C450 Urgent Tire Question
#1
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C450 Urgent Tire Question
Sorry for the hyperbole guys. I'm kinda in a bind. After driving thru 5 hours of freezing slop (in a 221 with ultra performance summer tires, BTW) I got to what has to be the tiniest little Mercedes store in the world, in Montgomery AL to check out a gorgeous C450.
I think due in part to the freezing temps and in part to the 19" run flats, the ride was very stiff. So stiff that after driving up from Florida and being tired from clenching my butt cheeks for half a day I was not 100% sure I was ready to buy the car there and then.
I told the dealership we would get a hotel room for the night and come back fresh in the morning to take the car out under better conditions. They insisted we take the C450 as a loaner, which I did.
So now the beautiful C450 is in valet parking at a swanky $158 a night hotel in downtown Montgomery and I need to make a decision by tomorrow morning.
My urgent question is, has anyone here swapped out run flats for regular summer performance tires and did that take some of the stiffness out of the ride?
If that's all it takes I may make a counter offer to the dealer taking into account the cost of the swap. They seem pretty eager to move the car.
I think due in part to the freezing temps and in part to the 19" run flats, the ride was very stiff. So stiff that after driving up from Florida and being tired from clenching my butt cheeks for half a day I was not 100% sure I was ready to buy the car there and then.
I told the dealership we would get a hotel room for the night and come back fresh in the morning to take the car out under better conditions. They insisted we take the C450 as a loaner, which I did.
So now the beautiful C450 is in valet parking at a swanky $158 a night hotel in downtown Montgomery and I need to make a decision by tomorrow morning.
My urgent question is, has anyone here swapped out run flats for regular summer performance tires and did that take some of the stiffness out of the ride?
If that's all it takes I may make a counter offer to the dealer taking into account the cost of the swap. They seem pretty eager to move the car.
#3
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Originally Posted by Maritime
I'd leave it as it is, and enjoy it.
Just wondering if anyone has swapped out the run flats and what kind of difference did it make.
#5
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Originally Posted by Maritime
I have 18 inch run flats and love the ride. It's a C, so stiff is what you get.
#7
The C450 on 19" run flats is a rough ride. Here in Texas the weather has been between 85 and 30 and the ride hasn't changed its still rough. Next set of tires I'm getting non run flats and a sealant kit.
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#8
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Here you are Mike. I wondered what the outcome was. There are threads here where people have swapped out the MOE RFT's for non. The only thing you'd need to worry about is getting a flat. At a minimum you'd need to have a compressor and a can of fix a flat onboard at all times. What would happen if you asked them swap out the 19s for 18s. The standard tires on the C450 are after all 18" not 19".
#10
Throw a gauge on them and see what the pressure is too. Maybe they are at 42PSI or something. Is it the 19s, or the 450 suspension? Do they have a 300 on 19s, or a 450 on 18s?
#11
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Originally Posted by rbrylaw
Here you are Mike. I wondered what the outcome was. There are threads here where people have swapped out the MOE RFT's for non. The only thing you'd need to worry about is getting a flat. At a minimum you'd need to have a compressor and a can of fix a flat onboard at all times. What would happen if you asked them swap out the 19s for 18s. The standard tires on the C450 are after all 18" not 19".
#12
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I know. I'm such a pain in the *** I'm sick of listening to myself at this point. It's a lease, so the OE needs to be on the car when I return it. They have two other C Class in inventory. It's a really small store. I did take out a 300 on 18" and it rode fine. If the 450 rode like that or close to it on non run flats that would be fine.
#14
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I sense that you'd be happier with a loaded C300 - is that accurate?
Changing from run flats on the C450 won't make much of a difference (ride stiffness wise), the difference is mostly in reduced road noise, and that gives some sense of comfort.
