Cracked Wheel
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Cracked Wheel
Not sure if anyone has had this problem before but I woke up one morning to a low tire pressure light. Figured I had a flat so I took it to the dealership so it could get patched. Turns out the tire was fine and there was actually a hairline crack on the inner portion of the wheel that was causing the tire to leak air. Dealer told me that they don't repair cracks because of potential liability issues in case the weld fails sometime in the future. I was quoted $1650 for the wheel before labor and tax.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? That's awfully a lot of money for one wheel. I'm also considering filing insurance because my deductible is only $500.
Crazy part is that I don't remember hitting a pothole or anything remotely big enough to cause the wheel to crack.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? That's awfully a lot of money for one wheel. I'm also considering filing insurance because my deductible is only $500.
Crazy part is that I don't remember hitting a pothole or anything remotely big enough to cause the wheel to crack.
The following users liked this post:
Reefer36 (07-31-2021)
#4
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Lake Tahoe
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
8 Posts
2017 C43 AMG
Yeaaaa
I had that happen to my C300.
I was furious, they quoted $750 but it was a normal 17" rim. I bought a replica and gave the car back 2 months later.
I would file the claim if you have more then a few months left on the lease
I was furious, they quoted $750 but it was a normal 17" rim. I bought a replica and gave the car back 2 months later.
I would file the claim if you have more then a few months left on the lease
#5
Not sure if anyone has had this problem before but I woke up one morning to a low tire pressure light. Figured I had a flat so I took it to the dealership so it could get patched. Turns out the tire was fine and there was actually a hairline crack on the inner portion of the wheel that was causing the tire to leak air. Dealer told me that they don't repair cracks because of potential liability issues in case the weld fails sometime in the future. I was quoted $1650 for the wheel before labor and tax.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? That's awfully a lot of money for one wheel. I'm also considering filing insurance because my deductible is only $500.
Crazy part is that I don't remember hitting a pothole or anything
remotely big enough to cause the wheel to crack.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? That's awfully a lot of money for one wheel. I'm also considering filing insurance because my deductible is only $500.
Crazy part is that I don't remember hitting a pothole or anything
remotely big enough to cause the wheel to crack.
I had the same thing happen to me.I had a small crack in the inner portion of my 18" wheel.There was no tire damage and I did not hit any bump or pothole out of the ordinary.They quoted about $550 for the wheel.I protested that since there was no tire damage the wheel must be defective.I said if you don't cover this under warranty I want the cracked wheel back to have it evaluated.They covered it at no charge but only if they kept the cracked wheel.I let them keep the wheel and got it replaced at "no charge".
Last edited by oldman&theC; 09-12-2017 at 03:02 PM.
The following 3 users liked this post by oldman&theC:
#6
Member
Thread Starter
I had the same thing happen to me.I had a small crack in the inner portion of my 18" wheel.There was no tire damage and I did not hit any bump or pothole out of the ordinary.They quoted about $550 for the wheel.I protested that since there was no tire damage the wheel must be defective.I said if you don't cover this under warranty I want the cracked wheel back to have it evaluated.They covered it at no charge but only if they kept the cracked wheel.I let them keep the wheel and got it replaced at "no charge".
#7
I think if you make a big stink about it the dealer or MB may extend some courtesy.. I'm ordering my C43 in a few weeks and as nice as the 19"s look I live in NJ and we have potholes that'll swallow you alive (maybe a little exaggerated) So I'm sticking with the 18" and will put on real tires.. Save the RFT's for the lease return.
Trending Topics
#8
It worked for me.It appears that MB knows they have a problem with the wheels.Service advisor first said the low profile tires were prone to crack wheels.I told him I don't buy that.I previously owned 2 BMW's for 8 years with low profile tires and never cracked a wheel. He then admitted that they get 5 or 6 cracked wheel problems every week.
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Just dropped off my car at the dealer. SA initially told me that I'd have to go out of pocket for it but I brought up the warranty and how the tire showed no signs of damage and he said he would have to get with the shop manager before they would be able to make a decision. Thanks a ton for the advice though because I never even considered the warranty before...
#10
Senior Member
Nj roads really are good for some craters. This happened to me. Woke up with a flat so I refilled my tire and took it to the dealership. They checked my rims and found one was bent and one was cracked. They have a wheel guy that comes 3 times a week and he took care of both problems along with resurfacing a scuff on my 19's for less than $300.
