C-230 and snow
- Status
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
Joined
·
29 Posts
I'm thinking the same thing...my issue is that it's tough to find steel wheels to put the winters on at a decent price in Canada...I'd at least like to have nice enough steels so that the car still looks good in the snow months...
Anyone know a good source for extra steels in Canada?
Anyone know a good source for extra steels in Canada?
Joined
·
29 Posts
are cheap merc steel wheels common for that size?
Wait and see approach
Not that long ago I read an article by some guy, a Canadian, that last year had been freaking about getting snows to change out his "evolution" 17 inch wheels.
Much to his astonishment, he found he didn't need them. Even in two inches of fresh snow, he wrote that the ESP kept him on track and that try as he may, he couldn't get his coupe to spin or do anything other than go pretty much in the direction he put the wheel. And that's with the 17 inch evolution summer tires. Traction wasn't quite up to G Class standards but it went... and in a straight line.
Now to you guys who live out west, 2 inches is just foreplay I know, but you might want to take a wait and see approach before going out and blowing a thousand bucks on tires and maybe even more on wheels before you know for sure you're going to need them.
I'm looking at the same issue, and that's the reason I didn't go for the evolution package, opting instead for the smaller wheels with their "all season" tires. And being in Toronto, where global warming is really taking the edge off old man winter, I hope I'm not going to need snows.
Not that long ago I read an article by some guy, a Canadian, that last year had been freaking about getting snows to change out his "evolution" 17 inch wheels.
Much to his astonishment, he found he didn't need them. Even in two inches of fresh snow, he wrote that the ESP kept him on track and that try as he may, he couldn't get his coupe to spin or do anything other than go pretty much in the direction he put the wheel. And that's with the 17 inch evolution summer tires. Traction wasn't quite up to G Class standards but it went... and in a straight line.
Now to you guys who live out west, 2 inches is just foreplay I know, but you might want to take a wait and see approach before going out and blowing a thousand bucks on tires and maybe even more on wheels before you know for sure you're going to need them.
I'm looking at the same issue, and that's the reason I didn't go for the evolution package, opting instead for the smaller wheels with their "all season" tires. And being in Toronto, where global warming is really taking the edge off old man winter, I hope I'm not going to need snows.
Joined
·
6 Posts
I've been hunting all over the place to find steelies for the C230... but no luck, everyone (including my dealer - big surprise) insist that the calipers won't have the clearance on 15"...
talontire.com and tirerack.com don't list any details on the wheels... where can I find out what to buy, and from who... for 195/65R15...
Toronto may had it easy last year... but Ottawa and Montreal got r*ped, as usual
talontire.com and tirerack.com don't list any details on the wheels... where can I find out what to buy, and from who... for 195/65R15...
Toronto may had it easy last year... but Ottawa and Montreal got r*ped, as usual
Joined
·
43 Posts
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20135
"despite all the nay-sayers, I went and fitted a set of used 15" steel wheels from a 1999 C-class on my 2003 C230K tonight."
I guess it is possible...check the rest of the post for more details.
Erik
"despite all the nay-sayers, I went and fitted a set of used 15" steel wheels from a 1999 C-class on my 2003 C230K tonight."
I guess it is possible...check the rest of the post for more details.
Erik
Three years ago I went on my big search for winter tires. I'm from London with family around the central Ontario area. At times we can get a lot of snow off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, and at other times it's not that bad. I was looking for something that would do a good job but would also have a good life span.
These are the following tires I started looking at...
Bridgestone Blizz
Michelin Arctic Alpine
Pirelli Winter Ice
Toyo's Proxies ( I think that's what they were called...with the walnuts in the tire compound)
Continental's
But.. after a lengthy search I found what I consider to be the best winter tire for the $$..
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta !
I have had my set for 3 years now and they are absolutely incredible ! The grip on both snow and ice is excellent. I will admit that they are not an ice radial, and probably the Bliz and the Toyo's will outperform them on a hockey rink - but these tires (Nok's) are fantastic. They also wear very well. I regularly make the 401 stretch between London and Waterloo, so I do some bare highway driving with them, and after 3 years they are in great shape. The tire guy I bought them from suggested that 7 seasons was probably a good life span (possibly more), whereas I have known someone who needed new Bridgestones after only 3 seasons.
So monymony....
I'm not sure where you are in Canada or how much snow you encounter normally during the winter ?
