Not all SC5's are equal?

stoofa · 16 Jan 2013 at 01:36

A year or so ago I saw on forums people asking "These tyres say "Mercedes Fit" can I still use them on such and such.....
The answer being yes, they are just the same - just sold as Mercedes or Audi fitment.
But is it possible that isn't the only difference?

I'm getting some Conti SC5's fitted tomorrow. I saw numerous "fitting" for these tyres - Mercedes, Audi, Porsche and simply assumed it was the same tyre - an SC5. But according to the labelling there are differences.
Example:

Continental SC5. (No specific fitment type listed)
Fuel Economy - E
Wet Stopping - A
Noise - 72db

Continental SC5 (Mercedes fitment)
Fuel Economy - C
Wet Stopping - B
Noise - 72db

Continental SC5 (Audi Fitment)
Fuel Economy - E
Wet Stopping - B
Noise - 72db

So the only variable the same on all three being the noise. So what makes these tyres different? What are certain car brands demanding from the tyre?
Why bother?

Not sure if it's the same on other makes of tyre. Just seemed a little strange and maybe it's actually worth checking which fitment of tyre your getting.

eXist · 16 Jan 2013 at 08:26

rubber compound

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2013 at 08:51

Either Audi deliberately spec a bit less grip without any fuel economy advantage or its a good example of how deeply flawed the new ratings are. My money is on the latter.

paradigm · 16 Jan 2013 at 09:35

What I am surprised about is that the Conti Sport Contact is the defacto tyre on cars that Audi state "have low rolling resistance tyres".

Clearly they aren't designed with fuel economy at the top of the "want" pile.

IAmATeaf · 16 Jan 2013 at 10:15

[TW]Fox;23567570 said:
Either Audi deliberately spec a bit less grip without any fuel economy advantage or its a good example of how deeply flawed the new ratings are. My money is on the latter.

So Audi should be really be fitting Mercedes fitment tyres as as you've stated the rating for the Audi makes no sense.

Firestar_3x · 16 Jan 2013 at 10:26

The tests are garbage, i managed to bottom this out after many emails between Michelin / Goodyear and myself.

They even posted me a dealer newsletter explaining how the tests work, its a poor system, yet another thing the EU doesn't understand and should keep it's fingers out of.

mattyfez · 16 Jan 2013 at 12:10

Firestar_3x said:
The tests are garbage, i managed to bottom this out after many emails between Michelin / Goodyear and myself.

They even posted me a dealer newsletter explaining how the tests work, its a poor system, yet another thing the EU doesn't understand and should keep it's fingers out of.

I'd love to see a scan/transcription of the testing system!