specialist for them to check over.

Hi mate yes it does it on pulling away cornering and also when driving around on some roads if you apply throttle and corner sometimes. it does feel a bit "skippy" as if the tyres arent completely gripping. would bad alignment cause this?

Maybe the PAS pump itself?