Overall, my recommendation would be to seriously look at the Nokian Hakka's when you decide to make a purchase.
http://www.nokiantyres.com
Good luck on your search !
Cheers...
Ryan
These are the following tires I started looking at...
Bridgestone Blizz
Michelin Arctic Alpine
Pirelli Winter Ice
Toyo's Proxies ( I think that's what they were called...with the walnuts in the tire compound)
Continental's
But.. after a lengthy search I found what I consider to be the best winter tire for the $$..
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta !
I have had my set for 3 years now and they are absolutely incredible ! The grip on both snow and ice is excellent. I will admit that they are not an ice radial, and probably the Bliz and the Toyo's will outperform them on a hockey rink - but these tires (Nok's) are fantastic. They also wear very well. I regularly make the 401 stretch between London and Waterloo, so I do some bare highway driving with them, and after 3 years they are in great shape. The tire guy I bought them from suggested that 7 seasons was probably a good life span (possibly more), whereas I have known someone who needed new Bridgestones after only 3 seasons.
So monymony....
I'm not sure where you are in Canada or how much snow you encounter normally during the winter ?
Overall, my recommendation would be to seriously look at the Nokian Hakka's when you decide to make a purchase.
http://www.nokiantyres.com
Good luck on your search !
Cheers...
Ryan
Put the 16" on
I have 16" Pirellis Winter Sports on Steel wheels. They cost around $1700 for all 4 from the MB dealership. They are having a sale right now. I got this direct mailer from them.
The 16" Mercedes Hubcap look a little big on the wheels, but hey I'm in Canada. When it snows practicallity and functionality go before fashion. They are great in the rain as well.
I know you Montrealers are more fashion conscious than people in the T.Dot.
I have 16" Pirellis Winter Sports on Steel wheels. They cost around $1700 for all 4 from the MB dealership. They are having a sale right now. I got this direct mailer from them.
The 16" Mercedes Hubcap look a little big on the wheels, but hey I'm in Canada. When it snows practicallity and functionality go before fashion. They are great in the rain as well.
I know you Montrealers are more fashion conscious than people in the T.Dot.
Joined
·
6 Posts
Of course we are more fashion concious.. we wouldn't want to hit St. Catherines with plain steelies... perish the thought.. hehe 
And 1700 seems a bit steep; i got a quote from talontire.com for Pirelli WinterSport 210's on 16" rims plus wheel covers for under 1400! For that amount I would just throw on Mille Miglias and get it over with...
And 1700 seems a bit steep; i got a quote from talontire.com for Pirelli WinterSport 210's on 16" rims plus wheel covers for under 1400! For that amount I would just throw on Mille Miglias and get it over with...
Joined
·
6 Posts
Of course we are more fashion concious.. we wouldn't want to hit St. Catherines with plain steelies... perish the thought.. hehe
And 1700 seems a bit steep; i got a quote from talontire.com for Pirelli WinterSport 210's on 16" rims plus wheel covers for under 1400! For that amount I would just throw on Mille Miglia or Sport Edition alloys and get it over with...
And 1700 seems a bit steep; i got a quote from talontire.com for Pirelli WinterSport 210's on 16" rims plus wheel covers for under 1400! For that amount I would just throw on Mille Miglia or Sport Edition alloys and get it over with...
by the way
last year, i brought my '98 4-runner to school for the winter (2000 mile trip) the c230k sat for weeks at a time. this because of its pitiful performance in the snow. well, this year, i moved onto a HUGE hill and left the 4run at home because i figured out how to make the benz go when it gets stuck. TURN OFF THE ESP!!! that's a friendly tip that when i found out, saved me tons of time and changed a lot of things around. passing it on.
last year, i brought my '98 4-runner to school for the winter (2000 mile trip) the c230k sat for weeks at a time. this because of its pitiful performance in the snow. well, this year, i moved onto a HUGE hill and left the 4run at home because i figured out how to make the benz go when it gets stuck. TURN OFF THE ESP!!! that's a friendly tip that when i found out, saved me tons of time and changed a lot of things around. passing it on.
Well I sure got to answer my own question about the need for winter tires or not. Our street was pure ice after a whole night of freezing rain. I couldn't get the car to move forward at first. Once I finally got going though the car was amazing. It kept correcting itself and kept me going straight. That esp really does work. And all this without snow tires. They usually say nothing works on ice. Well my c230 did
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
- Status
Join the discussion
