Edmonton

I've done more than 500km on my E550, stock tires are Pirelli all season (Canadian spec). So far I noticed that tires are noisy and there is insufficient grip at rear. I tried to accelerate in a corner just to see how it handles and the car immediately fish-tailed and the stupid traction control kicked in.

Why can't a huge car manufacturer like MB install a sport diff that transfer torque from side to another? Like BMW Audi or even Acura???

I'm hoping that it's a matter of tires and if replace the tires with high performance tires like Michelin PS2 would provide better handling? Do I need to install wider tires and maybe 19s?

US or European owners, if your vehicle come with a different tire (other than pirellis all season) please let me know if you have experienced a similar situation with your stock tires?

threeMBs

I noticed that during my first test drive of 550. On the day of delivery, I changed to 19s - 275/30-19 performance tires at rear, 245/35-19 front. If you stay with stock 18" then use 245/40-18 front, 275/35-18 rear tires (you can't put 275/35 on stock 18x8.5 wheels, so if you like the look of stock wheels, I would put rear 18x8.5 wheels upfront with 245/40-18 tires and buy 2 18x9 wheels and mount 275/35-19 tires). What a difference!!! IMO with all the power of 550 tires are the key (this however does not apply to 350, 255mm width is sufficient for that engine).

Edmonton

ThreeMBs

Thanks for the advise, do stock AMG wheels come in 18x9 or 9.5 option?

I'm reluctant to put after market or replicas on my new e550

I am disappointed with MB, my 335i RWD did not have this issue with the stock tires and they were 18's.

threeMBs

Yes - 18x9 Et54 - this is the rear wheel from E550 sedan. You can use 18x9 from sedan on rear of your car, and your originaly rear 18x8.5 Et49 wheels upfront.

I almost did that before going aftermarket for 19s. I sold my eom 18s right away, installed 19s (much better looking, IMO, than oem) for total of $200 out my pocket. Now I'm on highly regarted Max performace Sumitomo HTR Z 3s instead of those all-seson Pirellis.

YYZ-E55

I went to 19s with 275s out back as well. It is still not enough, but the car has bigger problems (lack of LSD, chronic ESP intervention) that hinder acceleration. The only OEM 19" option for the E-Coupe at this point is the multi-spoke 19" from the 2011 C63.

Edmonton

19"/ 275 is not enough? I don't think it's tires/ wheels. It is the lack of sport diff that can handle such torque.

I went to the dealer and introduced the issue, service rep said "that's NORMAL, c63 owners change tires every 6,000km"

This is ridicules that an e550 can not handle it's own power, I can understand that if we're talking about a Mustang or Camero not a Merc.

threeMBs

E550 cpe is a very powerfull car for its weight. Appropriate tires will make a huge difference for it. Consult tirerack.com - they explain it very well.

Sticky summer only tires will outperform mediocre all-season tires by a long shut (during "summer" only - temps over 60F/15C).

Adding extra width and slightly taller diameter (by going to 275/35-18 or 275/30-19) will solve your concerns. It did mine.

Maybe 4matic W212 E550 sedan would have be more appropriate in your case and location.

Beausoleil

I recommend Continental SportContact3 tyres, which Mercedes fit in Europe (amongst others). Also in Europe, there is the factory option of AMG 7-spoke wheel in 19" diameter for the coupe. Obviously I cannot comment on all tyre brands but I tried the car on Pirellis and the Continentals and there was a noticeable difference in my opinion.

PGT

I swapped out to 19" AMG wheels and run 275 width rears in a summer compound. Makes the car drivable compared to the lack of grip on the stock Pirelli a/s

cubhammer

Does anybody know if it's OK to install 19x9.5 in the rear with 275/30 tires?
I like a set of OEM AMG wheels but they only come as 8.5 and 9.5 inches...
Thanks

PGT

yes, its possible but as you go wider, the offset becomes critical.

cubhammer

Thanks PGT, the offset is ET48. If someone has any idea about fitment please let me know.

threeMBs

Ideal offset for 9.5 wide rear wheels on a coupe is right around 40mm - anywhere between ET38 and ET43. In worst case (if there's some rubbing on the inside) you would need to use 10mm HR spacers (for ET38 effect). I use HR spacers on all my cars (both front and rear) without any issues.

ohlord

with 18's the stiff sidewalls on 19's only make the traction and handling problems worse.

Edmonton

I took a 09 C class for a spin

The ride was stiffer than my E550 but supple, however there was 10 times more grip with that vehicle compared to mine. Despite the 17s Continental tire with higher profile I think 45/245.

