CLK-Class (W208) 1998-2002: CLK 200, CLK 230K, CLK 320, CLK 430 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Suggestions???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old May 9, 2003 | 02:18 AM
  #1  
YENPINGW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: CA
CLK 430
Suggestions???

Recently, I have changed my wheels from stock 17" to 18" with tire sizes of 235/40/R18 abd 265/35/R18. I just start to notice that some slight shaking on my steering wheel on some of roads. I don't see or feel the shacking if I have my hands on steering wheel. But I do see the slight shacking of the steering wheel if I have my hands off the steering wheel. However, I don't see any shaking, even when my hands are off the steering wheel, on some flat and smooth roads. Is this normal for 18" wheels??? Is that just normal road feel from the 18" tires??? Or Something is wrong ??? Any suggestions or experiences ??? Please advisde, Thank you very much.
Reply
Old May 9, 2003 | 03:05 AM
  #2  
YENPINGW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: CA
CLK 430
Btw, what should be my tire pressures at for my tires on the CLK430?? Please advise, thank you.
Reply
Old May 9, 2003 | 06:18 AM
  #3  
SteveChod's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
2000 CLK430 w/ 19"AMG rims
balancing

I put 19s on my car. It is important to have the tires perfectly balanced. First I recommend that when buying a set of tires always try to get a matched set from the factory. In your case they most likely don't offer the offset of your fronts and rears as a matched set, but you could at least match the fronts and match the rears. Then you should try to have them road force balanced. They can then tell you what your road force is on each tire. My guess is that one of your tires isn't perfect. If you go about 100mph in your car does it ride with no vibration?
Reply
Old May 9, 2003 | 11:16 AM
  #4  
YENPINGW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: CA
CLK 430
Thank you for your reply. I hardly go up to100mph, I think there might be my small vibration when I am at high spped. I can easily see my passenger seat is slightly shaking when no one sits on it. I think my front tire pressure is not correct. It's a little deflation. Any way to resolve that sort of problem????
Reply
Old May 9, 2003 | 11:22 AM
  #5  
SteveChod's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
2000 CLK430 w/ 19"AMG rims
tire pressure

What are you running your tire pressure at right now in the front and rear?
Reply
Old May 10, 2003 | 02:31 AM
  #6  
mmgrad's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by YENPINGW
Btw, what should be my tire pressures at for my tires on the CLK430?? Please advise, thank you.
lets see... for stock 17s, i suggest 38 front/35 rear... this will correct the underinflation problem up front.

when i had my 19s, i had it at approx the same setting. don't use the setting on the fuel panel

you can up the psi a little more to protect those 18s and 19s from pot holes, but you get a slightly more harsh ride... i think 38f/35r is good.
Reply
Old May 10, 2003 | 02:38 AM
  #7  
LowRydeR's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
You might need hubcentric rings.

-Bruce
Reply
Old May 10, 2003 | 10:15 AM
  #8  
SteveChod's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
2000 CLK430 w/ 19"AMG rims
Tire Pressure

That sounds a little high? Do you really run 38 front and 35 rear? I thought it was suppose to be lower? How can you figure this out?

Steve
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

 
story-4

7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 10, 2003 | 02:17 PM
  #9  
YENPINGW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: CA
CLK 430
Hey guys,
Thanks for all your reply. I think the shop who mounted my wheels did put the hubcentric rings on the wheels...As far as the tire pressure goes...I don't know yet..I have Pirrelli P7000 tires and it states that do not exceed 51 psi. One of my friends sugeests me to have 45 psi on them. I don't know if that is too much. That is why I am trying to find out what you guys have been running......Thanks
Reply
Old May 10, 2003 | 05:19 PM
  #10  
mmgrad's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Re: Tire Pressure

Originally posted by SteveChod
That sounds a little high? Do you really run 38 front and 35 rear? I thought it was suppose to be lower? How can you figure this out?

