X164 19inch Off Road tyre dilemma

[First GL320-CDI]

Hi,

Apart from the Dunlop AT2, does anyone know of another moderate 4wd tyre for the 275/55 19 rims.

Cheers

Colin

[John Green]

Unfortunately 55 series tyres and anything more than driving to Thredbo don't tend to mix. If you can drop down to 18 or 17 inch rims your options increase.

[First GL320-CDI]

Thank you for that,

Do you know whether you can drop down to a smaller rim on the 2009 wagon because I believe the brake package requires a 19 inch rim on the front? I would be very interested in a smaller rim possibly around 17 as the tyre options become a lot cheaper for a larger range of applications. Does any one know of weight or loading limits for rims due to size and speed of vehicle?

Cheers

Colin

[ANF]

Do a search of the Pirelli, Michelin, Continental, etc websites - Pirelli Scorpion Zero comes in that size.

[GLKLASS]

Your best try coopers or mickey thompson.

[GLKLASS]

lol - had a check, easier to get offroad tires for 20 inch than 19 inch!

[Ivanerrol]

Here's a Michelin -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-GL- ... 43b23077a9

and another - with wheel

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-GL- ... 43b230747a

Or Tempe tyres

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/275-55-19-11 ... 2a2034799c

[Urban71]

Hi,

Apart from the Dunlop AT2, does anyone know of another moderate 4wd tyre for the 275/55 19 rims.

Cheers

Colin

Belated reply... I registered so to reply to your question.

I am no tire/rim etc expert. I too ran into this dilemma for 2011 x164 GL350. It came with a 21" demo as there was nothing with 19" demo. I spoke to Cooper people and they said to drop 275/55/19 to 255/55/19. The speed from my original 21" 295/40/21 to 255/55/19 speed is 0.8% faster (speedometer) or @ 100kph, I would be travelling @ 99.2kph (per 275/55 @ 2.1% slower on speedometer or travelling @ 102kph instead of 100kph). I now have Pirelli ATR to choose from or Cooper Zeon LTZ 19" (latter designed for Euro cars ie LR/Disco etc). Getting a OEM 19" GL-MB rims was NOT easy in this country.

I don't take my x164 serious off-road, only medium off-road. But your Australian normal "unsealed" roads are very very harsh.

Hope this additional info helps.

[BlackPanther]

Hello,
The previous post was awesome. . clears a few issues up for me. . as going down opens up more options. .

As long as it doesn't compromise safety I'm converting.

275/55/19 has following tyres

Hankook Ventus AS RH07
Michelin 4x4 Diamaris
Michelin Latitude Sport
Pirelli Scorpion Zero
Toyo Observe GSi-5

255/55/19 has following tyres

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza
Cooper ZEON LTZ
Dunlop SP Sport Signature
Goodyear Ultra Grip SUV
Hankook Ventus AS RH07
Kumho Solus KL21
Michelin Latitude Tour HP
Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2
Pirelli Scorpion ATR
Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow
Pirelli Scorpion Verde A-S
Pirelli Scorpion Zero
Pirelli Winter Carving Edge
Toyo Observe GSi-5
Toyo Open Country G-02 plus
Toyo Open Country H/T
Toyo Proxes S/T II
Yokohama W.Drive

[Steve thomas]

Cooper Tyres failed at very low Ks on my ML, Stay clear. Bridgestone wore very fast.
Maxxis have been the best so far followed by Scorpions believe it or not.

[Urban71]

Hello,

As long as it doesn't compromise safety I'm converting.

Wisdom is to "err on the side of caution". I stuck with MB recommendation for All-terrain tyres @ 275/55 R19 H (specific to my model VIN). Moreover, having discussed with my vehicle insurance, "anything" shy of MB recommendation, insurance will NOT cover.

NOTE: Tangent topic - for those requiring a full spare wheel carrier, I ordered a customized "hitch spare wheel carried" for my Pirelli Scorpion Zero AT tyres from CBI Off Road from US. It works really well for my requirement. They are a fabulous bunch and certainly learnt a lot from my order as they never had to make one for MB let alone a GL. IT is no different to a hitch bike rack for the purpose of rules and regulations, just stronger and better angle of clearance/departure.

http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/store/prod ... fb43594fba

Good luck...