Just take it to a rim repair specialist and save yourself some money
Just take it to a rim repair specialist and save yourself some money
Last edited by DVision44; 09-12-2017 at 11:25 PM.
#11
Just dropped off my car at the dealer. SA initially told me that I'd have to go out of pocket for it but I brought up the warranty and how the tire showed no signs of damage and he said he would have to get with the shop manager before they would be able to make a decision. Thanks a ton for the advice though because I never even considered the warranty before...
#12
Member
Thread Starter
Update:
Just got back from the dealer. After a little back and forth, they finally agreed to pay for the wheel as a gesture of "goodwill". I'm only responsible for labor (which ended up being $70). They did tell me that if it happens again, I'll be fully responsible for it.
Thanks to y'all I saved around $2k!
Just got back from the dealer. After a little back and forth, they finally agreed to pay for the wheel as a gesture of "goodwill". I'm only responsible for labor (which ended up being $70). They did tell me that if it happens again, I'll be fully responsible for it.
Thanks to y'all I saved around $2k!
#13
Update:
Just got back from the dealer. After a little back and forth, they finally agreed to pay for the wheel as a gesture of "goodwill". I'm only responsible for labor (which ended up being $70). They did tell me that if it happens again, I'll be fully responsible for it.
Thanks to y'all I saved around $2k!
Just got back from the dealer. After a little back and forth, they finally agreed to pay for the wheel as a gesture of "goodwill". I'm only responsible for labor (which ended up being $70). They did tell me that if it happens again, I'll be fully responsible for it.
Thanks to y'all I saved around $2k!
#14
Member
Thread Starter
I may be old but I am not senile yet.It just appears to me if the tire has no damage and the wheel is not bent and you find a hairline crack you probably have a defective wheel.MB should be looking in to this problem.I don't recall any other manufacturer having so many wheel problems.
#15
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Central California
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2017 C43 AMG
I got my C43 last November, 19" with runflats. Cracked wheel and flat tire the first month due to pothole. Not covered under warranty as it was a vehicle accident apparently. Several grand later I decided to keep it as a weekend ride.
Last weekend took in for Service B, got a c300 loaner for the day. O.M.G. What a difference the road noise and ride were. The c300 had the smaller 16" or whatever the basic cheap ones were.
If I could trade the wheels somehow I would have totally gotten the smaller tires as rain this year has destroyed the roads out here in farm country. My next Mercedes I'm going to skip the low profile tires altogether.
Last weekend took in for Service B, got a c300 loaner for the day. O.M.G. What a difference the road noise and ride were. The c300 had the smaller 16" or whatever the basic cheap ones were.
If I could trade the wheels somehow I would have totally gotten the smaller tires as rain this year has destroyed the roads out here in farm country. My next Mercedes I'm going to skip the low profile tires altogether.
#16
Why not just get rid of the RFT's and get a set of normal tires and a mobility kit like this if you get a flat? https://www.stopngo.com/cars/ Car will ride better be quieter, handle better..You could also just buy nice aftermarket 18" wheels and tires like these Mandrus Wheels http://www.mandruswheels.com
Then put the 19" back on when you get your next car
Then put the 19" back on when you get your next car
#17
MBWorld Fanatic!
The majority of flats I've experienced (or my wife) with our 18"/19" wheels have been sidewall blowouts from hitting potholes or curbs.
Nothing beats an actual spare tire if you can change a tire yourself, and I hate how more and more auto makers these days don't even design areas in the trunk to store a donut spare & jack.
I'd have no problem paying extra for a "Spare Tire" option if it were offered.
Last edited by MASSC450; 09-21-2017 at 08:52 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Star4life (09-21-2017)
#18
I see it has been a year since you posted this. I have a 2016 CLS400. My lease is up in 4 months. Slow leak in tire turns out to be a cracked wheel. (Per discount tire) My service advisor at Mercedes says it is not a warranty item, because it happens from pot holes. I live in Scottsdale .No snow here. Hardey a pot hole to be seen! This is my 6th Mercedes in 22 years. This is my first cracked wheel. I think they are making everything cheaper these days, while charging more for it! Since my car is at the dealership right now, i dont know if they will charge me or not, since they know i am getting yet another lease from them. This will be my 7th mercedes, 6th from this dealership, and will be 4th Cls.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR CAR? Did they make you pay to fix it?
WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR CAR? Did they make you pay to fix it?
#19
Member
Thread Starter
I see it has been a year since you posted this. I have a 2016 CLS400. My lease is up in 4 months. Slow leak in tire turns out to be a cracked wheel. (Per discount tire) My service advisor at Mercedes says it is not a warranty item, because it happens from pot holes. I live in Scottsdale .No snow here. Hardey a pot hole to be seen! This is my 6th Mercedes in 22 years. This is my first cracked wheel. I think they are making everything cheaper these days, while charging more for it! Since my car is at the dealership right now, i dont know if they will charge me or not, since they know i am getting yet another lease from them. This will be my 7th mercedes, 6th from this dealership, and will be 4th Cls.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR CAR? Did they make you pay to fix it?
WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR CAR? Did they make you pay to fix it?
Keep in mind that I live in the huge metro area with equally large luxury dealerships. If you do business with a smaller one, they may not be as flexible as mine was. Not sure how much of my email was corporate paying or the dealership just giving in.
#21
Add me to the roster of cracked wheel victims.
Bought a certified C450 from a dealer here in NoVa around the start of the year (my first Mercedes). 21k miles when bought and MBZ certified. New Continental run flats installed on it.
About two weeks ago, got a tire pressure alert on the display - right front wheel was reading 28 psi whereas the rest were in the mid 30s. Refilled with air. Got an alert two days later at 27 psi. Refilled again but started go get annoyed. Got alert again 3 days later - this time at 22 psi.
Refilled and son and I checked tire thoroughly - no nails, no screws, no sidewall scuffs or tears or rashes. Nothing. Figured it was either a bad sensor or defective tire (maybe ply or valve stem). Local tire shop confirmed low pressure (eliminating bad sensor) and suggested that as the tire was only about 5 months old, to take it to the dealer and ask them to replace under tire warranty (1 year) and the dealer would be retaining the purchase receipt on the tires.
Local MBZ dealer took it in for assessment and after 30 minutes, service manager informed me the rim was cracked and that they're assessing if they can repair. After 5 minutes, service manager told me "no repairs on AMG wheels". Manger noted that a replacement wheel, with install, is about $1,400. I asked to look at wheel and service manager took me back. Sure enough, there was a 1/2"- 2/3" long crack about 1/32" in width on the inside rim. Interestingly, about 2" from that crack were telltale signs of weld marks and weld feathering. That fact did not persuade service manager and the tech. I told manager I would return, left with car and promptly looked up rim repair shops here in NoVa. One shop gladly took in vehicle and had it done and repaired in about 2.5 hours. And $175.00
Rim repair shop owner noted that: 1) this rim had been damaged before and repaired - about 2" as we had noted at the dealership, 2) alloy rims like those on AMG vehicles are extremely strong but the particular alloy in the wheel is brittle - easy to deform and crack, and 3) compounding issue #2 - run flats. Because there is no room in the C450 for a spare, many of us drive on run flats. The Rip shop owner noted that while a run flat is great for flat protection, the solid rubber nature of those tires means that those tires do not absorb impact as much as a gas or air tire does. The impact transmits through the rubber to the body and wheel much more than with regular tires. In combination with a brittle alloy wheel, expect cracks.
My two cents for first post...
Bought a certified C450 from a dealer here in NoVa around the start of the year (my first Mercedes). 21k miles when bought and MBZ certified. New Continental run flats installed on it.
About two weeks ago, got a tire pressure alert on the display - right front wheel was reading 28 psi whereas the rest were in the mid 30s. Refilled with air. Got an alert two days later at 27 psi. Refilled again but started go get annoyed. Got alert again 3 days later - this time at 22 psi.
Refilled and son and I checked tire thoroughly - no nails, no screws, no sidewall scuffs or tears or rashes. Nothing. Figured it was either a bad sensor or defective tire (maybe ply or valve stem). Local tire shop confirmed low pressure (eliminating bad sensor) and suggested that as the tire was only about 5 months old, to take it to the dealer and ask them to replace under tire warranty (1 year) and the dealer would be retaining the purchase receipt on the tires.
