73%
- Mercedes Benz Vito
- 215/70 R16
- 6,000 miles
- Mostly Motorways
- Spirited
I fitted these to 2021 Merc Vito 116 SWB.
The stock tires were Continental Vancontact 200, which were well worn by 50k kms.
My first thoughts of the Firestones was that I'd made an awful mistake by having these fitted.
I was almost going to turn around after a few 100km and see if they would replace them with something with better traction.
However as it turns out the break in period for these tires is unusually long, I would say at least 1500km before I felt that these tires gave sufficient grip to be safe.
Now after 10k kms I have either developed a tolerance for them but objectively they offer great grip for me in most conditions and even in heavy rain have delivered good handling characteristics.
If you require good grip and handling straight after fitment then these may not be for you but as a driver with many years of experience with many vehicles and tires I can assure you that after a while these tires will start to feel much better, maybe its a lot of mould release compound trapped in the rubber but I have never experienced such a long break-in period as with these tires.
The stock tires were Continental Vancontact 200, which were well worn by 50k kms.
My first thoughts of the Firestones was that I'd made an awful mistake by having these fitted.
I was almost going to turn around after a few 100km and see if they would replace them with something with better traction.
However as it turns out the break in period for these tires is unusually long, I would say at least 1500km before I felt that these tires gave sufficient grip to be safe.
Now after 10k kms I have either developed a tolerance for them but objectively they offer great grip for me in most conditions and even in heavy rain have delivered good handling characteristics.
If you require good grip and handling straight after fitment then these may not be for you but as a driver with many years of experience with many vehicles and tires I can assure you that after a while these tires will start to feel much better, maybe its a lot of mould release compound trapped in the rubber but I have never experienced such a long break-in period as with these tires.