Tyres, handling and mpg, C220CDi

[mykulmerc]

I have recently bought my 1999 C220CDi. 122k miles. I owned a 1993 C220 petrol until July 07, traded it in for a newer "ordinary car", missed my Merc so got this one.

On the old Merc I had decided that Michelins were best, having also tried Dunlop & Pirelli. Having seen other threads, it seems that Goodyear F1s might be good for the C class. My "new" car has Michelins - legal but not pristine condition.

The car is every bit as good in bends as I expect, but does tramline quite a lot on the dual carriageway. So far have only checked pressures. Any more suggestions.

My drive to work is 25 miles at steady 70, plus 5 miles 20-40 mph. Does 41 mpg sound reasonable for an auto?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Welcome to the forum.

What size are the wheels/tyres? Wider tyres are more susceptible to tramlining.

 

[mykulmerc]

Tyres

Thanks,


just bog standard 195/65/15. The rears are just about down to the indicators, fronts got plenty left.

 

[whitenemesis]

I run Michelins and have found as they get close to wear limits they do tramline quite badly. A very good indicator they need replacing!

No tramlining on tyres with good tread depth

 

[Chris_J]

The MPG seems good to me. When I work out my MPG it's about 35.

 

[Wezzel]

Your mpg sounds about right. I drive about 20 miles to work on mostly country roads. If I keep the box is "S" and drive lively I will get about 35mpg, however, if I keep it in "W" and drive with a very foot I can get anything up to 43 or 44mpg.

A couple of years ago I bought 4 Vredstein HiTracs for my car on the recommendation of the Autoexpress Tyre Test. I must say I have been pretty pleased with them - reasonably priced, quiet and pretty good handling without too much tramlining. They have lasted about 30,000 miles and are now getting towards replacement time. I will Probably get another set.

 

[scottan]

When I put some 17" AMG styling 2s on my C240 sport in May last year, I fitted them with Goodyear F1 GSD 3 225/45s but was never completely happy with them...A roads and motorways were fine but on more uneven road surfaces the tramlining was awful....so after a mere 5000 miles, I have just replaced all 4 with Michelin Primacys and there is a very noticeable difference for the better. Its not just that the tyres on the new wheels are wider, but i'm sure the unique Goodyear tread pattern is much more susceptable to road influence, so my recomendation now would be to always by a tyre with at least an assymetrical tread pattern. The Michelins dont avoid tramlining altogether, but it is considerably reduced.

 

[crockers]

When I put some 17" AMG styling 2s on my C240 sport in May last year, I fitted them with Goodyear F1 GSD 3 225/45s but was never completely happy with them...A roads and motorways were fine but on more uneven road surfaces the tramlining was awful....so after a mere 5000 miles, I have just replaced all 4 with Michelin Primacys and there is a very noticeable difference for the better. Its not just that the tyres on the new wheels are wider, but i'm sure the unique Goodyear tread pattern is much more susceptable to road influence, so my recomendation now would be to always by a tyre with at least an assymetrical tread pattern. The Michelins dont avoid tramlining altogether, but it is considerably reduced.

Yes Goodyear F1 Assymetricals are better than the Godyear F1 (with the V shape pattern)...

 

[c240yaz]

I'm "converted" to winter tread tyres from now on. All year round.

After all, I reckon 80% of our driving conditions are, and for the foreseable future, winter conditions.

It is more often wet than it is dry

 

[mykulmerc]

I'm "converted" to winter tread tyres from now on. All year round.

After all, I reckon 80% of our driving conditions are, and for the foreseable future, winter conditions.

It is more often wet than it is dry

I used Michelin Alpin Pilot Alpin on my previous C220 and like them. They didn't seem to wear any faster than summer tyres...in fact seemed to last longer.

Have just put Goodyear NCT5s on the back of the new car...still tramlining though.

Some people like to compare prices so for the record I paid £117.50 for the pair, including everything!