[Ivanerrol]

Wisdom is having discussed with my vehicle insurance, "anything" shy of MB recommendation, insurance will NOT cover.

That's the best wisdom and tyre fitting recommendations and this goes for all vehicles.

Roadworthy Certificate conditions for Victoria now require the RWC tester to photograph the wheels and tyres as well as VIN number, engine number, speedo and other items.
The RWC inspector is required to only certify a RWC if the wheels and tyres conform to original manufacturers specifications.

This means that if you obtain a RWC with the correct wheels and tyres, subsequently change them for something out of spec and you later on have a crash
(a) Your insurance company may scrub you and your claim
(b) If you are not at fault - the other parties insurance company will scrub you and your claim
(c) You maybe charged by the police for un roadworthy vehicle - worst case scenario culpable driving.

The last time I bought tyres at a tyre dealer he wouldn't put tyres on the car that did not conform to the placard on the side of the vehicle unless I signed a waiver absolving him from liability.

If you think this is far fetched.
My wife has a friend who's son in law recently was killed in a crash.
For some reason at around 5.00am in the morning when he was going to his shop he ploughed straight through a roundabout into a tree. No alcohol involved. Apparent single car accident.
The crash scene was closed for ten hours while the police accident squad investigated the crash.
The body cannot be released to the family until an autopsy, coroners report, police investigation are completed - this could be weeks.
The police are looking at all aspects of the car and circumstances - even sabotage.
The insurance company is not acting until the police and coroner investigations is complete.
Car was a ricer.

[TargaSL]

I want to change my 21" AMG rims on the 164
i travel on dirt raods and tow Der Panzervagen in a heavey trailer which means i need some sidewall give
they are great aroudn town and the highway
for sale if anyone is interested

looks like 19"s are the go

what tyres ended up getting the top vote?

[Greg in Oz]

Sorry to take this a bit off-topic, but I really don't understand the thinking behind 20" and larger wheels, especially on "off road", SUV or 4WD vehicles. Even some sedans intended primarily for sealed roads can be seen getting around on 20" wheels with tyres with barely enough sidewall to print the tyre size. More often than not these rims have damage from potholes and the like. Yes, I know all the arguments for larger diameter wheels allowing bigger brakes and less tyre sidewall movement, but on typical Aussie roads these tiny sidewalls are just asking for tyre and/or rim damage, and do brakes really need to be that big? Remember, bigger brakes means more unsprung weight which means compromised handling, as does ridiculously low section tyres on rough roads. Let's face it, not even race cars running on smooth race tracks run tyres with so little sidewall.

Paul, I can well understand you wanting to find a more sensible wheel and tyre size for your W164.

[TargaSL]

I have come to the same position

look at F1 tyres - sidewall flex is half the suspension movement
top gear did a test adn 22" were actually slower around the track than 18/19"s not enough sidewall movement to allow the tyre to shape to the road

unfortunately as i bought the ML second hand i got teh standard AMG package (though it was a great bargain)
particularly on country roads i can't see anything bigger than 19"s

[GLKLASS]

i am getting the cooper LTZ in 20 inch when i change the tyre next. These have more tread and as i want to do more offroad, they will provide better grip in mud.

[TargaSL]

i am getting the cooper LTZ in 20 inch when i change the tyre next. These have more tread and as i want to do more offroad, they will provide better grip in mud.

what is teh sidewall height on the 20's?

[Urban71]

This is an update after a year that my 19" Pirelli Zero Scorpion MO (275/55/R19 111H) performed very well for the intended destinations. I opted for the 19" vs 20" because I need the tyre wall. The harshest corrugated unseal would be about 2hrs of driving (that's about the furtherest I am going to venture to see your beautiful landscapes with this GL) seemed to handle well - certainly the 19" took most of the corrugated punishment, 2nd to the GL suspensions and independent chassis system. My 5th full spare was mounted on the custom tailored hitch-tow. I would use these tyres only on driving tours during the respective school breaks, so I don't wear them out during daily city/school run because I swap them out for my original 21". (Just need to remember during street parking that I am no longer fitted with 19" but 21" when it comes to concrete curbs. Hope the update

[First GL320-CDI]

Hi, I have just got back into my OZBenz account and after trolling some time of my earlier posts I found your photo of the rear tyre carrier! Yes please, that’s fantastic- how, where and how much please