Hello,

I have W212 E300 with 20 inch mags on 245-30-20, lately I had so many flats because of our ****ty roads in Montreal Canada So I bought some 245-35-20 to give it a bit much rubber.
I spoke with mercedes dealer and they told me that this car is not made for having 20 inch rims, and max should be 18 inch as manufactured, otherwise apparently many parts will break.

Is there anybody with 20 inch rims on W212, is it really that bad, will the mechanic breaks ? Differential, Direction parts .... ?

Thank you

 

Not exactly, but close https://www.benzworld.org/forums/gen...out-22-mb.html

 

Seems like bs to me. I put 20s on my 2016 e400. My buddy has 20s on his 2013 e550. The amgs all have 20s stock from Mercedes. Your car is fine and the parts are fine. Mercedes dealership I go to had no issues to mention when I asked them about it. My car rides beautifully on 20s.

 

If your tire sidewalls are 35 high, or even worse, 30, and your radius is 20” & 245 wide, and you hit a pothole at speed, you’ll get - - at the very least - - an unrepairable flat tire & probably severe rim damage.
There is not enough cushion with such low sidewalls carrying heavy, wide rims.
LISTEN TO YOUR MB SERVICE REP!!!
Max size @ 18” / use 35cm - or even better - 40 cm sidewalls on 235 tires.
Your ride will improve & you’ll avoid those nasty flats!

 

Man, you have your units a bit messed up. 30 cm = 300 mm equals almost a foot, which is 304.8 mm so there is no car tire like that. Further the “30” or “35” in the tire size marking means the tire wall height as percentage of the tire width. So, the standard 245/40-R18 has a side wall height of 0.40 x 245 mm = 98 mm.

 

My bad on tire dimensions. Point being the 40 sidewalls will add cushion to prevent pothole flats & ride better over bumps. My local
SF Wheel Works Manager who drives an AMG 6.3 W211 advises me to avoid low profiles because of flats & rim damage.

 

I’ve had 20” aftermarket wheels for more than 4+ years. Other than the pothole on the freeway, never any problem.

 

^^^^^^^^

NIce HRE!!!

 

His advice is absolutely correct. I live in south and roads here are bad enough, I can't even imagine how bad yours are especially after winter when they destroy the roads with plows during winter.

I think 18" rims are the best fit for this car's look and personally I don't understand some drivers going to 20" wheels. Look to me like wagon wheels, really stupid, but hey, everyone has his own taste.

I purchased 17" wheels that just fit over my E550 front brakes to get just 1/2" more side wall. I don't really feel it being any softer but I know there is that much more rubber between rim and the road for the bad spots on road.

 

I have 245/35R20's on my E350 and the ride is similar to my 18 inch AMG wheels

 

There is no way ride on 20" can be comparable to ride on 18" wheels, although different tires will do make noticeable difference as well.
For some time we had MB on 16" wheels, 17" wheels and 18" wheels.
When difference between 17 and 18 was small, getting to one on 16" was giving instant "boaty" feeling. When handling suffer, the comfort was way higher.
So after I wear 18" tires, I will consider putting 16" on my W212.

 

Thank you.

 

I went up from stock amgs (18s) to aftermarket 19s and the ride didn't change at all ..wifey didn't complain not once about the ride being stiff or harsher..and trust me complaining is what she does! 😂😂😂😂🤣 So In my personal opinion u can run a alternative size outside 18s ... If it wasn't for wifey driving the car I probably would of went 20s but Jersey - Philly streets are brutal

 

Simple test for comparison - drive over street covers.
The big ca 30" diameter are sewer system.
The smaller can be electrical, or other utilities.
Do you feel teeth rattling after driving over sewer cover?
How about driving over smaller cover?

 

Mine came with the 18 inch sport wheels. I have 20” wheels now.

245/35/20
275/30/20

i had 245/30/20’s in the front before with other wheels and it was hell on the car.

35’s feel like a dream.

you must drive differently with these bigger/wheels and tires.

You have to avoid potholes like a ****.

My car car drives like a dream.

Get roadforce balancing too.

 

I have a 2013 e350 and I am looking to get some 20s also.
Are you on factory suspension in that picture? Do you have more pics?

 

Exactly the same thing I said when I put 245/35/20's on my car. At first I was worried about the ride quality but it's comfortable enough for me and my wife has no complaints when she drives the car either, also I like the fact that it fills up the wheel well more

 

Running 20s on mine with zero problems.

255/30 zr20 fronts
285/25 zr20 rears

 

You're running that setup on a E350? AWD or standard? Guessing you have the sport suspension too?

Mine came with the 18" sport wheels too and the stance is noticeably more aggressive as compared to other E350's I've seen (re: sport suspension).

Looking into getting a set with the exact same dimensions but hesitant because they're staggered. Don't want to agitate the differential.

 

are those vossens?

 

Yes, everything is stock except for the wheels.

 

Wheels? What Wheels? I know they are there, but I can't see them. You write they are 20's. How can I tell... I can't see them. (Not focused on any one vehicle in this thread.)

If you passed me on the highway, would I be able to tell that you have wheels (at all)? Never mind what kind or size... I guess these wheels are more visible at night, right? (nooooo, wait...)

Not to be rude, but this fascination with black wheels escapes me. People spend so much money on these oversized rims... that you can't see unless the sun is out, or at the right angle, or you're real close.

Sorry.... I must be in a bad mood today. Cabin fever. Yea, that's it...

 

Well, I have enough trouble with keeping my stock !7" and 18" wheels straight in the rust belt and on Cleveland roads, I have six factory wheels for my '12 luxury eight spokes, have had to get two of my AMG 19" wheels straightened on my '13 as well. Maybe the aftermarket wheels are stronger? I also don't understand black wheels, not to my liking, but to each his own. My ride in the '12 luxury is awesome for an E class, My handling is way better in the '13 sport but it rides like a truck comparatively. I don't understand why any one would want a worse rudely adding 20's but again your car , your choice. I guess they look cool,I am old, but I do remember when looking cool was more important than comfort

 

Wheels and brand of oil ...always cause a stir in forums.

 

Can't agree more, I'm too old (and also my wounded back) to 'enjoy' big rims....

I go the other way round, switched back to factory 16", and with low tyre pressure l enjoy the ride much more than before....