When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've owned many cars over the last 25 years, a few with low profile tires, but have never cracked a rim.
My 2 yr old C43AMG has cracked front rims at least 5 times. The latest one was a brand new rim that cracked in 2 places in 2 weeks of use.
Luckily I bought a wheel and tire insurance, so it hasn't cost me anything yet - other that it being incredibly annoying to be in and out of shop all the time.
And the wheel insurance company has been slower and slower returning my calls...which I can't blame them for, I am sure I'm not their fav customer either.
I would have gotten after market wheels already, but they won't be covered by the insurance, and I have 3 years left on it.
Does anyone also have this problem, and what were you able to do about it?
Are these the 18in 5 spoke? I thought these were supposed to be a bit more sturdy when compared to the 19in. Not sure of any helpful suggestions unfortunately. A lot of pot holes in your area?
I've had 2 cracked wheels in 2 years, both times the dealer replaced for (almost) free since I kept pushing the issue. Most of my driving is highway so it's not because of the road conditions. I think these are just really poorly made wheels. Some guy filed a class-action lawsuit against Mercedes for this very issue a few years ago but I think it got dismissed.
I had cracked my driver side wheel in two places a year ago, got it welded and then it cracked again. I finally decided to go aftermarket 19s and get rid of the runflats for good.
I do think it's the hard runflats that is also cracking the wheels because of how hard these tires are and do nothing in absorbing the impacts of driving and instead, just directly transfers all the force straight to the rims.
I have been having cracked rim issue 5 times in 3 years plus almost 10 times I believe(I stopped counting) flat tires. I will never ever go for Mercedes!
Can someone recommend replacement wheels for the 18" staggered setup, either better alloy wheels or forged. I admit I am confused by the spacing issues and don't want to have someone just throw on something. Will also avoid the run-flats in favor of Michelins.
I would have gotten after market wheels already, but they won't be covered by the insurance, and I have 3 years left on it.
Does anyone also have this problem, and what were you able to do about it?
Sorry to hear about your cracked rims...do you by chance live on the NE (USA) because I used to work for an auto warranty company who provided Wheel and tire insurance and the NE alone killed us each year in loss ratios. Roads are terrible and this is across all manufacturers not just MB.
Also check your wheel and tire policy...most of them will cover any wheel or tire that is on the car regardless of stock or aftermarket...seriously...look into it.
Can someone recommend replacement wheels for the 18" staggered setup, either better alloy wheels or forged. I admit I am confused by the spacing issues and don't want to have someone just throw on something. Will also avoid the run-flats in favor of Michelins.
I'm looking for recommendations for this also. Have you found anything? I just cracked another front wheel after switching from the stock run flats to the A/S 3+ tires. I now have 3 cracked rims. I've also had many bent rims. These factory rims are total garbage.
Sorry, but haven't found good aftermarket wheels for the staggered 18s. Still looking - greatly appreciate any help for Forum members before I have to shell out for my next rim crack. 19s are available from several vendors - I have new Michelins (18s) so would like to not spend for new tires at this point.
I haven't noticed reports of cracking for 2019's, either 18" or 19". Could the wheels themselves have been upgraded by MB for 2019? Is there a "cracking" difference between 18" and 19"?
What are your tire pressures (hot...not cold) I have mine around 40-42 hot all around which seems to prevent the sidewall from flexing enough from harsh bumps and protect the rim .
What are your tire pressures (hot...not cold) I have mine around 40-42 hot all around which seems to prevent the sidewall from flexing enough from harsh bumps and protect the rim .
My front right rim cracked around 15k miles. No known significant potholes. Stock runflat tires were on there, and those things were stiff as steel. Just changed them out for Continental DWS 06 and the ride is worlds better. It's like a whole new car. Hopefully the tires make a difference in how much force is transmitted to the rim.
IMHO I have NEVER BEFORE heard of or experienced such a rash of cracked/damaged rims (other than curb rash on really wide ultra low profile ones) I do have a staggered set of 18".(AMG) OZ Racing 3 piece magnesium alloy cast rims on my '94 sl-600. I bent one in a big. new pothole IN AN OVERPASS ( concrete deck fell out here in Houston) and it cracked when shop tried to straighten it without heating first. OZ got involved and took the wheel apart, replaced the damaged barrel, and reconditioned the 3 other wheels as well. Two others were bent out of spec (very tight tolerance as these are ultra light weight F-1 qualified magnesium alloy wheels) I increased cold air pressure 10 psi and drive more carefully. The '25 and 30' series tires DO NOT do well on our potholed freeways here.. Lots of 'new' freeway pavement is breaking at the corners and the foundation grade soil has insufficient soil cement and big, deep potholes can develop literally overnight. I think REALLY overweight loads travel at night. Highway Patrol has stopped some trucks weighing over 130,000 #--and suspect those were not the heaviest'
Anyway, Mercedes is facing a developing 'class action' lawsuit coming over these crack-prone wheels.
I had all four 19" crack on me. Not to mention 4-5 blowouts on the run flats tires. All caused by the smallest (IMHO) pot holes on the road. The side walls came apart right on the beads. I learned my lesson too late. Changed over to aftermarket 19" with non runflats. Been issue free for almost 2 years now.
Same problem here. 2017 C43 AMG Cabriolet. Have had to repair or replace 4 or 5 tires. Have had to have at least 3 wheels welded and now one replaced as it was one of the welded ones and they won't reweld a tire. I've sent a message to MB but haven't heard back. Good to know that others are having similar problems. I have had several other low profile or run flat tires on other vehicles in the past and never had this problem. Is it possible that the car is just too heavy for a low profile tire? Thoughts?
Have an AUDI S4 low profile tires 5 years now - never had a rim issue. MB must know they have a problem here but the run-flat program means lots of $$ to the tire companies and MB's fuel consumption. Can mitigate with switch to non-run flats and 18" wheels but offset requirements really limit aftermarket wheel options. Really frustrating!!!
My wife nailed a pothole hard enough to tear a hole in the Sidewall of her Continental RF on OEMs and didn't put a scratch, dent or crack on the wheel.
2018 E43 AMG Continual and Repeated Damage of Front Wheel / Tire Assemblies
Originally Posted by drillmaster
I've owned many cars over the last 25 years, a few with low profile tires, but have never cracked a rim.
My 2 yr old C43AMG has cracked front rims at least 5 times. The latest one was a brand new rim that cracked in 2 places in 2 weeks of use.
Luckily I bought a wheel and tire insurance, so it hasn't cost me anything yet - other that it being incredibly annoying to be in and out of shop all the time.
And the wheel insurance company has been slower and slower returning my calls...which I can't blame them for, I am sure I'm not their fav customer either.
I would have gotten after market wheels already, but they won't be covered by the insurance, and I have 3 years left on it.
Does anyone also have this problem, and what were you able to do about it?
7 inch longitudinal rim crack 7 inch longitudinal rim crack 7 inch longitudinal rim crack 7 inch longitudinal rim crack 7 inch longitudinal rim crack 7 inch longitudinal rim crack 7 inch longitudinal rim crack
I own a 2018 E43 AMG and it continues to damage the front wheel / tire assemblies under typical driving conditions at 30 MPH. Everyone with this problem should file a safety / defect complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) so that this safety / defect issue can be investigated and the affected vehicles can be recalled. Anyone with this same problem please contact Panagiotis Theodoropoulos at 310-756-2462 if interested to participate in legal action against Mercedes Benz USA, LLC that refuses to address this design defect that results in repeated and continual front wheel and tire damage in certain Mercedes AMG vehicles.
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.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Mandrus wheels seem to be stronger