The c class was a bit lighter with comparable weight distribution ratio between the front and back.

Not sure what to do in order to get that level of grip on the e coupe any ideas beside going to 19? stiffer springs/ anti role bar? If you put HR springs please share your thought here

Thanks

YYZ-E55

How are you comparing a 391 ft-lb E550 to what I am assuming is a C300 based on the tire size? Naturally a car with less than 2/3rds the torque will seem to have more grip!

threeMBs

I agree 100%.

C63 is a lot closer to E550 coupe than C300/350 in terms of power and possible luck of grip due to it. If there is traction issues with E550 cpe that are not present on C63 (I doubt it, but...) than it proofs its the tires - C63 is equiped with grippy high performace summer tire, while E550 coupe - with a/s not so high performance.

Why is he even arguing. He posed a question to the forum, he got the answer, but he does not like it. Then try experts. Call Tirerack, they'll explain that tires are THE most important part of the performance envelope - its the ONLY part of the car touching the road. Enough said.

YYZ-E55

Having driven several C63s and my E550C, and also having had OEM C63 18" wheels/tires on my E550C for a period of time, I can tell you that the C63 suffers in the same way that the E550C does.

The C63 (without LSD) does a better job at managing the slippage because the C63's ESP is better at selectively braking the rear wheels to maintain traction.

If the OP is serious about improving traction, the best investment would be summer 275s out back and install a LSD.

Edmonton

No one is arguing here

Torque/ power will come into play when one would accelerate in a turn or curve and I agree with both of you on that one. However, let's say you are doing an 80km/hr and you make a turn without acceleration or braking. I did exactly that using both vehicles and c300 held it grounds, no oversteer/ understeer. I tried doing that with my e550 and it oversteered and I was going sideways for a bit. The c300 had 17 inch all season on it as well!

If you read some of the replies you'll see that some members went with 275/30/19s ultra high performance summer rubber and still not enough.

So is it tires, sport springs, sway bars, LSD or all of them. The real question is why should I be paying extra to make a brand new vehicle handle the way it should be handling in the first place?

YYZ-E55

I had a 2008 C350 with 17s prior to the E550 Coupe. The C350 would plow (understeer) going around a sharp turn at 30, let alone 80. I just cannot imagine the scenario you've explained above being realistic. The C300 must have been understeering like mad, tho the softer suspension would have hid it somewhat.

The E coupe is more neutral than the C (if not leaning toward oversteer), while the C is an understeering pig. Your preference is clearly toward understeer - something difficult to achieve in an E-Coupe I'd imagine.

The E-Coupe actually corners fairly well, it just gives the sensation of not doing so (very soft in the rear). I had the chance to run the E550 coupe, C300 RWD and the C63 through several laps of Mosport and I'm basing my comments on that experience.

Edmonton

Ok it wasn't a 90 degree corner, it's a sharpish highway exit with an advisory speed of 35 km/ hr. I could be a spirited driver but I'm not daft.

Forget about that for now, I've increased the rear tire pressure from the recommended 33 PSI to 39 PSI and took the car for a 30min spin. The traction have improved noticeably with stock all season Pirellis. The main issue was the soft side walls of the tires. That being said I'm sure now that handling will improve dramatically with summer tires which has to be done next summer.

Surprisingly, the ride quality is still very good despite the high pressure in the back.

I'm happy a man now, thank you all

threeMBs

Happy to see you're finally convinced to go to summer tires.

Why did you use 33PSI? I use 45PSI (factory rear recomended is 44PSI) rear, 40PSI (a bit higher than factory front recomended of 35PSI) front. My car was delivered with 51PSI both front and rear!!! This is first MB in my experience (many, many MB cars) that has such high PSI tire inflation factory "recomended" numbers. Above number - 35front/44rear are from B-pillar sticker inside the car. Fuel filler flap has 2 sets of number - extra load (same as above) and normal load 33/33. I geuss that's why you used 33. As you found out, 33PSI is acceptable only when going in straight line. Adding PSI certanly improves handling. Did not think to suggest it at first as I thought it was Abcs. Well just proofs that one can't assume anything.

CSW

Sorry off the topic.
Let me know if you would like to sell your OEM wheels (6-spoke). I am looking for a set.

PGT

how much? I've got a set and could be talked out of them. I also have a set of 20" Rays R.E.M. for the FX35

CSW

Depends on the condition, I am looking for a deal similar to this: https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...els-tires.html
I plan to put them on a C300.