Hi everyone,

I need an advice regarding the following issue:

I'm driving 2009 w212 E220 CDI ELEGANCE 170HP and lm pretty satisfied with the car. Recently l bought 18'' amg 6 twin spoke wheels like the ones you get with the e350 sport. Original tire size for these wheels are 245/40/18. Since my car has elegance package it has comfort suspension which is a bit higher than the avantgarde or sport edition. My doubt is that when l put the original tire size that the gap between the wheel and fender will seem too big (since elegance has a bit higher rear end than the avnt or sport) especially on the rear end.

NOTE: the wheel gap in general is an interesting thing, because when the tire sidewall is bigger than the gap it looks ok, but when the sidewall is smaller than the gap it might look funny although the overall diameter hasn't changed.

So l was thinking either:

1) to put 235/45/18 tires to fill the gap (extra 15mm) - l'm familiar with the odometer issue when exceeding overall diameter and lm fine with it. About brakes and other stuff lm not worried too much since its a really small difference in diameter and width.

2) put a lowered suspension - which in that case I'm not sure what type or brand to put. In that case lm looking for something with reasonable price for normal ride. Also the question is what additional actions should be done regarding the geometry and stuff.

Im leaning more toward solution 1 just because its a less headache, and all l need is 10-15mm to fill the gap and nothing else, it's not like lm trying to cover 20+mm (in that case suspension is the only solution)

My car has 4 fingers gap rear and 3 fingers gap front, and when l checked the e350 it had 3 rear and 2 front.

lm also putting OEM e350 quad exhaust tips left-right with the OEM bumper lip to get the full look.

 

Lower it.

 

Did you ever change to the 235/45/18 tire setup?
If so, did it fit without any rubbing issues?

 

the 18" wheels are optional on the 'luxury' / elegance package here, and the 17' wheels are optional on the sport/avantegarde package, so I'd just stick with the stndard dizes, 245/45r17 or 245/40r18

 

Hamah,

Check the clearance on the front strut spring base to tire track, see here https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post8152884
And then, you calculate how much taller ( bigger diameter ) tire u can go.

Look at what u have as standard vs option 1. See overall wheel diameter
https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?whe...cl=50mm&sr=0mm

 

A taller tire will give you a more comfortable ride and less likelihood of cracked wheels but nothing compares to the superior aesthetics of lowering the car

 

I prefer to drive my cars then to look at them, so I would say the exact opposite. 17" wheels with 245/45R17 tires give a FAR better ride than the 18" 245/40, I don't even wanna think about larger rim sizes with lower profile tires. I really dislike dragging hard parts on driveways, speed bumps, etc, so lowering is out of the question, these cars are already too low... in the pic below, compare the ride height of the 1994 W124 wagon in the background to that of the 2016 W212 wagon, and that is the "Luxury" 212 with the comfort suspension, not the "Sport" 212.

 

l changed from 17" to 16" rims ( 225/55/16) on my e250 cgi.
l also changed the springs from Avantgarde to Luxury, that means 20mm higher.
Done all these for my wounded back.

 

16's were not an option in the US market. I had to look long and hard to find 2016 with 17's, most were the 18"

 

Yes, the complete opposite of OP"s objective. OP is inquiring about reducing fender gap - taller springs would be completely counter-productive for him

 

“17" wheels with 245/45R17 tires give a FAR better ride than the 18" 245/40,”

This statement is not quite right, at least it is not for my 2010 E550. I changed my staggered 18” setup to all around 17” with 245/45-R17 tires in hopes to soften the ride and it did not give ANY noticeable softening at all. It probably gives more rim protection but ride quality, NO.

For softer ride it is the shocks that do most of it. Springs, of course, too but most comes from the shocks. Then if none of this is changed you can go lesser quality tires with weaker side walls but this hurts quality of turning in higher speeds.

 

May be because of my wounded back, l do notice the difference between 17" and 16" rims. I could also clearly feel a better ride when l lowered the tire pressure from 34psi to 31psi.

 

I would imagine that if you went from an 18" wheel with 245/45/18 tires down to a 17" or 16" rim, you'd need tires much taller than 245/45

 

245/45R17 XL is the stock 17" tire size, and what came on my 'luxury' 2016 wagon.

 

I misread the earlier post. In 18" it is 245/40, in 17" it's 245/45 and in 16" it is 255/50. That makes more sense

 

Well I have both, my luxury has luxury springs, almost an inch higher in the back 5/8" in front, it has the 17" wheels, my sport has the lowered suspension and 18" wheels, the ride is night and day, I am old, true, but I would not buy the sport again. but amazingly I have bent two wheels on the luxury and only one on the sport, go figure.

 

So you also agree that the springs and tirewalls affect the ride comfortness?
And what do you think of the shocks of your cars? I've done some searching, and though they have different part nos, they all point to same OEM shocks from Bilstein and Sachs.
Any thoughts?

 

Oh my yes I agree, however, my '12 uses a Bistein B4 and my '13 uses a B6, the springs are different too, color coded with one or two colors, there were three suspensions available and springs were coded by options on the car, {weight?] but definitely the less tire sidewall between you and the road transmits a harsher ride. my '13 is a Sport package with the AMG package, one of those includes larger front rotors and I don't think the '"17 wheel would fit over those or I'd do it in a minute!

 

Since we are discussing tires...
I have just got a Toyota Corolla Cross late last year, which is only available in South East Asia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Corolla_Cross

It has Michelin Primacy4, 225/50/18 , which 18" is my E400 diameter.
This is not a sticky tire if compared to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ( my E400 using it ), but for those wanting soft wall/comfort, this can be an option.

 

From internet l heard that the riding quality of Cross in terms of comfortness is excellent, isnt it?

 

I've used the Primacy and Premiers for years on older Mercedes and Volvos, loved them, quiet and smooth riding, excellent rain traction, good evven wear, good til they are nearly bald.

 

For the decent price of US$32K ish ( not the hybrid one, I choose 1.8 pure gasoline ), and a tall car, I would say it is very comfortable , yes.

I just got it Hunter RoadForce balanced yesterday and will do alignment soonest, but Hunter 4 wheel machine does not have this car database yet.
The RoadForce balance does make an improved quieter/refined ride on healthy tires, it is not a snake oil.

I shall, when completed..... do a write up on my W212 NVH issues I been hunting down..... soon.
The information can do good for those chasing maximum comfort.

 

More comfortable than your w212?

Can't wait your write up, btw!

 

Softer yes, more "comfortable" no. Could be also be due to Primacy4 vs Pilot Sport 4 and their respective aspect ratio as chosen by manufacturer.
Primacy 4 on Cross is best to be at least 34 psi, 36 psi being decent.... otherwise when higher speed say 120KM/H and up the soft wall can't give sportiness of PS4 at 32 psi.
I know I am handling bias , my apology.

I like compliant suspension, but also need to be Firm. Toyota Cross is a little bit too soft for me, but not boaty soft...no. Cabin noise insulation is not as good as W212, that is expected.
Cross steering alignment values, I suspect mine is not perfect setting yet. Hence need to verify with 4 wheel alignment.

 

Great comments!!