Anybody have any problems with traction control when upgrading to 19s?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
2012 GL550
Anybody have any problems with traction control when upgrading to 19s?
Any problems with the traction control when upgrading to 19in wheels? (with 235/35 and 265/30) I'm wondering if the added diameter will cause any problems like trip the traction control or something. I think its somewhere around 0.5" overall added diameter compared to the stock 17s.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
C32
Traction will be better with a good set of tires on your 19s becasue they will have a larger contact patch. The reason for this is not only becasue the tires will probably be wider, but will also have a larger overall diameter.
Edit: I just reread your post, and I misread your question. You wanted to know aout traction control. Since the diameter is increased on all 4 wheels there should be no problems at all.
Edit: I just reread your post, and I misread your question. You wanted to know aout traction control. Since the diameter is increased on all 4 wheels there should be no problems at all.
Last edited by AaronC; Jan 12, 2005 at 11:29 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 815
Likes: 2
You got me Noka. Sometimes I like to vent, and no time to write a proper response earlier.
The overall rolling circumference of the tires has nothing to do with ESP intervention. You could put tires on the car that had a 3.0" diameter difference from stock and the car would not sense that anything was wrong if the front to rear relationship in diameter remains constant.
The only thing that an increase or decrease in diameter will do is affect acceleration times and speedo error. No different than changing to a taller or shorter final drive gear.
In your example, yes there is a 1/2" difference between the suggested 19" staggered set up, but compared to the stock 17" sizes, there is only a 3/64" difference in the front to rear tire diameter relationship. This is much closer of a tolerance than a 18" set up utilizing 235 40/ 265 35's which is almost double that number.
The C32 favors a front tire that has a larger diameter tire compared with the rear, as is the case with all these examples. When you reverse this order, that is when you will have a problem with ESP, as I have proved on the track running 10/32" rear tread and 2/32" front tread in the 18" sizes stated above, reversing the relationship by 5/32", which had ESP in a state of continuous confusion and smoking brake pads to prove it.
Good luck with your 19's. Make sure you buy light weight ones.
The overall rolling circumference of the tires has nothing to do with ESP intervention. You could put tires on the car that had a 3.0" diameter difference from stock and the car would not sense that anything was wrong if the front to rear relationship in diameter remains constant.
The only thing that an increase or decrease in diameter will do is affect acceleration times and speedo error. No different than changing to a taller or shorter final drive gear.
In your example, yes there is a 1/2" difference between the suggested 19" staggered set up, but compared to the stock 17" sizes, there is only a 3/64" difference in the front to rear tire diameter relationship. This is much closer of a tolerance than a 18" set up utilizing 235 40/ 265 35's which is almost double that number.
The C32 favors a front tire that has a larger diameter tire compared with the rear, as is the case with all these examples. When you reverse this order, that is when you will have a problem with ESP, as I have proved on the track running 10/32" rear tread and 2/32" front tread in the 18" sizes stated above, reversing the relationship by 5/32", which had ESP in a state of continuous confusion and smoking brake pads to prove it.
Good luck with your 19's. Make sure you buy light weight ones.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
2012 GL550
Great, so I won't have any problems with the setup since the front is still larger than the rear in diameter. Thanks guys.
The stock 17" are like 26-27 lbs?
BTW, how much does it actually throw off the speedo?
The stock 17" are like 26-27 lbs?
BTW, how much does it actually throw off the speedo?
Last edited by bnz616; Jan 13, 2005 at 04:03 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
C32
Originally Posted by bnz616
Great, so I won't have any problems with the setup since the front is still larger than the rear in diameter. Thanks guys.
The stock 17" are like 26-27 lbs?
BTW, how much does it actually throw off the speedo?
The stock 17" are like 26-27 lbs?
BTW, how much does it actually throw off the speedo?
I am not sure what the weights are exactly, but 28lbs pops in my head for the rear wheels.
I could not find the exact diameter of the Conti Sports, so here are the differences in a "standard" tire of our size. I am not sure if our car reads the speed displayed on the Speedo from the front or rear tires, or averages them, so I am posting the speedo difference for both:
Front:
225/45-17
Overall Diameter - 25"
Revs per mile - 808
235/35-19
Overall Diameter - 25.5"
Revs per mile - 792
Speedo reading with 19s is 2.0% lower then with 17s.
When running on 19s, and the speedo is reading 60MPH you are actually going 61.2MPH
Rear:
245/40-17
Overall Diameter - 24.7"
Revs per mile - 816
265/30-19
Overall Diameter - 25.3"
Revs per mile - 798
Speedo reading with 19s is 2.2% lower then with 17s.
When running on 19s, and the speedo is reading 60MPH you are actually going 61.3MPH
Last edited by AaronC; Jan 13, 2005 at 10:32 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 3
Mercedes Benz
Originally Posted by smgC32
You got me Noka. Sometimes I like to vent, and no time to write a proper response earlier.
The overall rolling circumference of the tires has nothing to do with ESP intervention. You could put tires on the car that had a 3.0" diameter difference from stock and the car would not sense that anything was wrong if the front to rear relationship in diameter remains constant.
The only thing that an increase or decrease in diameter will do is affect acceleration times and speedo error. No different than changing to a taller or shorter final drive gear.
