bigger tires= smoother ride?
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2008 C300
bigger tires= smoother ride?
Hey all, obviously haven't posted a lot but I lurk these forums for all the wonderful info y'all have. So I have a question.
I like my 17in wheels, but id like to see if I could get bigger tires, as the ones I have now (225/45 and 245/40) seem to give me a stiff ride. I'm wondering if bigger tires would give me a smoother ride? If so, could I get slighter bigger tires without having to change my wheels?
I searched for answers already but couldn't seem to find anything. Thanks!
I like my 17in wheels, but id like to see if I could get bigger tires, as the ones I have now (225/45 and 245/40) seem to give me a stiff ride. I'm wondering if bigger tires would give me a smoother ride? If so, could I get slighter bigger tires without having to change my wheels?
I searched for answers already but couldn't seem to find anything. Thanks!
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
Hey all, obviously haven't posted a lot but I lurk these forums for all the wonderful info y'all have. So I have a question.
I like my 17in wheels, but id like to see if I could get bigger tires, as the ones I have now (225/45 and 245/40) seem to give me a stiff ride. I'm wondering if bigger tires would give me a smoother ride? If so, could I get slighter bigger tires without having to change my wheels?
I searched for answers already but couldn't seem to find anything. Thanks!
I like my 17in wheels, but id like to see if I could get bigger tires, as the ones I have now (225/45 and 245/40) seem to give me a stiff ride. I'm wondering if bigger tires would give me a smoother ride? If so, could I get slighter bigger tires without having to change my wheels?
I searched for answers already but couldn't seem to find anything. Thanks!
Do you know if you have a Sport or Luxury model? It seems you might be a Luxury model buyer, which has a smoother and softer ride.
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2008 C300
I have the sport, and i love it. it's just the goin over bumps and things on the road that show me how stiff the car is. before this i was driving a 1999 528i and it took everything on the road real well. i guess i was just hoping i could throw some fatter or taller tires to ease the car off bumps and humps and all.
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2008 C300
also, i would want a larger sidewall, hence the getting bigger tires idea. i'd like to keep the 17in wheels and just slap on tires with a larger sidewall. I was told in order to do that i'd need smaller rims, and i don't know if i believe that...so here i am!
thanks for the reply btw!
thanks for the reply btw!
Thread Starter
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2008 C300
also would anyone have any ideas as to how big i could go without rubbing in the wheel well, if that's possible?
thanks again!
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From: New Mexico
2014 E350, 2012 SL550
Such things as gear ratios and speedometer calibration must depend on the specified wheel circumference.
Regards,
Don
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Thread Starter
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2008 C300
While I'm no automotive expert, surely the car is designed with a specific wheel circumference in mind. That's why when you go, for instance, from 17" wheels to 18", the sidewall height must decrease to maintain the same circumference.
Such things as gear ratios and speedometer calibration must depend on the specified wheel circumference.
Regards,
Don
Such things as gear ratios and speedometer calibration must depend on the specified wheel circumference.
Regards,
Don
or am i missing something
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
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Another round of ICE
That move will also invite the same problems. You could either try the more compliant tires, such as the ones I mentioned above, or see if 16" wheels fit, as they are used on C Class in some markets, but need to be compatible with the size of the brake assemblies installed on your car. If ok, then the appropriate tire will have the taller sidewall for a more compliant ride, and again, seek the best ride tires you can find. Check tirerack.com owner surveys and test results for ride quality.
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C
I think the best way is to do what Sportstick suggested - get tires geared towards comfort. Using tires with larger sidewalls will result in slight odometer discrepancies. I believe your odometer will read slightly higher than true mileage. There are online calculators for this. My dad wanted to do that with his car so I ordered slightly larger tires for him from tirerack.com. They called me a day later to tell me about the odometer issue (great customer service) so I went back to OEM sizing.
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Another round of ICE
The speedometer problem will make the car seem to go slower than actual. I used the calculator on 1010tire.com and compared the 225/45-17 to a hypothetical 225/55-17 for a taller sidewall. With this change, if the car was indicating 60mph, it would actually be travelling 65mph, with the tire doing 55 fewer revolutions per mile.
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2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Also, bump test the shocks at ea corner. Make sure none has locked up. If bad, replace with Lux model shocks.
Changes (if needed) For Smoother Ride (low$ to high)
1) Try removing front and rear sway-bar end-links on one side. Drive on local roads, not highway. (DIY or use local shop)
a) If you feel the ride is smoother, replace front and rear bars with softer lux model bars (used if possible) with new end links (rockauto.com). Note trade may be worked out on this site.
b) If no smoothness improvement, replace end-links.
