Please confirm dealer talking nonsense about tyres

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ECD

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Apr 28, 2016
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5
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E63
Ok, so I needed 2 new rear Pirelli P Zero in 285/30R19 (98)Y. Dealer quoted a crazy amount so I bought some online. Due to circumstances (rear airmatic failing on a 12 month old E63 - but that's another story!), the dealer has seen the tyres I ordered and is claiming they are not the correct ones I need. The ones I have are:- 285/30r19 (98)Y XL MO

Dealer is saying I need: 285/30zr19 (98)Y XL MO. My understanding is the ZR is an old speed rating no longer needed and actually has nothing to do with the tyre. The dealer initially claimed it meant mine weren't extra load but, when I pointed out they were XL and had extra load on the side, they changed to claim that ZR means the compound is "much stronger" than non-ZR. To me this seems complete nonsense and I understand that the compound is confirmed by the MO as the Mercedes chosen compound.

Is this a case of the dealer trying to make me buy their tyres in future/simply not knowing what they are talking about or, are they correct and I can expect even worse wear?
 
The fact yours a (Y) rated speed, Extra load and MO spec should be fine.

z/R is for Radial and has been adapted upto y rating

ZR basically means the tyre is adapted for speeds above 149 mph. ZR tyres includes the speed ratings V(149mph), W(168mph) and Y(186mph). Before 1990, the manufacturers used "ZR" to mean high performance tyres before the ratings got refined with W, Y

They are talking B*****
 
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Oh, and Conti 5P's are much better in my experience on the E63 than P Zeros :thumb:
 
The dealer is talking complete nonsense. Tell them you are going to make a formal complaint to HQ about them.

What the hell happened to your 63s suspension ?
 
Thanks, I thought this was the case but the dealer being insistent did make me doubt.

In terms of the suspension, apparently they think the compressor is failing and so after bumpy journeys its not able to keep the pressure up and the suspension is sagging. Not happy as its caused the car to bottom out and damage the wheel arch liner. Its also the second failure of the suspension this year... On a 12 month old 12k mile car I am seriously unimpressed.
 
Thanks, I thought this was the case but the dealer being insistent did make me doubt.

In terms of the suspension, apparently they think the compressor is failing and so after bumpy journeys its not able to keep the pressure up and the suspension is sagging. Not happy as its caused the car to bottom out and damage the wheel arch liner. Its also the second failure of the suspension this year... On a 12 month old 12k mile car I am seriously unimpressed.

Yikes! So this is a 213?
 
Oh, and Conti 5P's are much better in my experience on the E63 than P Zeros :thumb:



P Zeros not good in cold or wet in my experience. 5Ps are much better. Have ordered Goodyear F1 to see if they are as good as people say


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P Zeros not good in cold or wet in my experience. 5Ps are much better. Have ordered Goodyear F1 to see if they are as good as people say


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Agreed- I find them hard and unforgiving as well as poor in the cold and wet
 
P Zeros not good in cold or wet in my experience. 5Ps are much better. Have ordered Goodyear F1 to see if they are as good as people say


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I've recently had a full set of Goodyear F1s fitted. Too soon to make a realistic comparison with the old Conti 3s; I can only say they seem fine so far. I don't like to push new tyres until they're well settled in.
 
I've recently had a full set of Goodyear F1s fitted. Too soon to make a realistic comparison with the old Conti 3s; I can only say they seem fine so far. I don't like to push new tyres until they're well settled in.



Don't get mine till Saturday next week due to work getting in the way. They are going on the rear so will get pushed from the off[emoji48]


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Thanks, I thought this was the case but the dealer being insistent did make me doubt.

In terms of the suspension, apparently they think the compressor is failing and so after bumpy journeys its not able to keep the pressure up and the suspension is sagging. Not happy as its caused the car to bottom out and damage the wheel arch liner. Its also the second failure of the suspension this year... On a 12 month old 12k mile car I am seriously unimpressed.


If the suspension has failed previously and the compressor was working hard to counter a leak or similar issue then it's not unknown that the compressor will fail. Hopefully if the other issues are sorted a replacement compressor will last the lifetime.

I love the air suspension on my car (W213, air all round) but am aware of the potential costs....
 
Unfortunately not all P zeros are the same? They may have slightly different tread patterns/shoulders / rubber= handling characteristics. Sort of thing that might go unoticed on an ordinary car , but on a high performance saloon might give a slightly different front to rear handling balance on the limit. [ different slip angles]
The New Pirelli P Zero Launched - Tyre Reviews

ps that potential handling imbalance would be removed by replacing the front tyres to the same type as well as the back?
 
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We have a car with Airmatic which has a new compressor every four years. Fortunately they're not too expensive.
 
Unfortunately not all P zeros are the same?
You're right, Graeme. Unfortunately, the MO variant in the sizes for the E63 is not part of the "new family" and are uniformly pathetic in cold & wet conditions - in other words the UK for at least 6 months of the year!

On a related note, the P Zero has been through many updates during its life, but has always retained the name "P Zero" which makes it impossible for the average punter to work out whether they are buying "the latest and greatest" version, or the old tat. Even tyre dealers are mystified when you ask which version of the P Zero they are selling unless it is one of the specialist versions such as the Nero or Corsa, or it has a distinguishing tread pattern. All in all, it just reinforces my experience that P Zeros are not a tyre to put on my cars.
 
The dealer is wrong, he should be stopping you buying those tyres in the first place. There crap.
 
Have P Zero Nero on my 2016 E350 and have experienced no problems so far.

Seem to grip quite well, only issue is when I hit some standing water at around 50-55 mph when I felt some aquaplaning but not many tyres would clear a sudden pool of water anyway.

Difficult to compare though unless you keep trying different tyres on same car.


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