SL230 tyres

[carnut]

I have 255/45 z 17 on my car at the moment ( pirelli P zero) and it's coming up to time to renew. I did a google on the tyre market and I can't seem to find this tyre with a z rating. Many sites do a search based on the car model and are coming up with lower rated tyres (y). Bearing in mind what I read on one site:

"It is important that you do not fit tyres to your vehicle with a lower speed rating or load index than recommended by the manufacturer. Fitting lower speed rated tyres or tyres with a lower load index may invalidate your insurance. "

what is the correct tyre for my SL 350? do I need Z rating or will Y do?
Anyone know the best value place to get them and do you have a view on the alternative. My OEM tyre from new was Continental but when I changed to Pirreli the transformation in ride and noise was remarkably good so Im loathe to change make without a good reason.

 

[television]

The correct tyres for your car are W rated as the 500

 

[television]

looking here these are OK

http://www.tyretraders.com/SearchType/Default.aspx?Width=255&Ratio=45&Rim=17

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Confusing given that generally the further through the alphabet you go, then the higher the speed rating, but Z is not higher than Y.

Z is rated at 150mph+
W is rated at 168mph
Y is rated at 186mph

Somebody will probably explain why this is so, but that's how it is.

Mercedes 'MO' fitment tyres - whose characteristics are supposedly tuned for Mercedes - are always W rated.

 

[television]

Confusing given that generally the further through the alphabet you go, then the higher the speed rating, but Z is not higher than Y.

Z is rated at 150mph+
W is rated at 168mph
Y is rated at 186mph

Somebody will probably explain why this is so, but that's how it is.

Mercedes 'MO' fitment tyres - whose characteristics are supposedly tuned for Mercedes - are always W rated.

That chart shows it all as I understand it all police cars run on W rated

The original tyres on mine wer 17" marked ZR 98W and my replacements are marked R 97W.. on the 18", I got lost on it

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That chart shows it all as I understand it all police cars run on W rated

The original tyres on mine wer 17" marked ZR 98W and my replacements are marked R 97W.. on the 18", I got lost on it

R stands for radial, and ZR signifies ultra-high speed radial, which should be included in the notation on the tyre wall in addition to the actual speed rating at the end, ie W.

 

[television]

R stands for radial, and ZR signifies ultra-high speed radial, which should be included in the notation on the tyre wall in addition to the actual speed rating at the end, ie W.

Thank you very much for that

 

[kjay]

That chart shows it all as I understand it all police cars run on W rated

The original tyres on mine wer 17" marked ZR 98W and my replacements are marked R 97W.. on the 18", I got lost on it

And 98 is the load rating, I believe.

 

[television]

And 98 is the load rating, I believe.

OK so I am down a bit on that, but I am past driving at a 100+ mph and thank you

 

[kjay]

I'm not sure of the figures for each load rating. If I can find a link. I'll post it here.
I think from memory, mine was a 95 (?)



.

 

[kjay]

Load rating chart

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyreload.html

Weight chart. Sorry, only goes up to 2005.

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/mercedes.htm



.

 

[television]

Load rating chart

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyreload.html

.

Thank you again,, so I am only 20kg out, as my pension only buys me ½ a tank of fuel now "that will do nicely"

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Don't get wasting your pension on fuel, you should be buying Werther's Original!!

< Only joking >

I don't think I'll even get a state pension so no Werther's for me, nevermind an SL500 (with very nice valve caps)!!

 

[kjay]

Thank you again,, so I am only 20kg out, as my pension only buys me ½ a tank of fuel now "that will do nicely"

Massive safety margine built into tyre weight rating ( about 100%) so no probs whatsoever with your're 97 rating.

 

[Chris Murray]

101Y/98W etc are new ISO standard load index and speed index ratings. V and Z should no longer be in use as speed index ratings.

 

[carnut]

Thanks

So the bottom line is that Z rated are out of date tyres and I should be getting w or Y rated tyres

Thanks again for the help and info

 

[stoneage]

tyre pressures

HI. ive got some 255/40 18 fitted to my 91 sl500. what pressures would reconend.[these was on when i brought the car] stoneage thanks

 

[BTB 500]

HI. ive got some 255/40 18 fitted to my 91 sl500. what pressures would reconend.[these was on when i brought the car] stoneage thanks

Tyres on mine are 245/40R18 / 275/35R18 ... I use 30 PSI front and 35 PSI rear, which are the standard pressures (from the filler flap).

You could probably use the "high speed" figures instead (from memory, 36/39 F/R).