XWX alternative

[motec 6.9]

Hi guys finally someone is making an alternative to the expensive Michelin XWX tyres if you insist on staying with your standard wheels. Vredestien from Denmark unfortunately they are only available in 205/70vr14 not 215/70vr14 . But they are vr rated stucky tyres in Victoria is selling them and vintage tyres. They are about half the price https://www.cokertire.com/searchbya...rim_diameter=114&sidewall_style=0&tire_type=0 .

 

[SEL_69L]

Buy a set of W126 'S' class wheels on the cheap. They cost much less than 15" Bundts, if you ever manage to locate those.
Keep your standard 14" Bundts aside. You use those for concours judging.

The 15" 'S' class wheels have the same offset as the 14" and 15" Bundts.
That IS important for zero offset steering.
I put 225 x15x 60's on my car and they are very easy to obtain.
More grip, and cheaper, plus genuine Merc wheels.
Later R107's use the same design.

 

[Oversize]

Surely they'd look at demand and choose to manufacture the 215 instead.... WTF

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Mark you can still get XWX in 215 but they are 490 us dollars.

 

[carl888]

Not at all, I received a shipment yesterday of 4 X 215/70-14 XWX and they retail for $345 each inclusive of GST.

Now here is the problem, the current XWX is not legal on the 6.9 amazingly. That's because the load rating has decreased to a 92.

I believe a 6.9 should have a 95 or 97 (Can anyone confirm)?

Now with the Vredstein above, a 205 whilst being a "V" rated tyre will still be under the required load rating. In Australia at least, these two tyres will be technically illegal and therefore render the vehicle unroadworthy.

Here is the Michelin classic link:

http://www.michelinclassic.com/en/Classic-Tyre-range/XWX

 

[carl888]

Surely they'd look at demand and choose to manufacture the 215 instead.... WTF

At the risk of sounding harsh, I've been selling XWXs for 12 years. Of the 300 I have sold since 2002, I have NEVER fitted a set to any Mercedes except my own. I do receive a lot of comments regarding the tyres on my own car at shows and displays but people back right off when the find out the price. Despite being active in the MBCV and carrying on about them on the forums, never been asked, except by one person, who is a possible pending purchase at present.

Having said that, since tyres last 8 years, you get good value from an XWX if you drive the car and in fact, it works out insanely cheap compared to other costs such as maintenance and fuel if you can do say 60,000 kms in 8 years (Which is what I get out of them).

So the reality I see is that there is actually no demand for the Mercedes sizes! This is demonstrated by the cars I see, and I look at everyone I can find. The 215s I have in stock are actually for a Countach.

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Carl I new you would know. That is why I bought a set off 16x8 AMG Penta's on the weekend et11 . by my calculations closest tyre in rolling diameter is 225/55r16 .Geoff

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Carl if I had known they were that cheap I would not have bought the Penta's . As my new 6.9 is very original I will attend to paint work and then see what else.

 

[Styria]

Carl, there is a question I would like to put to you, and I would indeed be very interested in your reply. Some little while ago, I had about three or four new XWXs in my possession - one was an 'old' one, the other three were 'new' manufactured items, that were about twelve months old. Wea re talking about six years ago. The old one at that time was probably about three to four years old, but was not a 'recent' manufactured item.

What I noticed was that the 'old' tyre seemed to be quite a bit heavier, and appeared to be more solid in construction. So immediately I thought that the new tyres' quality appeared to have been compromised. I did raise this matter with 'whoever' at some stage, and it was suggested that Michelin were using more modern compounds which enabled to tyre to be much lighter, yet not be effected in their quality. This is a bit long winded and I am fairly certain that you would understand my query. What is your opinion ? Regards Styria

N.B. BTW, I'll probably get shot down for this, but I have never felt that the XWXs were that much better than some of the other tyres on offer.

 

[carl888]

Hi Styria,

I don't know the date the construction changed, but you are correct. The two construction types that I know of are:

Old (Heavy):
2 steel tread plies
1 nylon sidewall ply


New:
2 steel, 2 polyester and 1 polyamide tread plies
2 polyester sidewall plies.

With this new construction, it seems at the same time the compound was softened to a tread wear index of 100. Additionally, the sidewall thickness was reduced by quite some amount and this accounts for the weight difference.

With regard to the XWX being a good tyre. It's not so much that it's a good tyre, rather, the lack of any decent alternatives. All other 70 series tyres now have either an "H" or "S" rating, but the biggest problem for me at least, is the very tough compounds that these alternatives feature. With the race for long life, the tread wear indeces are all above 250. That, coupled with the high silica compound rubbers mean the tyres just don't hold their grip throughout their life. I use the XWX because it was original fitment, and I'm a bit of a wanker when it comes to originality

Carl, there is a question I would like to put to you, and I would indeed be very interested in your reply. Some little while ago, I had about three or four new XWXs in my possession - one was an 'old' one, the other three were 'new' manufactured items, that were about twelve months old. Wea re talking about six years ago. The old one at that time was probably about three to four years old, but was not a 'recent' manufactured item.

What I noticed was that the 'old' tyre seemed to be quite a bit heavier, and appeared to be more solid in construction. So immediately I thought that the new tyres' quality appeared to have been compromised. I did raise this matter with 'whoever' at some stage, and it was suggested that Michelin were using more modern compounds which enabled to tyre to be much lighter, yet not be effected in their quality. This is a bit long winded and I am fairly certain that you would understand my query. What is your opinion ? Regards Styria

N.B. BTW, I'll probably get shot down for this, but I have never felt that the XWXs were that much better than some of the other tyres on offer.

 

[Styria]

Well Carl, there is nothing wrong with originality. I have seen enough of your car(s), and read enough of your posts, to know which side of the fence you're on, and I do know for a fact that any work you carry out on your cars, and the standard that you maintain, are of the highest order.

I am glad that I raised the matter of the different XWX tyres with you, as it proves that my gut feeling was spot on. At the time, I questioned myself as to my gut feeling regarding the weight of the old vs. new, so you have answered that very well. Thank you for that. Regards Styria

 

[Oversize]

Seems to me like everything else in this world that they're trying to cut costs by cutting corners. And yet again we lose. Why does no-one listen to their customers?

 

[Oversize]

And we STILL PAY A PREMIUM PRICE! OMG!!

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Mark its because the 205, 215 size is correct for Ferrari 308GTB/GTS and old 911's seeing as they are the collectable cars they are catering for them. Sucks yes but that's life . Maybe facebook partition for 95 load rating series .

 

[Oversize]

I might just to that! Nice of them to just stop making essential sizes without asking anyone... Smack!

 

[Oversize]

Oh and I'm taking submissions for required sizes! If you could wave a magic wand, what would you ask for?

My requests would be the following with decent speed and load ratings:

215/70R14 and

255/50R16.

A proper wet weather tread pattern with low noise and a respectable life is essential. I'd also like smooth sidewalls with the choice of red or white bands near the beads.

PLEASE!!!!!!

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Mark only correct rated 255/50R16 tyre is BF Goodrich Sport Comp 2 have to bring in from states. All other tyres in this size are racing tyres

 

[Oversize]

I'll have 6 thanks! Maybe 8!

 

[motec 6.9]

Don't worry found a supplier in Perth will let you know price .

 

[Oversize]

It's the standard size for C4 Corvettes so I have no idea how they're still running around with original wheels.... Unless they're using original tyres!