Local MBZ dealer took it in for assessment and after 30 minutes, service manager informed me the rim was cracked and that they're assessing if they can repair. After 5 minutes, service manager told me "no repairs on AMG wheels". Manger noted that a replacement wheel, with install, is about $1,400. I asked to look at wheel and service manager took me back. Sure enough, there was a 1/2"- 2/3" long crack about 1/32" in width on the inside rim. Interestingly, about 2" from that crack were telltale signs of weld marks and weld feathering. That fact did not persuade service manager and the tech. I told manager I would return, left with car and promptly looked up rim repair shops here in NoVa. One shop gladly took in vehicle and had it done and repaired in about 2.5 hours. And $175.00
Rim repair shop owner noted that: 1) this rim had been damaged before and repaired - about 2" as we had noted at the dealership, 2) alloy rims like those on AMG vehicles are extremely strong but the particular alloy in the wheel is brittle - easy to deform and crack, and 3) compounding issue #2 - run flats. Because there is no room in the C450 for a spare, many of us drive on run flats. The Rip shop owner noted that while a run flat is great for flat protection, the solid rubber nature of those tires means that those tires do not absorb impact as much as a gas or air tire does. The impact transmits through the rubber to the body and wheel much more than with regular tires. In combination with a brittle alloy wheel, expect cracks.
My two cents for first post...
#22
MBWorld Fanatic!
iTrader: (1)
Add me to the roster of cracked wheel victims.
Bought a certified C450 from a dealer here in NoVa around the start of the year (my first Mercedes). 21k miles when bought and MBZ certified. New Continental run flats installed on it.
About two weeks ago, got a tire pressure alert on the display - right front wheel was reading 28 psi whereas the rest were in the mid 30s. Refilled with air. Got an alert two days later at 27 psi. Refilled again but started go get annoyed. Got alert again 3 days later - this time at 22 psi.
Refilled and son and I checked tire thoroughly - no nails, no screws, no sidewall scuffs or tears or rashes. Nothing. Figured it was either a bad sensor or defective tire (maybe ply or valve stem). Local tire shop confirmed low pressure (eliminating bad sensor) and suggested that as the tire was only about 5 months old, to take it to the dealer and ask them to replace under tire warranty (1 year) and the dealer would be retaining the purchase receipt on the tires.
Local MBZ dealer took it in for assessment and after 30 minutes, service manager informed me the rim was cracked and that they're assessing if they can repair. After 5 minutes, service manager told me "no repairs on AMG wheels". Manger noted that a replacement wheel, with install, is about $1,400. I asked to look at wheel and service manager took me back. Sure enough, there was a 1/2"- 2/3" long crack about 1/32" in width on the inside rim. Interestingly, about 2" from that crack were telltale signs of weld marks and weld feathering. That fact did not persuade service manager and the tech. I told manager I would return, left with car and promptly looked up rim repair shops here in NoVa. One shop gladly took in vehicle and had it done and repaired in about 2.5 hours. And $175.00
Rim repair shop owner noted that: 1) this rim had been damaged before and repaired - about 2" as we had noted at the dealership, 2) alloy rims like those on AMG vehicles are extremely strong but the particular alloy in the wheel is brittle - easy to deform and crack, and 3) compounding issue #2 - run flats. Because there is no room in the C450 for a spare, many of us drive on run flats. The Rip shop owner noted that while a run flat is great for flat protection, the solid rubber nature of those tires means that those tires do not absorb impact as much as a gas or air tire does. The impact transmits through the rubber to the body and wheel much more than with regular tires. In combination with a brittle alloy wheel, expect cracks.
My two cents for first post...
Bought a certified C450 from a dealer here in NoVa around the start of the year (my first Mercedes). 21k miles when bought and MBZ certified. New Continental run flats installed on it.
About two weeks ago, got a tire pressure alert on the display - right front wheel was reading 28 psi whereas the rest were in the mid 30s. Refilled with air. Got an alert two days later at 27 psi. Refilled again but started go get annoyed. Got alert again 3 days later - this time at 22 psi.
Refilled and son and I checked tire thoroughly - no nails, no screws, no sidewall scuffs or tears or rashes. Nothing. Figured it was either a bad sensor or defective tire (maybe ply or valve stem). Local tire shop confirmed low pressure (eliminating bad sensor) and suggested that as the tire was only about 5 months old, to take it to the dealer and ask them to replace under tire warranty (1 year) and the dealer would be retaining the purchase receipt on the tires.
Local MBZ dealer took it in for assessment and after 30 minutes, service manager informed me the rim was cracked and that they're assessing if they can repair. After 5 minutes, service manager told me "no repairs on AMG wheels". Manger noted that a replacement wheel, with install, is about $1,400. I asked to look at wheel and service manager took me back. Sure enough, there was a 1/2"- 2/3" long crack about 1/32" in width on the inside rim. Interestingly, about 2" from that crack were telltale signs of weld marks and weld feathering. That fact did not persuade service manager and the tech. I told manager I would return, left with car and promptly looked up rim repair shops here in NoVa. One shop gladly took in vehicle and had it done and repaired in about 2.5 hours. And $175.00
Rim repair shop owner noted that: 1) this rim had been damaged before and repaired - about 2" as we had noted at the dealership, 2) alloy rims like those on AMG vehicles are extremely strong but the particular alloy in the wheel is brittle - easy to deform and crack, and 3) compounding issue #2 - run flats. Because there is no room in the C450 for a spare, many of us drive on run flats. The Rip shop owner noted that while a run flat is great for flat protection, the solid rubber nature of those tires means that those tires do not absorb impact as much as a gas or air tire does. The impact transmits through the rubber to the body and wheel much more than with regular tires. In combination with a brittle alloy wheel, expect cracks.
My two cents for first post...
they are absolute trash wheels - just as soft as they are brittle. The new 2019 might be better - not sure (the studio pack wheels seem unchanged).
when tires wear out in 10000 miles and you can break/bend multiples wheels in that same time period... anyone having issues should just switch and have a better life lol.
#23
Add me to the roster of cracked wheel victims.
Bought a certified C450 from a dealer here in NoVa around the start of the year (my first Mercedes). 21k miles when bought and MBZ certified. New Continental run flats installed on it.
About two weeks ago, got a tire pressure alert on the display - right front wheel was reading 28 psi whereas the rest were in the mid 30s. Refilled with air. Got an alert two days later at 27 psi. Refilled again but started go get annoyed. Got alert again 3 days later - this time at 22 psi.
Refilled and son and I checked tire thoroughly - no nails, no screws, no sidewall scuffs or tears or rashes. Nothing. Figured it was either a bad sensor or defective tire (maybe ply or valve stem). Local tire shop confirmed low pressure (eliminating bad sensor) and suggested that as the tire was only about 5 months old, to take it to the dealer and ask them to replace under tire warranty (1 year) and the dealer would be retaining the purchase receipt on the tires.
Local MBZ dealer took it in for assessment and after 30 minutes, service manager informed me the rim was cracked and that they're assessing if they can repair. After 5 minutes, service manager told me "no repairs on AMG wheels". Manger noted that a replacement wheel, with install, is about $1,400. I asked to look at wheel and service manager took me back. Sure enough, there was a 1/2"- 2/3" long crack about 1/32" in width on the inside rim. Interestingly, about 2" from that crack were telltale signs of weld marks and weld feathering. That fact did not persuade service manager and the tech. I told manager I would return, left with car and promptly looked up rim repair shops here in NoVa. One shop gladly took in vehicle and had it done and repaired in about 2.5 hours. And $175.00
Rim repair shop owner noted that: 1) this rim had been damaged before and repaired - about 2" as we had noted at the dealership, 2) alloy rims like those on AMG vehicles are extremely strong but the particular alloy in the wheel is brittle - easy to deform and crack, and 3) compounding issue #2 - run flats. Because there is no room in the C450 for a spare, many of us drive on run flats. The Rip shop owner noted that while a run flat is great for flat protection, the solid rubber nature of those tires means that those tires do not absorb impact as much as a gas or air tire does. The impact transmits through the rubber to the body and wheel much more than with regular tires. In combination with a brittle alloy wheel, expect cracks.
My two cents for first post...
Bought a certified C450 from a dealer here in NoVa around the start of the year (my first Mercedes). 21k miles when bought and MBZ certified. New Continental run flats installed on it.
About two weeks ago, got a tire pressure alert on the display - right front wheel was reading 28 psi whereas the rest were in the mid 30s. Refilled with air. Got an alert two days later at 27 psi. Refilled again but started go get annoyed. Got alert again 3 days later - this time at 22 psi.
Refilled and son and I checked tire thoroughly - no nails, no screws, no sidewall scuffs or tears or rashes. Nothing. Figured it was either a bad sensor or defective tire (maybe ply or valve stem). Local tire shop confirmed low pressure (eliminating bad sensor) and suggested that as the tire was only about 5 months old, to take it to the dealer and ask them to replace under tire warranty (1 year) and the dealer would be retaining the purchase receipt on the tires.
