E63 - ContiSport5P vs Sport Maxx RT vs PZero

[st13phil]

I'll shortly be changing the tyres on my E63 which is currently fitted with PZeros.

While the Pirellis have been OK they are noisy, and - perhaps irrationally - I've never been a great fan of Pirelli tyres, so I'm looking at other options. Michelin Pilot Super Sports would have been on the list but for the fact they don't offer them in the sizes required (255/35 ZR19 96Y fronts are available, but 285/30 ZR19 98Y rear aren't), so they're out.

The list has therefore boiled down to the Continental ContiSport 5P, the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT, or stick with the Pirellis. I'm drawn to the Dunlops, partly because they are significantly quieter than the Conti's or the Pirellis (6dBA, which is a massive difference), but I've read various reviews on the web and there seems to be a general consensus that the Conti's offer better grip - particularly in wet braking - and better feel. However, all the tests are on smaller diameter, narrower, sizes and I know that relative tyre performance advantages often differ according to size. So...

Does anyone have any personal experience that they can share of the Sport Maxx RT's vs the Conti's (or Pirellis for that matter) on an E63 or CLS63?

 

[moonloops]

What about goodyear eagle asymmetric 2's ?

 

[The _Don]

As above a contender for your list.

 

[ChrisA]

Eagle Asymmetric F1 on the rear and Dunlop Sport Maxx RT on the front of mine and they take some abuse

Definitely going for same set up again

 

[st13phil]

...and they take some abuse

Ha ha!

How do you find the wet weather performance of the Dunlops on the front and what sort of wear are you getting, Chris?

 

[ChrisA]

Phil

Dunlop's go where I tend to point them in most weather and the main reason I placed them at the front. Was going along at a fair speed and aquaplaned on the Autobahn, just a little foot off the throttle and they gripped well again!
Approx 4000 miles since I fitted them (Just before our AMG & Alps Tour) and shaved maybe 2mm off at most. Mainly because the rear's take most of the abuse

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

I'm quite happy with my Conti sport contact 5 and will order again, they do grip very well in the wet and dry, and feel nice on the road. Noise could be slightly better but I chose the excellent grip as my decider.

 

[Yamaman]

I've recently put Conti Sport Contacts on my car & love them , being in the trade I find Dunlops never wear that well & on certain cars have some VERY strange wear patterns that don't seem to appear on other brands , just my opinion though

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

I've recently put Conti Sport Contacts on my car & love them , being in the trade I find Dunlops never wear that well & on certain cars have some VERY strange wear patterns that don't seem to appear on other brands , just my opinion though

What's your top tip seller to find a competitive price for new Contis?

 

[stanghetz]

Been buying 18' Conti's for the last 10 years or so and prices just seem to get better with each new supplier I discover. Have just replaced the fronts (235 x 40’s MO) and got the tyres from Camskills. Their prices are the best I have found. Ever. They also quoted for the rears 265 x 35’s MO. Same result. I’d be surprised if their 19 inch prices are not equally impressive.

Stanghetz

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Thanks stanghetz, I will try them.

 

[ScoobyDooLondon]

Try Tyreleader, I ordered my Michelin's from there and they were by far the cheapest.

 

[ChrisA]

Conti 5's are a great tyre but far too loud especially in the 30 size which OP is after at the rear 285/30/19
Dunlop are much quieter and grip well but like anything, it's all a matter of personal preference

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

It's true that the contis are not the quietest, but I'd rather have excellent grip than the strange wear patterns that Yamaman mentioned...unless his experience is one off, which seems slightly unlikely.

Which tyre, if any, ticks all the following boxes? :

- good grip in rain (and dry)
- quiet
- long life and even wear
- reasonable price

I'm not using 30 size (low profile?), but 45 instead, as in 245x18x45 & 255x18x45 so I guess these are much quieter as they don't seem very noisy to me.

I was going to go for ultra quiet tyres but the grip wasn't that good so I decided on grip instead as the overriding factor when purchasing.

 

[ChrisA]

My profile is 30 front and 25 rear so pretty noisy no matter what the tyre but I found, through various trials, that mixing Dunlop Sport Maxx RT on the front and Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric F1 on the rear was best all round for me. Grip for the rear tyre is very important for me due to the big power and trying to use that power on the road so that's the reason for the F1's. The 305 width really makes a huge difference in the dry but a tw@t in the wet!
I am very happy with the set up but will either stick with the same or give the Michelin's a crack next time round

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Yes those are very wide and low profile tyres!

It's good you managed to find a good tyre setup that meets your requirements.

 

[daveenty]

I put Vredestein Ultrac Vorti on the rear of mine, with the MO P Zeros on the front. I wanted the Ultrac Sesssanta as I'd had these on another car and really got on with them but they weren't available in my size, which is why I went for the Vortis.

Pretty underwhelmed so far I must admit. The grip, whilst seeming better than the original P Zeros, is not as good as I was hoping for though it does have to cope with a fair bit of power. My issue with them is that they don't seem progressive and just let go all of a sudden without warning which, under harsh acceleration on an brisk overtake for example, can be interesting to say the least. The one consolation is that they're pretty much the same in the wet as the dry, but I think I'll be going for those Eagles which Chris mentions next.

 

[paul73mt]

What about goodyear eagle asymmetric 2's ?

Plus one for these have these all round on mine ( ok it's not a high performance car) but still got 20k out of the rears

 

[developer]

and just let go all of a sudden without warning

Dave - you've forgotten that most basic of all calculations...

285/700 = oh feck .

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Dave - you've forgotten that most basic of all calculations...

285/700 = oh feck .

What's the 700? Bhp?