I assume you drive on normal roads (not on closed circuits/tracks), driving with run flats is key (even if you could call MB-Fix-Me-Up service) - This still takes time; you could miss a meeting or a dinner date (sorry I had a flat) - Who says this in 2016?
Changing from run flats on the C450 won't make much of a difference (ride stiffness wise), the difference is mostly in reduced road noise, and that gives some sense of comfort.
I assume you drive on normal roads (not on closed circuits/tracks), driving with run flats is key (even if you could call MB-Fix-Me-Up service) - This still takes time; you could miss a meeting or a dinner date (sorry I had a flat) - Who says this in 2016?
#16
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I have a loaded C400 with AIRMATIC and 19's. The ride is great, smooth. I considered trading for a C450. I test drove a C450 on 18s and the ride was noticably rougher. So much so, that it was unacceptable to me. I was looking for a relatively fast car with a smooth ride. I decided to keep the C400.
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Current: 2024 GLE350W4, 2016 Audi A8L Previous: 2019 C43W4
I have a loaded C400 with AIRMATIC and 19's. The ride is great, smooth. I considered trading for a C450. I test drove a C450 on 18s and the ride was noticably rougher. So much so, that it was unacceptable to me. I was looking for a relatively fast car with a smooth ride. I decided to keep the C400.
Would it be nice to have the extra power of the 450 and the fantastic exhaust note? Absolutely. But I daily drive and spend plenty of time in traffic and live in the city...where I'm not really going to be making much use of the 450.
Anyway, if ride comfort is what you're looking for, Airmatic is the direction you should go IMO, sacrificing the power and sportiness of the 450. That's my two cents.
I wouldn't consider the trip to Montgomery a complete loss if this is the conclusion you come to--consider it time well spent given the duration of a lease.
Happy car buying!
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#19
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Originally Posted by Grant Hummel
I'm incredibly pleased with my Airmatic C300. No--it doesn't ride like an S-class due to the shorter wheelbase, and yes some of the larger potholes are still pretty jarring with the 19s and summer tires...BUT it's smooth as silk on the highway and it wafts over most surfaces.
Would it be nice to have the extra power of the 450 and the fantastic exhaust note? Absolutely. But I daily drive and spend plenty of time in traffic and live in the city...where I'm not really going to be making much use of the 450.
Anyway, if ride comfort is what you're looking for, Airmatic is the direction you should go IMO, sacrificing the power and sportiness of the 450. That's my two cents.
I wouldn't consider the trip to Montgomery a complete loss if this is the conclusion you come to--consider it time well spent given the duration of a lease.
Happy car buying!![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Would it be nice to have the extra power of the 450 and the fantastic exhaust note? Absolutely. But I daily drive and spend plenty of time in traffic and live in the city...where I'm not really going to be making much use of the 450.
Anyway, if ride comfort is what you're looking for, Airmatic is the direction you should go IMO, sacrificing the power and sportiness of the 450. That's my two cents.
I wouldn't consider the trip to Montgomery a complete loss if this is the conclusion you come to--consider it time well spent given the duration of a lease.
Happy car buying!
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Last edited by Mike5215; 01-23-2016 at 12:27 PM.
#20
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#21
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#23
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Originally Posted by Maritime
Occupational hazard.
Last edited by Mike5215; 01-23-2016 at 04:17 PM.
#24
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Huh? I'd like to point out that I'm not indecisive as much as impatient. I've known all along the car I really want, but I hate waiting for a build. So I keep finding existing cars that are close enough and then trying to make them work. The 450 had the perfect colors, trim and wheels. The performance was an extra benefit. I finally just surrendered and ordered the car I should have ordered a month ago.
#25
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Essentially the exact same build I had originally planned to order out of Tampa, but based on the ride and noise on the 19" I played it safe and went to 18". I think the last build had black leather and Linden but again based on the car in Montgomery I went Crystal/Black Ash. Other than that, same fully optioned car. Build was $60,800 and change. ($3k less than the 450 and a lot more options.)