Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Tyres
- Longstone's recommendation for the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is the 185 VR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67.
- The Gullwing originally came fitted with crossply tyres 670 - 15 when it came out back in 1954.
- A 185-15 tyre is the closest radial alternative to a 6.70-15 of which the Pirelli Cinturato is the best tyre for cars of this period.
- The 185 R 15 Michelin XVS would be another good option for Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, good for motorways, but a bit more modern.
- A Gullwing owner might fit a 205/70-15 tyre to their 300SL, but this technology wasn’t developed until 1968.
- If you really do want the wider tyre the 205/70 VR 15 Michelin XWX or 205/70 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN12 are the best options.
- If you are going to fit wider tyres the car will handle better on a tyre designed to suit a classic chassis like Cinturato or XWX.
- These recommended tyres will be well suited to the Michelin 15F innertube.
1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Recommended Tyres
Other Options for Mercedes-Benz 300SL Tyres
Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
The Mercedes Gullwing 300SL initially fitted 670X15 crossply tyres then moved to 650X15 Crossply tyres. If you are going to stick with original crossply tyres then we would suggest fitting the 670H15 Avon TurboSpeed. There are other tyres available in this size which have not got a suitable speed rating, there are also white wall tyres in this size but that would be awful. Today because we drive on so many dual carriage ways Longstone Classic tyres would recommend fitting PIRELLI CINTURATO ™; 185VR15 radial tyres to your 300SL Mercedes Gullwing. This is not just because the CINTURATO ™; is the only period radial tyre made in the right size, but because the 185VR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™; CA67 will make the car handle at its best. The CINTURATO ™; was developed in 1952 to complement and enhance cars of this period. More modern tyres would not suit the cars handling as well, the CINTURATO ™; is the sportscar tyre of that period.
Low Profile Mercedes Gullwing tyres
Often with cars of this period people want to fit low profile tyres of the 70s. A tyre of the size 205/70VR15 would be similar in diameter, but it would be somewhat wider. If you want to fit a wider tyre then 205/70 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN12 or 205/70VR15 Michelin XWX would be the best by miles. These have very high speed ratings and were the tyres of choice for later Mercedes cars and the likes of the Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari Daytona.
The Mercedes Benz 300SL is a two seat, sports car which was sold as a closed coupe with its amazing characteristic gullwing doors or as a beautiful open roadster.
These magnificent cars were built by Daimler-Benz and internally numbered W198, the road version of 1952 was based loosely on the company's very successful competition only sports car the Mercedes Benz SL (W194) which had slightly less power due to still running on carburettors.
This model was suggested by Mr Max Hoffman and was aimed at customers whose preferences were reported to Hoffman by dealers he supplied in the booming, post-war American market. It was introduced at the 1954 New York auto show, unlike previous models that were introduced at either Frankfurt or Geneva automobile shows.
The wonderful 300SL was best known for its Gullwing doors and for also being the first ever petrol powered car with fuel injection straight in to the combustion chamber. The fantastic Mercedes Benz Gullwing was available to buy from 1955 until 1957. In pure Mercedes Benz fashion the '300' was referring to the cars engine cylinder displacement, which in the Mercedes 300SL was 3 litres. The SL meant sport leicht or sport light.
The Mercedes Benz Gullwing got its nick name as the doors were hinged at the roof and when they opened the car took a pose much like a bird in flight. This allowed established engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut to design the tubular chassis to pass through what would usually be the lower half of the door!