Seeking rear tyre recommendations for my SLK-350

[frontfloater]

The rear tyres on my 2010 SLK-350 are now six and a half years old, and I'll be changing them at the next MoT in a few weeks. This is the first change I've done since owning the car.

Currently I have Michelin Pilot Sports on the rears, marked "245x35 ZR18 92Y Extra Load". The fronts are both fairly new Continental Conti-Sport Contacts marked "225 R18 92Y Extra Load", put on by the selling dealer when I bought the car.

The price difference at my local QuickFit is small - £384 for a pair of Contis, £407 for the Michelins. The only vague opinions offered by their staffer were that "it may be better to have the same tyres all round", but that Michelins were "probably a better tyre". They didn't mention any other recommendations.

I would welcome any opinions or alternative suggestions, to help me decide. I don't do much mileage (around 1000-1500 per year) and rarely drive in rainy conditions. I do sometimes give it some wellie on standing starts etc. The car has the Sport package with slightly lower/firmer suspension, and currently has fairly high road noise even with the roof up. So grip and ride quality are of more interest than durability - they will be out of date again before I get close to wearing them out.

Thanks for any advice.

[Venisonpie]

I run Conti's on my SL, tyres are huge for what it is (295's rear, 255's front). They're a good all rounder with excellent wear rate if not ultimately as grippy as a Michelin. The latter doesn't worry me as I don't drive around on the door handles like I may have done 20 years ago.

[Scrump]

I would suggest getting rears to match the fronts.
Did have different tyres front and rear for a while on both my E class and my 911. Normal town driving it was fine but I did notice things when at higher speeds. Both cars handled better when I put on matching tyres front and rear.

[gregpot2000]

This thread is spooky! 1 week ago, I got new rear tyres fitted to my 2010 SLK 350 as well! and 18inch wheels at that!

I went for Pirelli P Zeros as that was what was on the front around 300 for the pair, the rears had mid-range budgets fitted as part of me buying the car in 2022.

I wanted good tyres but also didn't want to go crazy, the car lives in the garage over winter and I only really drive on dry days....although I am taking it to The South Of France again this year in a few weeks!

[leef44]

I got Contis on my rears last year, SLK55. I considered Michelin but just wanted to keep them the same as the fronts which still had life in them (5-6mm).

I was surprised to find Halfords were the cheapest (after checking BlackCircle, Kwikfit etc). I signed up to their motoring club which cost £50 at the time, it has now gone up to £55 but it was worth it because I got £10 voucher off plus 5% discount and next MOT paid for.

Here's the link if you are interested
https://blog.halfords.com/halfords-motoring-club-y...

but check their tyre prices. It might have gone up since then.

[Dog Star]

My wife’s SLK 350 was fitted with Continental all-seasons (I forget the name blah blah Contacrs) - same size as the OP.

Worth it where we live and after watching some videos on the subject the all-seasons basically out perform summer tyres in all regimes below 15C and are scarcely worse above it. Temperatures are generally less than this, especially up north.

They also look really cool.

Worth bearing in mind.

[wyson]

No brainer. Just get the matching continentals and save yourself some money.

Its always better to have 4 matching corners.

I tried mixing tyres before, crapped myself on my first spirited drive and vowed never to do it again.

[Pent]

I love Michelin so don’t look any where else

[MustangGT]

Apologies for deflecting the thread, but, what sort of fuel consumption do you get on a cruise type drive in the 350? I am thinking of changing the 250 for a 350 shortly, but do a fair number of miles.

[frontfloater]

I've done several longish trips where I checked the MPG afterwards - either 200 miles mainly motorway cruising, or 100 miles spilt 50:50 between motorway and country B-roads. The mileage is very consistent : 33 in Sport mode, 35 in Comfort. I always use premium 97 or 99 octane fuel.

[MustangGT]

frontfloater said:

I've done several longish trips where I checked the MPG afterwards - either 200 miles mainly motorway cruising, or 100 miles spilt 50:50 between motorway and country B-roads. The mileage is very consistent : 33 in Sport mode, 35 in Comfort. I always use premium 97 or 99 octane fuel.

Thanks, that is pretty good really, opens up more possibilities for me.

[frontfloater]

302 BHP versus 201 ; 0-62 in 5.3 versus 6.8. Bit of a no-brainer ... if you can live with the extra insurance & servicing costs.

That reduction of the 0-100 kph time might not sound a lot. But my old TVR was rated at 6.8 seconds, and the 350 feels FAR faster.

When quoting the mileage, I should probably have said that mine has the 7-speed automatic box, not manual.

[MustangGT]

Indeed, compared to more modern cars my previous 350i was positively lethargic, but, who cares with that sound track!

Amazing how fast things change, I have just been offered a job that will require commuting a lot more, so a 250 CDI makes most sense for now. Just have to 'borrow' my wife's Mustang GT for fun driving.

[gregpot2000]

I've just travelled from Yorkshire to the Channel Tunnel with my 2010 350...heading to the South Of France.

35mph with cruise set to 70mph all the way down the A1. I think it's pretty impressive considering!

My first car was a 2002 1.6 8valve Astra G. That used to get 28/29mpg on the motorway!

[Dog Star]

gregpot2000 said:

I've just travelled from Yorkshire to the Channel Tunnel with my 2010 350...heading to the South Of France.

35mph with cruise set to 70mph all the way down the A1. I think it's pretty impressive considering!

My first car was a 2002 1.6 8valve Astra G. That used to get 28/29mpg on the motorway!

My SL 350 is more economical than Mrs DSs SLK 350 and yes - 35mpg.

My first car was an X reg (81) Fiesta and the most I could ever coax out of it was 31 mpg.

[frontfloater]

I would happily have traded any of those lower figures for those on my old TVR S2 (admittedly with a full stage-2 engine rebuild). I could get 24-ish on a long motorway cruise, but around 17-18 enjoying country roads.

That was acceptable when petrol was £3 per gallon, but became one of the reasons for switching to the SLK.

[Dewi 2]

frontfloater said:

The car has the Sport package with slightly lower/firmer suspension, and currently has fairly high road noise even with the roof up.

If road noise is of importance to you, I have some experience of improving that.

On an Aston Martin, I have Michelin Pilot Sports, but the engine and exhaust completely hide any road noise.
A long standing CLK 320 has such a quiet engine, that road noise is the dominant sound.
The OEM tyres, Pirelli were dreadfully noisy.
Then tried a couple of sets of Dunlop Sport Maxx, which were much better.
After that Michelin Primacy 4 tyres were fitted. The stated noise level was 68 db, exactly the same as the Dunlops.
However, that sound level is an external measurement. Inside the car, the further eduction in road noise was considerable. At last the car became a delight to travel in. I wish the car had been like that when it was new.

[frontfloater]

Thanks. I went for the Continental Conti-Sports last week, mainly because the consensus seemed to be that all 4 wheels should have the same brand/type. Also KwikFit's computer showed them as one of Mercedes' original equipment recommendations.

I haven't done a long journey yet, so no feedback on the comparitive noise levels.