Local MBZ dealer took it in for assessment and after 30 minutes, service manager informed me the rim was cracked and that they're assessing if they can repair. After 5 minutes, service manager told me "no repairs on AMG wheels". Manger noted that a replacement wheel, with install, is about $1,400. I asked to look at wheel and service manager took me back. Sure enough, there was a 1/2"- 2/3" long crack about 1/32" in width on the inside rim. Interestingly, about 2" from that crack were telltale signs of weld marks and weld feathering. That fact did not persuade service manager and the tech. I told manager I would return, left with car and promptly looked up rim repair shops here in NoVa. One shop gladly took in vehicle and had it done and repaired in about 2.5 hours. And $175.00
Rim repair shop owner noted that: 1) this rim had been damaged before and repaired - about 2" as we had noted at the dealership, 2) alloy rims like those on AMG vehicles are extremely strong but the particular alloy in the wheel is brittle - easy to deform and crack, and 3) compounding issue #2 - run flats. Because there is no room in the C450 for a spare, many of us drive on run flats. The Rip shop owner noted that while a run flat is great for flat protection, the solid rubber nature of those tires means that those tires do not absorb impact as much as a gas or air tire does. The impact transmits through the rubber to the body and wheel much more than with regular tires. In combination with a brittle alloy wheel, expect cracks.
My two cents for first post...
I just had a second wheel crack on the inner lip of 19 inch (passenger side this time). I switched to non-runflats about 6 months ago. I'm assuming that the crack developed while still having the run-flats on, developed a slow leak, no potholes that I can recall hitting recently.
Last edited by Dumi; 12-01-2019 at 04:26 PM.
#24
2018 E43 AMG Continual and Repeated Front Wheel / Tire Assembly Damage
Not sure if anyone has had this problem before but I woke up one morning to a low tire pressure light. Figured I had a flat so I took it to the dealership so it could get patched. Turns out the tire was fine and there was actually a hairline crack on the inner portion of the wheel that was causing the tire to leak air. Dealer told me that they don't repair cracks because of potential liability issues in case the weld fails sometime in the future. I was quoted $1650 for the wheel before labor and tax.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? That's awfully a lot of money for one wheel. I'm also considering filing insurance because my deductible is only $500.
Crazy part is that I don't remember hitting a pothole or anything remotely big enough to cause the wheel to crack.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? That's awfully a lot of money for one wheel. I'm also considering filing insurance because my deductible is only $500.
Crazy part is that I don't remember hitting a pothole or anything remotely big enough to cause the wheel to crack.
four front tires in 13,000 miles of operation and Mercedes Benz USA, LLC refuses to address the problem. Anyone with similar issues please contact me directly by calling the above phone number. One of my wheels had a 7 inch longitudinal crack. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed by Mercedes Benz USA, LLC. If you have these types of problems please file a complaint with the NHTSA so that the issue gets investigated and the defective vehicles are recalled.
The following users liked this post:
Howyalivin (11-07-2020)
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Posts: 789
Received 46 Likes
on
40 Posts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Mandrus wheels seem to be stronger
I have had two massive curb hits on my 2015 C300 (17" Mandrus 23-spoke) front wheels. The driver side hit was with the wheel hard over. It pinched the side of the non-RFT tire and blew it out. The rim got a small dent, but the wheel still holds air. The passenger side hit was truly massive. The whole side of the car flew up in the air. The wheel was straight ahead, so the full tread of the tire took the hit. There was no damage to either wheel or tire! (In both cases, it was a rainy night, and new construction had moved the curb in the first case and installed a curb where there had been none before, in the second case.)
When I ordered the wheels, I had noticed that in the Tire Rack catalogue, Mandrus wheels had a load rating of 2000 pounds per wheel. Competing brands had a rating of 1350 ppw. That's an almost 50% difference. I'm glad I got the Mandrus wheels.
When I ordered the wheels, I had noticed that in the Tire Rack catalogue, Mandrus wheels had a load rating of 2000 pounds per wheel. Competing brands had a rating of 1350 ppw. That's an almost 50% difference. I'm glad I got the Mandrus wheels.
Last edited by gfmohn; 11-10-2020 at 10:09 PM.