Owners of the Mercedes-AMG A45 S and Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S have the opportunity to shave seconds off their lap times with a new manufacturer-approved tyre package.
Mercedes-AMG has certified the Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyre as an M01 specification tyre that matches the dimensions, load and speed ratings of the current Michelin Pilot Sport 4S factory-fitted tyre.
The benefit of switching from the original tyre to a semi-slick like the P-Zero Trofeo R is more tread on the road (a semi-slick tyre has fewer channels for water evacuation) and a stickier compound that deals better with heat and high tyre loads.
What this means is improved lap times. Chief driving instructor for Mercedes-Benz Australia, Peter Hackett, set laps at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit on the Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and, in an A45 S hatch, found a time difference of just over three seconds.
The laps were set within 30 minutes of each other, in near-identical conditions.
| Tyre (Mercedes-AMG A45 S) | Lap Time (Phillip Island GP circuit) |
|---|---|
| Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R | 1:49:43 (~-3.4s) |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | 1:52:85 |
Customers can order tyres through their Mercedes-Benz dealership or alternatively through a tyre retailer. The price varies depending on where you go, but the cost is around $650 per tyre.
When you think about it, it’s a sensible investment given how much wear you’re likely to impart on your road tyres at a track day. Having another set of track-only treads means less headaches when it comes to driving on the road.
It’s worth keeping in mind, as I discovered a few years back when testing the HSV GTS R W1 with P-Zero Trofeo R tyres, the Pirelli semi-slick is almost useless in the wet.
We had the chance to track test the A45 S at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with the new P-Zero Trofeo R tyre, so keep an eye out for that review shortly.
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