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Tyre Pressures and Ride Quality on the W205 C63 saloon
With a few threads coming up about ride quality, I thought it would be a good idea to share some information I discovered while filling up and looking at the inside of the fuel filler lid. It seems that Mercedes specs different pressures for different size wheels (as you'd expect), but also for different weights and speeds.
I was finding the ride of my C63 with the standard 18-inch wheels to be a little on the aggressive side even in comfort, so I checked my pressures, and sure enough they were set for the maximum speed/weight.
The car was set for 42/39 psi front/rear when it could have been running 33/31 psi. Needless to say I adjusted the pressures and the car now rides a lot better. Still firm, but without the jarring edge, as it should be.
Those of you on 19-inch wheels will probably be set from the dealer at 48/45 psi front/rear—according to the fuel filler guide, you can lower that to 38/33 psi.
I've had my 2016 C63S Estate for a week now and am finding the ride firmer, even in comfort mode, than my 2012 E63 Estate that I traded in. I have 19" wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres with the pressures set at 38 front and 35 rear as per the filler cap, but I'm considering dropping them by 3 to try and soften the ride quality. The road noise and ride quality over the concrete sections of the M25 SW quadrant was really disappointing.
Happy to have Sport + and performance exhaust on for most of my solo travel, but would prefer softer settings with my wife or other passengers in the car when performance is not the number one requirement.
I've had my 2016 C63S Estate for a week now and am finding the ride firmer, even in comfort mode, than my 2012 E63 Estate that I traded in. I have 19" wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres with the pressures set at 38 front and 35 rear as per the filler cap, but I'm considering dropping them by 3 to try and soften the ride quality. The road noise and ride quality over the concrete sections of the M25 SW quadrant was really disappointing.
Happy to have Sport + and performance exhaust on for most of my solo travel, but would prefer softer settings with my wife or other passengers in the car when performance is not the number one requirement.
The rear on 19s can be set to 33 psi according to the filler cap--I wouldn't know what negative effects, if any, having them lower than the recommended settings would be. I don't know what pressures they run the cars at Mercedes Benz World, but on 19s they weren't jarring (although it's very smooth around there). Might be worth calling them up and asking?
The only car I've had that handled the concrete section of the M25 with any grace was a Jaguar XJ, an impressive feat given it was on 20s, but even that wasn't perfectly smooth.
With the C63 on 18s at 33/31 psi the ride quality on the concrete section of the M20 (my daily commute) is fine, better than the R32 I had a while ago.
Funnily enough I was at MBW yesterday for my AMG training. It was one of the things I meant to ask, but with all the other goings on completely forgot....
Here's the filler cap that shows the TP's on 19"s as 38/35, but there isn't a lower option of 33 for just one or two people.
My first thoughts were taking them down 3psi. This is the first car I've had where the fronts are higher than the rears, so I'll probably go to 36/33 and see how that goes.
I was there Wednesday—must have been an all wet track for you yesterday? Good fun though!
Ah, must be because you have the estate. The pressure of the 18s is up 2 psi on the back from the saloon as well. I would still check with MB about the pressures—I'm sure it will be fine, but you wouldn't want to bend a wheel by having them too low. Not an expert here at all, just a concerned bystander!
If you do have a chat with them, I'd be interested to know what they have to say!
Thanks guys. I've taken 2psi off each end, so now at 36/33 as per SBH and the ride is much improved. Off to Gatwick in a few days so a comparison on the M25 concrete sections will be interesting.
This time I filled with air at a different garage and topped them up to 40psi and then accurately gauged them back down to 36/33 with my own gauge. Riding through town at 40psi all round seemed fine, so I wonder if the air line at my local garage was accurate?
Certainly the second garage and my own gauge confirmed 40psi dead on, so it could have been faulty equipment that was the problem first time round.
Just passed 700 miles and my right foot is getting twitchy....
Loving the pops and crackles from the performance exhaust and sport+ settings. Made 68 this year, so a complete disgrace to the older generation.....
Last edited by gordons19; Sep 20, 2016 at 06:00 AM.
I'm enjoying the 36/33, its perfectly fine!
believe it or not, when my car was first delivered to the dealer I wasn't around so they had to store the car in their warehouse for 2 weeks until I came back to collect it. after driving the Merc for a week (brand new, first time to drive an AMG), I thought that the suspension was crap, literally it felt like I'm driving on rocks. It took me a week to think of checking the air pressure, and surprisingly all 4 wheels were at 60!!! I was about to trade in the car, I was really frustrated with the suspension'-.-
Thanks guys. I've taken 2psi off each end, so now at 36/33 as per SBH and the ride is much improved. Off to Gatwick in a few days so a comparison on the M25 concrete sections will be interesting.
This time I filled with air at a different garage and topped them up to 40psi and then accurately gauged them back down to 36/33 with my own gauge. Riding through town at 40psi all round seemed fine, so I wonder if the air line at my local garage was accurate?
Certainly the second garage and my own gauge confirmed 40psi dead on, so it could have been faulty equipment that was the problem first time round.
Just passed 700 miles and my right foot is getting twitchy....
Loving the pops and crackles from the performance exhaust and sport+ settings. Made 68 this year, so a complete disgrace to the older generation.....
Could well have been a faulty unit then. Let us know how you're getting on with the new pressures.
You're never too old to have fun! People talk about midlife crises and things like that—naaa, it's just we have the spare cash to get what we always wanted now!
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