2) Buy another pair of front rims for rear, so both are 225/45/17 tires. The oem 40 series 17" rear tires have even stiffer sidewalls for same speed rating front 45 series.
3) go with step 2) rims, run 50 series front & rear. Find spacesaver spare with same oem specs, except .92" larger dia.
4) Go with a set of proven 16"x7" rims, with 205/55/16-91H tires. These have been oem for various C230 and C220 models in other countries. But they have smaller front calipers, so all 16" wheels will not clear the calipers for the 11.6" front disc on C300's. Check out link below, and pic of 16" rim that fit with some attention to balance weight outer location.
C300-W204, 16-wheels that fit, with 205-55 91H tires
.
Last edited by kevink2; Oct 11, 2011 at 01:31 AM.
Thread Starter
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2008 C300
The speedometer problem will make the car seem to go slower than actual. I used the calculator on 1010tire.com and compared the 225/45-17 to a hypothetical 225/55-17 for a taller sidewall. With this change, if the car was indicating 60mph, it would actually be travelling 65mph, with the tire doing 55 fewer revolutions per mile.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
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2008 C300
I think the best way is to do what Sportstick suggested - get tires geared towards comfort. Using tires with larger sidewalls will result in slight odometer discrepancies. I believe your odometer will read slightly higher than true mileage. There are online calculators for this. My dad wanted to do that with his car so I ordered slightly larger tires for him from tirerack.com. They called me a day later to tell me about the odometer issue (great customer service) so I went back to OEM sizing.
Thread Starter
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2008 C300
1st, what speed (and load) rating are your current tires? A V rated tire has much stiffer sidewalls , vs the 91H rating of the OEM's for both lux and sport C300's. With V's, the ride will be much stiffer, esp if the tread has worn down. Make sure they are the MB specified 91H.
Also, bump test the shocks at ea corner. Make sure none has locked up. If bad, replace with Lux model shocks.
Changes (if needed) For Smoother Ride (low$ to high)
1) Try removing front and rear sway-bar end-links on one side. Drive on local roads, not highway. (DIY or use local shop)
a) If you feel the ride is smoother, replace front and rear bars with softer lux model bars (used if possible) with new end links (rockauto.com). Note trade may be worked out on this site.
b) If no smoothness improvement, replace end-links.
2) Buy another pair of front rims for rear, so both are 225/45/17 tires. The oem 40 series 17" rear tires have even stiffer sidewalls for same speed rating front 45 series.
3) go with step 2) rims, run 50 series front & rear. Find spacesaver spare with same oem specs, except .92" larger dia.
4) Go with a set of proven 16"x7" rims, with 205/55/16-91H tires. These have been oem for various C230 and C220 models in other countries. But they have smaller front calipers, so all 16" wheels will not clear the calipers for the 11.6" front disc on C300's. Check out link below, and pic of 16" rim that fit with some attention to balance weight outer location.
C300-W204, 16-wheels that fit, with 205-55 91H tires
.
Also, bump test the shocks at ea corner. Make sure none has locked up. If bad, replace with Lux model shocks.
Changes (if needed) For Smoother Ride (low$ to high)
1) Try removing front and rear sway-bar end-links on one side. Drive on local roads, not highway. (DIY or use local shop)
a) If you feel the ride is smoother, replace front and rear bars with softer lux model bars (used if possible) with new end links (rockauto.com). Note trade may be worked out on this site.
b) If no smoothness improvement, replace end-links.
2) Buy another pair of front rims for rear, so both are 225/45/17 tires. The oem 40 series 17" rear tires have even stiffer sidewalls for same speed rating front 45 series.
3) go with step 2) rims, run 50 series front & rear. Find spacesaver spare with same oem specs, except .92" larger dia.
4) Go with a set of proven 16"x7" rims, with 205/55/16-91H tires. These have been oem for various C230 and C220 models in other countries. But they have smaller front calipers, so all 16" wheels will not clear the calipers for the 11.6" front disc on C300's. Check out link below, and pic of 16" rim that fit with some attention to balance weight outer location.
C300-W204, 16-wheels that fit, with 205-55 91H tires
.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Best to verify speed rating on tire, must have it in raised print, usually after the size marking.
Yes, step 3) will make the speedo'r and odom'r read about 3.5% lower than actual. And, you will have 3.5$ less torque at the wheels for any rpm ... may feel that a bit. But no other control issues, as I recall.
Yes, step 3) will make the speedo'r and odom'r read about 3.5% lower than actual. And, you will have 3.5$ less torque at the wheels for any rpm ... may feel that a bit. But no other control issues, as I recall.