In your example, yes there is a 1/2" difference between the suggested 19" staggered set up, but compared to the stock 17" sizes, there is only a 3/64" difference in the front to rear tire diameter relationship. This is much closer of a tolerance than a 18" set up utilizing 235 40/ 265 35's which is almost double that number.
The C32 favors a front tire that has a larger diameter tire compared with the rear, as is the case with all these examples. When you reverse this order, that is when you will have a problem with ESP, as I have proved on the track running 10/32" rear tread and 2/32" front tread in the 18" sizes stated above, reversing the relationship by 5/32", which had ESP in a state of continuous confusion and smoking brake pads to prove it.
Good luck with your 19's. Make sure you buy light weight ones.
The overall rolling circumference of the tires has nothing to do with ESP intervention. You could put tires on the car that had a 3.0" diameter difference from stock and the car would not sense that anything was wrong if the front to rear relationship in diameter remains constant.
The only thing that an increase or decrease in diameter will do is affect acceleration times and speedo error. No different than changing to a taller or shorter final drive gear.
In your example, yes there is a 1/2" difference between the suggested 19" staggered set up, but compared to the stock 17" sizes, there is only a 3/64" difference in the front to rear tire diameter relationship. This is much closer of a tolerance than a 18" set up utilizing 235 40/ 265 35's which is almost double that number.
The C32 favors a front tire that has a larger diameter tire compared with the rear, as is the case with all these examples. When you reverse this order, that is when you will have a problem with ESP, as I have proved on the track running 10/32" rear tread and 2/32" front tread in the 18" sizes stated above, reversing the relationship by 5/32", which had ESP in a state of continuous confusion and smoking brake pads to prove it.
Good luck with your 19's. Make sure you buy light weight ones.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
C32
Originally Posted by Zeppelin
I run larger diameter rear tires than fronts and have no problems on the track or street
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: West New York/ Rumson/ West End NJ
2003 C32 AMG
I don't know if it's the tires....
Since I upgraded to 19's (the TSW Bremma's - I don't know the weight), my car has very poor traction. I chose the Goodyear GSD-3 tires because I thought they had good ratings, and the price wasn't as steep as the PS-2. Now I'm not sure if the tires just suck, or if my wheel diamter ratio is off....I can't floor it in first gear anymore, and my traction control will come on pretty much every shift up to 60mph if I floor it....sucks
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
C32
Originally Posted by JMC32
Since I upgraded to 19's (the TSW Bremma's - I don't know the weight), my car has very poor traction. I chose the Goodyear GSD-3 tires because I thought they had good ratings, and the price wasn't as steep as the PS-2. Now I'm not sure if the tires just suck, or if my wheel diamter ratio is off....I can't floor it in first gear anymore, and my traction control will come on pretty much every shift up to 60mph if I floor it....sucks
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 815
Likes: 2
Hey Zep. You misunderstood the question. Although you are running a larger tire width in the rear on your car, your tire diameter or overall circumference is still greater in the front, unless you changed your staggered setup from the last time I saw it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 3
Mercedes Benz
Originally Posted by JMC32
Since I upgraded to 19's (the TSW Bremma's - I don't know the weight), my car has very poor traction. I chose the Goodyear GSD-3 tires because I thought they had good ratings, and the price wasn't as steep as the PS-2. Now I'm not sure if the tires just suck, or if my wheel diamter ratio is off....I can't floor it in first gear anymore, and my traction control will come on pretty much every shift up to 60mph if I floor it....sucks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 3
From: OC
C32
Originally Posted by smgC32
Hey Zep. You misunderstood the question. Although you are running a larger tire width in the rear on your car, your tire diameter or overall circumference is still greater in the front, unless you changed your staggered setup from the last time I saw it.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
C32
Originally Posted by smgC32
Hey Zep. You misunderstood the question. Although you are running a larger tire width in the rear on your car, your tire diameter or overall circumference is still greater in the front, unless you changed your staggered setup from the last time I saw it.
Also, it could be that his ESP learned that he had different tire sizes and "adapted" to the new speeds.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 815
Likes: 2
Sorry Zep, you're right. I remember the 255's in back, but forgot the 245's in front. A little over 1/4" larger bias to the rear. Interesting. My 1/8" difference observed in a larger diameter rear produced negative results. Maybe it's because I ran four seconds faster than you 
But seriously, maybe the addition of the suspension, wheel/tire, and brake upgrades, which allow higher levels of cornering forces to occur, are the reason my computer takes a holiday during these extreme sessions. Maybe, the thresholds I am producing are out of the computers range.
But seriously, maybe the addition of the suspension, wheel/tire, and brake upgrades, which allow higher levels of cornering forces to occur, are the reason my computer takes a holiday during these extreme sessions. Maybe, the thresholds I am producing are out of the computers range.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 3
From: OC
C32
SMG,
Did you not have this problem running CCW at Streets? Maybe this has something to do with it. I have never run the C32 CCW only the Honda. CCW causes some odd behavior from my car coming out of the bowl in that direction. Maybe I am just running out of talent
Did you not have this problem running CCW at Streets? Maybe this has something to do with it. I have never run the C32 CCW only the Honda. CCW causes some odd behavior from my car coming out of the bowl in that direction. Maybe I am just running out of talent
