Winter tyres on a 2013 E63 AMG

[SRAKE]

Has anyone experience of running an AMG in the UK on winter tyres? I'm hoping to get a bit more grip in wet and cold conditions and have just put 4 Pirelli sottozero series 2 on the original 19 inch rims, wrongly or rightly I went for standard sizes... 285/30 rears. 255/35 fronts. Current temp outside is 11.5 degrees, way above the 7 degree beneficial temp for these tyres. Question is how worse off will I be until the temps drop....and then on balance will the improved performance and grip be worth the hassle and money of the switch? ( I live in rural west yorks and use vehicle daily for commute to Leeds of 20 miles, occasional motorway journeys nationally) .. Will report back in due course. Any wiser and previous experiences/ comments would be welcomed please.

 

[TJR]

I have run winter tyres (vredestein) on my c63 for last 3 winters. Find the car is far more stable especially in snow and ice. Also pretty good in the wet. Loads of threads on the forum about winter tyres, some like them some don't.

 

[BTB 500]

Current temp outside is 11.5 degrees, way above the 7 degree beneficial temp for these tyres.

7 degrees is quoted all the time but Continental (for example) say for their tyres it's 2C where their winter tyres start to outperform the summer ones. Don't know about Pirelli.

 

[simon1966]

I've had Conti 830P winter tyres fitted all round about a month ago. They got great reviews but have been hopeless on my car.

To be honest I regret fitting them, but at the time we were getting warnings of bad weather that didn't materialise, well not in the south anyway. Maybe I should have held off until poor weather actually appears!? Traction has been really poor even when it's been cold, although prob not been below about 2 degrees. I'm almost hoping we get some bad weather just to justify having them fitted! Maybe I will be of totally different opinion if the weather turns. The videos etc certainly would suggest a massive difference in snow and slush.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've had them on C32 AMG for years and even run them in summer. So good that we have the on the ML63 AMG too. Drawback is that our garage looks like your local Kwikfit.

They make und-drive able cars confidence inspiring, and stop the bum-clenching when you can see the weather turning.

 

[SRAKE]

Has anyone experience of running an AMG in the UK on winter tyres? I'm hoping to get a bit more grip in wet and cold conditions and have just put 4 Pirelli sottozero series 2 on the original 19 inch rims, wrongly or rightly I went for standard sizes... 285/30 rears. 255/35 fronts. Current temp outside is 11.5 degrees, way above the 7 degree beneficial temp for these tyres. Question is how worse off will I be until the temps drop....and then on balance will the improved performance and grip be worth the hassle and money of the switch? ( I live in rural west yorks and use vehicle daily for commute to Leeds of 20 miles, occasional motorway journeys nationally) .. Will report back in due course. Any wiser and previous experiences/ comments would be welcomed please.

Good news. First experience today on the winters was good. 13 degrees in the AM on damp roads, traction was equal I'd say to the summers. Route home was 8degrees, had chance to test them a little more and had no probs at all in dryer conditions. Quite confident it was the right choice to put them on. Certainly no intention of pushing the car in colder or wetter conditions but good to know that the performance and control is there if needed.

 

[amokwa]

I've had them on C32 AMG for years and even run them in summer. So good that we have the on the ML63 AMG too. Drawback is that our garage looks like your local Kwikfit.

They make und-drive able cars confidence inspiring, and stop the bum-clenching when you can see the weather turning.

What winter wheel/tyre combo are you running on the 63 ?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

What winter wheel/tyre combo are you running on the 63 ?

We run 21-inch Summer wheels and 20-inch Winter wheels, with 295/40R20 110V CONTINENTAL CROSS CONTACT WINTER tyres

 

[Ian Donkin]

I have the Pirelli's on my 17" winter wheels; 245/45/17 all round and they seem okay so far albeit (and mine's a 350CDI) you can break traction quite easily on greasy roads just by accelerating hard. Not how to drive in winter I know, but don't expect miracles.

Oh, on mine (and they are an MO fitment), they are only H-rated too so no more than 130mph.

 

[Ian Donkin]

Just a quick update here from the cold snap of the last couple of days - the Pirelli's do feel more confidence inspiring on turn-in and more generally in the damp conditions; whilst an expensive tyre, I'm glad I bought them.

 

[E55K]

Finally cold enough this morning for my Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes to be properly effective. So much more grip at 2deg or less, than greasy roads at 5 degrees