seanvree

Really wanting to upgrade to some 20" wheels. Found these Niche 140 Verona's.

What do you guys think?

http://www.mhtwheels.com/mht-luxury-...l.cfm?id=14202

MB-JIM

You will ruin a great car!

seanvree

Really? how so? I've been looking for 20" MB wheels, but I've had no such luck.

Any recommendations?

MB-JIM

Do you want a car to bounce down the street to show off or a car to drive?
If you want a great drive stick with the 19's.

seanvree

Would going from 19"s to 20"s really effect the ride that much?

MB-JIM

First of all, you may have interference problems. I don't know how much profile you would have but it wouldn't be a hard ride and your wheels and tires would be very vulnerable to pot hole damage.
If it is a distinctive look, you want, then search out 19" wheels. There should be a lot to choose from.

vic viper

If it is 20" he is looking for then let him!, its not up to you to decide what he wants right?


I think they look great, similar to Vossens, I will go for Vossen myself once summer arrives, 8.5x20 and 10x20, most likely VFS-1 or CVT

kowyzg0moo

Careful with these concave rims. I made the terrible mistake of putting them onto one of my Mercedes' and after a week it had grinded ever slightly the break discs where I had to replace both the rims and the breaks - and i swear I couldn't hear it. It was just a super fine touch.

MB-JIM

[QUOTE=vic viper;6208079]If it is 20" he is looking for then let him!, its not up to you to decide what he wants right?


He asked for people's opinion and I gave him mine.

seanvree

i appreciate all your input guys. I'm really torn.

The other option I'm thinking about is powercoating the wheels gunmetal.

Trust me, I want to stay with MB equipment. but, I just really think the car looks better with 20". I wish MB offered a 20" wheel that would fit.

Sportstick

The roads in Sweden may be quite better than where you live. Of course, you are free to do as you please. But, 20" wheels with such short sidewall tires will be very uncomfortable on anything less than great quality roads. Here in Michigan, I went back from 18" to 17" simply due to ride quality and bent rims from broken pavement, as there was not enough rubber sidewall to protect the rim. You must be very compelled to get a certain appearance to take on 20s, as almost every other dynamic characteristic will deteriorate.

vic viper

I have on my own cars ridden several different large wheel setups 19, 20 and 21", I have also driven almost every Merc ever released with different wheel setups.


All I heard when I had my 204 with 20.s was "OMG that must be a horrible ride!" if I had the time I offered the person a ride and that was always the end of that discussion, the ride is not affected as bad as one might think, please try it out before complaining about worsened drive quality.

Glyn M Ruck

+1. 20 inch wheels would be a disaster on most US & SA roads. Uncomfortable & the chassis is not set up to handle them which is why Benz does not offer them.

angeloxnet

sometimes form > function
nothing wrong with nice looking wheels and 20's if you know how to drive.

Sportstick

This has nothing to do with knowing how to drive. The more persuasive argument is that if you know automotive engineering rather than fashion, one would never consider them.

vic viper

So then, lets hear it from someone who knows automotive engineering?,
Why should a car designed for 19.s wont be able to handle 20"


Using the same tire circumference, (stock 235/40x19 to 235/35x20) the sidewall is 12.7mm thinner


20" rim weight often same or slightly higher than 19"


These are the only factors that could affect driving.


I assume you have used 20" wheels in a daily driver or similar, because how could you tell how the ride is otherwise?

Glyn M Ruck

It's all in the suspension's ability to absorb energy when a very low profile tyre wall becomes unable to do so. Ever noticed the high profile of an F1 tyre? This enables the designers to make a very stiff car with minor suspension travel because the tyre sidewall is large enough to do this for them.

In our local automotive press the New C Class with Sport Pack (AMG line) suspension fitted was resoundingly criticised for an "over firm ride that becomes uncomfortable on broken tarmac" They concluded that "The new C Class impresses on most fronts but avoid the sport suspension". This car was fitted with 18 inch wheels & in a country that generally likes more firmly suspended vehicles than the US & many others. Having personally driven that very test car I agree with them. This was on 40 & 45 profile tyres. Imagine how bad it would be on 35 or 30 profile tyres.

BTW ~ they loved the Airmatic suspension on the sister diesel powered test car also on 18" rims as set up for SA. This is impressive as they have been quite critical of previous generation Airmatic suspended cars in the range.

If one is numb or road surface is excellent then I guess it does not matter.

vic viper

You are aware that F1 is currently performing testing with 18" rims as this is something requested by several teams.


Also profile numbers without mentioning width says nothing as the tyre profile is a percentage of the tyre width in mm.s


Why not let pople try for themselves? everywhere I see flak on people using 20.s, how many of the people complaining have actually driven the very same car with 20.s mounted?
Stop pretending to know stuff if you havnt tried it out yourselves.

Glyn M Ruck

I'm well aware of F1 tyre & wheel intentions. They are not looking for comfort. They accept this will mean a softening of spring & damper rates.

On any tyre size that one can realistically fit to a C Class, 30 & 35 profile sidewalls will compromise ride comfort. You can't escape the physics of the situation.

If people want to compromise ride for looks they are welcome. It's their car. The OP asked for an opinion & it has been given.

vic viper

I am pretty sure he asked for opinions about the Niche wheel itself.


And these are the very same arguments I heard once aftermarket 17 and 18" wheels started to increase in popularity during the early 90.s
Still 17" must be considered the most common wheel size in serial production cars today.

Sportstick

Not at all that narrow a question. He said he wanted to "upgrade to some 20" wheels.....", mentioned a brand, and asked what we think. Some of us think about the first part that when on less-than-ideal road surfaces where there is wheel deflection, especially at a high frequency, the loss of the impact absorption of the shorter sidewall will be transmitted via the solid wheel into the body, and then to the occupant. That, as Glyn pointed out, is just physics. If one does not care about that degree of ride quality loss, it is of little moment. But, it is the result. Yes, I have driven 20" wheels.

And, as increases in wheel size usually (although not always) bring along a weight increase, all the issues of a heavier rotating unsprung mass take the car in the wrong direction with additional ride quality loss and reductions in acceleration, fuel economy, and braking capability. Some differences are perhaps small, but still directionally incorrect for the intended performance of the vehicle.

Just like the deleterious effect of high heels on a woman's foot, these may look good, but they are not good for you/the car. Your choice depends on your priorities.

And, now he knows what some of us think....