Steve
running it at 33psi (based on the fuel flap) will cause the fronts to be extremely under-inflated due to the added weight of the V8 engines. therefore, the tires will experience extreme pre-mature camber wear on both the inside & outside of the sidewalls.

running it at 38psi will correct that problem. the ride won't be as comfy, but you won't really notice much. MB keeps it at 33psi to maintain a luxurious comfort level, but it eats away the tires real fast.
Reply
Old May 10, 2003 | 05:22 PM
  #11  
mmgrad's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by YENPINGW
Hey guys,
Thanks for all your reply. I think the shop who mounted my wheels did put the hubcentric rings on the wheels...As far as the tire pressure goes...I don't know yet..I have Pirrelli P7000 tires and it states that do not exceed 51 psi. One of my friends sugeests me to have 45 psi on them. I don't know if that is too much. That is why I am trying to find out what you guys have been running......Thanks
if you are running 19's, you can safely go 40psi up front, and probably 37/38 in back. this high of a psi will help prevent damage from potholes.

remember that for every 10 degrees of heat build up, the psi goes up about 1 also... so you don't want to overinflate it.

45psi is a little high for my taste. I would keep it at 40 or below. just my thought
Reply
Old May 11, 2003 | 07:57 PM
  #12  
YENPINGW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: CA
CLK 430
Thanks a lot, Danny.
I have adjusted my tire pressure to 40psi front and 38 rear. Hopefully, that will make it better. As for as the slight shaking goes, is that what you suppose to expect from the low profile tires???
Reply
Old May 12, 2003 | 01:01 AM
  #13  
mmgrad's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
I just re-read the post about the shaking... if you are just referring to the passenger seat shaking, i think that is 'fairly' normal...

the question is do "you" feel the vibrations? if so, then you might want to have your wheels re-balanced, or some other forum members have noticed that its the tires, and the problem went away when they changed to different tires.

also, make sure when you changed to 19s, that you got the appropriate sized bolts too.
Reply
Old May 12, 2003 | 08:14 AM
  #14  
SteveChod's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
2000 CLK430 w/ 19"AMG rims
tire pressure

Interesting!..Maybe I was underinflating them. I will add some more air in mine and see how it rides!
Reply
Old May 12, 2003 | 10:53 PM
  #15  
YENPINGW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: CA
CLK 430
Thanks, Danny.
As I was driving today, it feels much better now. I am still having the small vibration on my steering wheel sometimes. Most of the times, it happens when I am on the freeways. You know how some of the southern california's freeways are. It doesn't have the small vibration when I am on a nice and smooth road though. But it's there when the car is driven on rough roads, hopefully, that is just the road feel. Is that something I should concern about???
Reply
Old May 13, 2003 | 12:55 AM
  #16  
mmgrad's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Yeah, i know how the LA freeways can be... although it doesn't seem as bad as how some people describe NY streets... but anyways, a rough ride can be normal depending on the road.

But, your steering wheel should not vibrate. If the vibration occurs during braking, then your rotors are warped and need to be replaced. Try and observe when it vibrates, and take note of the road conditions at those times... see if any patterns develop.

Any vibration should be of concern, but I wouldn't worry too much unless its becomes very noticeable.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:54 AM.

story-0
New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's updated GLE 63 S and GLS 63 bring a new-generation V8, subtle design revisions, and familiar supercar-rivaling performance figures.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-17 12:52:51


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production

Slideshow: Mercedes has never been afraid to experiment, and some of its strangest ideas turned out to be surprisingly successful.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-2
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look

Sideshow: A Middle Eastern tuner has transformed the Mercedes-AMG G 63 into an open-top special, replacing nearly every exterior panel in the process.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 15:29:50


VIEW MORE
story-3
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

Slideshow: Six gift ideas your AMG loving dad or grad will cherish.

By | 2026-06-03 17:26:18


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-5
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-7
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE