W124 15" tyres

[The Boss]

LADIES / GENTS

So my 124 cabrio (yes the heritage one) has been sorn for what feels like forever.. nearly 2 years..

I am looking to bring her back to the road for the summer.

step 1. I want to give her some new tyres for sure.. they havent been changed since 2009

car currently has 205/60/r15 all around.

I just typed in to an online calculator my car details and it came out with

205/65/R15.

Which is correct.. based on my readings of the original spec, i think it suggests the original specification is what i have already

QUESTION 1:

CAN ANYONE CONFIRM IF IT IS:

A) 205/60/R15

or

B) 205/65/R15


QUESTION 2:


WHAT BRAND WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN FITTED TO THE CAR IN 1993? - at moment it is Michelin

QUESTION 3:


WHAT ARE THE BEST DEALS ON TYRE PRICES AT THE MOMENT THAT ANY OF YOUR HAVE SEEN or WHAT SHOULD I BE FITTING!


Car will pass MOT no problem (Well one hopes, having spoken to my MOT guy this morning and he came around to have a quick look just now to give me indicative piece of mind), and then will get TAX etc.. BUT WITH CAR HAVING SAT STILL ALL THIS TIME, I WILL WANT TO GET BRAKES AND WHEELS LOOKED AT..

Cheers guys..

ps. I havent been so excited about anything since i got married

 

[bolide]

The standard tyre size for 6.5" wheels is 195/65 x 15. For 7" wheels it is 205/60 x 15"

I'd fit Continental Premium Contact 5s or Michelins

As for what brand was fitted when it was new - who cares? They don't make 1994 tyres any more

Nick Froome

 

[A-AvantGarde]

LADIES / GENTS

QUESTION 2:


WHAT BRAND WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN FITTED TO THE CAR IN 1993? - at moment it is Michelin

This should be listed on the data / build sheet for your vehicle, normally pasted in the back of your service book.

As others have suggested, I'd try Continental or Michelin.

 

[The Boss]

THE ORIGINAL SPARE IN STILL THE BOOT. IT IS A MICHELIN 205/60/ZR15

DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZR AND R?

ANYONE KNOW OF OR HAVE GOT A GOOD PRICE ON 4x Michelin 205/60/R15 91V ENERGY SAVER.... fitted in NW London

 

[grober]

Although your spare is unmarked if its the original get rid of it [ keep it as an interesting souvenir if you like] and keep the best of the tyres that are on it at present as a spare. Tyres degrade just sitting around and a tyre that old should not be used period. The Z refers to the speed rating of the tyre. A V rating on a modern tyre is quite adequate for the performance profile of the car . If you want to go economy Kumho make a very refined tyre in the SOLUS KH17
EDIT :- the Ecsta I orginally recommended is not available as a 205/60R15

 

[w124nut]

My vehicle data card reads that my sportline W124 cab initially had:

8 hole alloy 7J 15H2 ET41 (A1244011902)

Michelin XSE Pilot 205/60 R15 91V

My car is now wearing Michelin High Energy tyres. I got shot of the unused spare tyre as it was over 11 years old and although in apparent pristine condition, for the sake of £90 or so, I wasn't going to risk driving on a tyre of such an age.

 

[WDB124066]

As above Boss but make sure you get a 91 V. keeps the walls soft and means you won't get jarring in the cab from the tyres being too hard. Yes it makes a difference in the Cabbies - especially since these green-x tyres appeared!!

Original tyres here were Michelin MXV3A - ZR BUT the classification was 91V. The ZR was a marketing exercise I believe, becaue the 91 V was right alongside the ZR bit. I also have an original unused wheel/tyre, nice to have but definately time expired for the road.

 

[WDB124066]

My vehicle data card reads that my sportline W124 cab initially had:

8 hole alloy 7J 15H2 ET41 (A1244011902)

Michelin XSE Pilot 205/60 R15 91V

My car is now wearing Michelin High Energy tyres. I got shot of the unused spare tyre as it was over 11 years old and although in apparent pristine condition, for the sake of £90 or so, I wasn't going to risk driving on a tyre of such an age.

Have you noticed any difference with the high energy tyres...?

 

[w124nut]

Have you noticed any difference with the high energy tyres...?

The only difference that I have noticed would be from going from a set of worn Michelin tyres to a set of brand new. More grip and positive pointing when steering. Road noise and comfort remains about the same.

Also, my driving style is that of a moderate driver more than taking the tyres/car to the limit. Last year I drove about 1,000 miles in her and this year so far, just 80 odd. Much more this weekend:bannana:

 

[scillyisles]

A late UK spec E320 cabriolet with Sportline chassis/wheels from the factory would have been fitted with Michelin 205/60 R15 in 91W rating not 91V. The tyres would most probably have been Michelin MXV3a tyres.
Michelin do not make a 205/60R15 tyre in 91W rating anymore so the choice is somewhat restricted.

Tyres degrade as soon as they leave the factory - rate of degradation is influenced by temperature (higher temp degrades faster), exposure to sunlight (degrades faster) and exposure to rain.

In terms of comparison of the Michelin Energy + tyre to the orginal MXV3A , it gives a softer ride with less steering precision and less sporty handling. Road noise is quieter too.

 

[kth286]

A late UK spec E320 cabriolet with Sportline chassis/wheels from the factory would have been fitted with Michelin 205/60 R15 in 91W rating not 91V. The tyres would most probably have been Michelin MXV3a tyres.
Michelin do not make a 205/60R15 tyre in 91W rating anymore so the choice is somewhat restricted.

Tyres degrade as soon as they leave the factory - rate of degradation is influenced by temperature (higher temp degrades faster), exposure to sunlight (degrades faster) and exposure to rain.

In terms of comparison of the Michelin Energy + tyre to the orginal MXV3A , it gives a softer ride with less steering precision and less sporty handling. Road noise is quieter too.

Sorry - which tyre give those better qualities - original or Energy Saver ?

 

[scillyisles]

Sorry - which tyre give those better qualities - original or Energy Saver ?

The Michelin Energy Saver + gives a softer quieter ride with less sporty handling. The steering is slightly less precise.
However you cannot get a Michelin Energy Saver + in 91W rating - they only go up to 91V.

 

[The Boss]

UPDATE.

SO TODAY WAS D-DAY.. FIRST TIME LOOKING AT THE 124 WITH OUT THE COVER IN A VERY VERY LONG TIME.

I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED.

I REMOVED THE COVER, AND YES THE CAR WAS DUSTY.. (IT HAS BEEN NEAR 2 YEARS)

LOOKED AT TYRES.. WERE NOT THAT BAD VISUALLY (BUT GONNA GET THEM CHANGED ANYHOW)

BATTERY WAS DEAD, GOT OUT THE BATTERY PACK.. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS.. IT BREATHED STRAIGHT INTO LIFE. SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT ENGINE..

GOT INSURANCE SORTED OUT EARLY MORNING - ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED WITH THE PRICE FOR INSURANCE..

ANYWAY, NEXT STEP - MOT

BOOKED AN MOT, AND THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN DELIVERED TO THE MOT GARAGE AND THEY WILL PUT IT TO TEST EITHER TOMORROW OR TUESDAY..

FINGERS CROSSED EH!


SO BACK TO TYRES:

GOT A PRICE OF £370 FITTED FOR MICHELIN ENERGY SAVER 205/60 R15 91V ALL AROUND

not bad at all i think..


ANYWAY.. THE SUN IS OUT, EMMY HAD A NICE LITTLE DRIVE THE THE MOT STATION..

I AM FEELING RATHER HAPPY!

 

[ray_hennig]

GOT A PRICE OF £370 FITTED FOR MICHELIN ENERGY SAVER 205/60 R15 91V ALL AROUND

Firstly, congrats on getting it going. Sounds like a brilliant car.

Regarding speed rating, my 300CE-24 Sportline was specified with 205/60 R15 W. It had those when I bought it from MB and it's had 'em ever since.

Here in France, they refuse to fit lower speed-rated tyres - I've just ordered ZR15s from 123pneus.fr.

Anyway, is that the same in the UK?

It's illegal here and almost everywhere to drive faster that 'V' speeds so is this just the garages in France cashing in? My son had the same with his VW GTi.

Just a thought and I do hope that you won't have a problem if someone spots that your car should have W or Z rated tyres.

All the very best with your car.

RayH

 

[grober]

I've never quite got the ZR thing. All tyres are rated with a speed letter. This indicates the maximum speed that the tyre can sustain for a ten minute endurance without failure.
ratings as follows
V 148mph
W 168mph
Z 150+mph

A note on the ZR rating: most speed ratings designate the speed that should not be exceeded. For example W-rated tyres are rated up to 270km/h. ZR-rated tyres, by comparison, are theoretically rated for anything over 240km/h.

Read more: Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 4

 

[scillyisles]

The ZR rating came out before the W, Y rating. As you say in theory they are safe for speeds above 150mph. The reality is different and the tyre manufacturers brought out the W rating which is up to 168mph and the Y rating which is 186mph.
In addition to speed rating you need to look at the Load index which denotes the capability of the tyre to carry specific weight at speed. The Mercedes W124 Cab is a heavy car and this aspect is probably important too.

 

[w124nut]

A late UK spec E320 cabriolet with Sportline chassis/wheels from the factory would have been fitted with Michelin 205/60 R15 in 91W rating not 91V. The tyres would most probably have been Michelin MXV3a tyres.

The data card for my UK spec 1994 E320 Sportline cabriolet states that the tyres are V rated. I didn't buy the car from new so I can only accept what is on the data card is what was delivered.

Of course the spec may have changed for the later models.

 

[rigel]

what is the longest recommended period of time a tyre should remain on a car when the tread is still within legal limits?

 

[ray_hennig]

In addition to speed rating you need to look at the Load index which denotes the capability of the tyre to carry specific weight at speed. The Mercedes W124 Cab is a heavy car and this aspect is probably important too.

I've been looking into load rating too and, yes, the MBs are heavy cars and 94 rating would make me feel better. Sadly, 205/60 R15 is a size that rarely features 94 rating. All I've seen recently is 91 which my car's always had.

I do note that if I got 17 rims with appropriately sized tyres, 94 is readily available. Having said that, whilst I'm not getting any lighter, I do drive more sedately now than before.

Back in the 80s and 90s we were doing regular 100+ MPH runs with 2 adults, 5 children, roof boxes and bicycles hanging off the back. All that was in a 280TE with normal load rated tyres so maybe I'll save the money and be content with 91.

Best to all.

RayH

 

[scillyisles]

what is the longest recommended period of time a tyre should remain on a car when the tread is still within legal limits?

I seem to recall reading an article where Michelin recommended tyres 10 years old and over should not be used.
However even this might be too long, take my example bought in March 2007 four new Michelin Pilot Primacy 205/60R15 91W tyres and had them fitted to my W124 E320 Cab. They are still well within legal limits. Car is left outside in all weathers. Last year on the MOT they were noted as showing signs of ageing. This year they are worse and are being replaced.