VelaFella

In less than one year I've had 3 tire blowouts after hitting potholes. I recognize that potholes can cause this to happen to all cars ON OCCASION. But three times in less than 12 months. I suspect the problem lies with the combination of the extremely stiff sport suspension on my 2012 E350 AND the low profile Continental tires (245/40R18). Anyone else have this problem? Any other thoughts? Defective tires?

Mud

I have an E350 sport with no blowout issues. Suspension is a bit stiffer and with the low profile tires the combo can be more prone to potholes obviously. However, I don't find the suspension to be extremely stiff, our observations are obviously subjective.


IMO It's not realistic to tell you there's an issue - too many factors that are not really clear. Very doubtful there were 3 defective tires, I suspect that you hit some pretty good sized and/or sharp edged holes. Wonder if your rim(s) may have taken a hit as well.

VelaFella

Thanks. Each blowout involved a different wheel. So, it's not a repeat rim issue.

Johnny Rad

Sorry about your tire experiences. In the few months I've had my (first) sport susp-equipped Merc, my thought is you had a run of bad luck, too low psi and/or ugly potholes. Good luck.

In my experience, Merc's so-called sport susp is far from class-leading stiff or sporty. The S4 and CTS-V that I test drove seemed to have significantly more sporting suspensions without compliance issues.

I cringe to think how soft and/or floaty Merc's std susp must be. Marshmallows come to mind, but I haven't driven a comfort susp E ... I can only imagine given my opinions of the sport susp.

sghokie

The w212 sport suspension is no where near stiff. I put some HR springs in an old BMW e36, man that was neck breaking stiff. I didn't have any blowout issues even with it being super stiff.

VelaFella

Thanks, JR. Bad luck it may well be. But I have a 2001 Jeep, and the sport-suspension MB replaced my '95 7 series BMW. Never had a flat tire in either one -- total of 31 years of cars on the road. I just have to believe the problem is not entirely bad luck, but is related to the stiff suspension and low profile tires.

VelaFella

You're driving the same crappy roads as me, Northern Virginia. I need some of your luck.

wanderfalke

Do you have airmatic? How fast were you going when you hit the potholes? I tagged one going 45 to 50 about a week ago that had me worried i might have a problem.

beshannon

No issues so far.


I blew out a 19" Continental DWS on my BMW so when I got my W212 I ordered the sport with the 17" wheels. Great ride, no problems so far.

VelaFella

In two instances I was going less than 30. In the other I was accelerating to do a merge, and I was probably up to 60 - 65. And "no," I don't have Airmatic.

CarolinaBluetec

You might want to consider getting a set of 17 inch rims and all season touring tires to put some more rubber between the rim and the pothole.

VelaFella

Thanks, that would probably reduce the frequency of blowouts, but it would probably be too expensive ($1,000 per wheel, I would imagine, versus $300 per tire replacement), and would alter the look of the car. Also, since the car is already lower than the regular E350, I might be dragging the ground with smaller rims.

Arrie

So you have lowered the car? Are you sure your suspension is not bottoming out when you hit the pot holes? That for sure would mean extra impact on the tire.


I just two weeks ago had 17" wheels and tires put on my car. The tires are very close to the same diameter as the original tires so no worries about "dragging" anything.

beshannon

The sport suspension is marginally lower. My E350 on 17" stock wheels, nothing is dragging unless you have a different explanation?

ph350

Those are 17s on your car? I can hardly tell they are one inch smaller in diameter than the sport ones. What tire did they come with?

VelaFella

Per the window sticker, 2012 E350's with the Sport Package have a "lowered sport suspension." I believe it's just 1/2 inch, which I recall having read somewhere, but I can't locate the citation.

noka

A side-by-side comparison would show a difference for sure. Some could tell by looking at the amount of rubber in the side wall.

beshannon

Michelin Primacy MXM4 245/45R17


Exactly why I did this after having 19"s on my BMW.


My E350 rides great and I think it looks just fine.

ph350

Those are probably the best riding passenger tires you can buy right now. It must have been a huge difference in ride quality when going through bumpy roads.

vdubpower

sorry....extremely stiff sports suspension....try an e63 with p30 and with 30 series tires...

JDBKLYN89

My experience is that the continental tires are EXTREMELY "soft" and that coupled with the solid weight of the car is just not a good combo. In my experience the continentals are far more succeptable to bubbles than other brands. Last winter between the CLS and the E both on continentals I had to replace 9 tires due to bubbles or blowouts. Have been through 3 this year so far. We have a Porsche 911 as well with 20" Pirelli tires driven on the same roads with 0 tire issues in 18 months of ownership, could be coincidental but I have just come to the conclusion that continetals are playing a huge factor here.

RSIKR

The tire and wheel combo for the 17" and 18" have the virtually the same outside diameter probably within a tenth of an inch. The difference is the height of the sidewall and the tread width. The higher sidewall of the 17" combo saves damage. The tread width doesn't factor in except for snow where the 17" being narrower has the advantage.

jesser916

lol. the suspension is not very stiff. The tires are kind of on the thin side with 40 series and 35 series in the rear.


Watch where and how you drive bud!

F1BHP

The other factor with stock rims are that they are very strong but very heavy so really do not give the suspension a chance to react to the pot holes. Two real options if you want to retain the look of the larger wheels then get some lightweight wheels. If the look is not an issue then go to the 17" wheels which I am sure you will find many on ebay as a lot of people will be going to larger rims from 17's.

I went from 18" wheels to 20" and saved almost 10lb on each corner with the wheel and tire combo and at the same time had no ill effect on the ride. So I do agree that larger sidewall tires will improve things however just letting you know that you have other options.

Gdavies073

I'd say it's the tires and not the suspension. Hit a pot hole last October and blew out the right front tire and put a bubble in the RR tires sidewall. This was on a 2011 Sport Package