When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I know this has been debated many times, but I wanted to ask the specific question regarding 20 inch wheels. Previously posted the following question in the C238 forum, but I think this W213 forum is a lot more active.
I have a 2023 E53 coupe with the 20 inch wheels and runflats. Low speed ride over road joints, bumps, rough surfaces is not great. It causes loud, unpleasant noises in the cabin and vibrations from the rear of the cabin. I am considering the switch to non-run flats, but I would love to hear from anyone who has made the switch and whether it really makes much difference on the 20 inch wheels. I am reluctant to change to the 19 inch wheels due to the increased cost of new wheels AND new tires.
Personally, I was more annoyed that my runflats only lasted about 35K miles, and that's considered normal now. I was used to getting a good 60K out of a set of tires.
I replaced them with non-runflats, and I didn't notice a substantial difference in the ride quality, and I have 19" wheels. Some of it might come down to how perceptive you are of the difference. I would have been disappointed if I spent the money to replace currently functional tires. YMMV.
I know this has been debated many times, but I wanted to ask the specific question regarding 20 inch wheels. Previously posted the following question in the C238 forum, but I think this W213 forum is a lot more active.
I have a 2023 E53 coupe with the 20 inch wheels and runflats. Low speed ride over road joints, bumps, rough surfaces is not great. It causes loud, unpleasant noises in the cabin and vibrations from the rear of the cabin. I am considering the switch to non-run flats, but I would love to hear from anyone who has made the switch and whether it really makes much difference on the 20 inch wheels. I am reluctant to change to the 19 inch wheels due to the increased cost of new wheels AND new tires.
Tire pressures and run-flats as well as wheel sizes is indeed your problem. Getting rid of run-flat will be better but won't be as big of an improvement compared to also downsizing. I guess the free option will be to start with tire pressure.
After reading all the discussions on run flats, I had decided to switch to regular tires when my run flats wore out until.... Driving home late one night, I hit a pothole and instantly got a flat on my right front tire. I drove about 40 miles to get home, some of it dirt roads and mountain driving, with no problem, ya a bit off on the handling and I drove under 50 as recommended. The next morning when I looked at the tire I was amazed at what I saw. No question, run flats forever!
I know this has been debated many times, but I wanted to ask the specific question regarding 20 inch wheels. Previously posted the following question in the C238 forum, but I think this W213 forum is a lot more active.
I have a 2023 E53 coupe with the 20 inch wheels and runflats. Low speed ride over road joints, bumps, rough surfaces is not great. It causes loud, unpleasant noises in the cabin and vibrations from the rear of the cabin. I am considering the switch to non-run flats, but I would love to hear from anyone who has made the switch and whether it really makes much difference on the 20 inch wheels. I am reluctant to change to the 19 inch wheels due to the increased cost of new wheels AND new tires.
In my old BMW, I swapped out 19” runflats with conventional tires. The improvement was not worth it at all. Low profile conventional tires have thicker than usual sidewalls to support the weight. I would imagine with 20”, its even less improvement.
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
On 19 inch wheels went from run flat to non run flat. Subtle but definately more compliant ride, except over bigger bumps, no more loud metallic crashing sound! Only negative is I now get to have a compact spare in trunk. Never going back.
After reading all the discussions on run flats, I had decided to switch to regular tires when my run flats wore out until.... Driving home late one night, I hit a pothole and instantly got a flat on my right front tire. I drove about 40 miles to get home, some of it dirt roads and mountain driving, with no problem, ya a bit off on the handling and I drove under 50 as recommended. The next morning when I looked at the tire I was amazed at what I saw. No question, run flats forever!
I beg to differ, with the stiffer sidewall, it is more prone to road damage than traditional tires from my experience. I get sidewall failures such as bubble with run-flats. I hardly have to replace my tires due to road damage when I went to traditional tires. Granted, we have 19s, E 450 coupe not 20s.
The upgrade in ride comfort is worth it only the very rare (but unfortunate) times you get a flat tire, like in this case, as the ride comfort is something you experience daily, but the ride will only improve enough by how I mentioned previously, in conjunction with downsizing.
If I recalled correctly, you can't patch runflats, they cost more to begin with if you replace it unlike traditional tires. Throw in a MB Tirefit kit if you go non RFT route.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
If I recalled correctly, you can't patch runflats, they cost more to begin with if you replace it unlike traditional tires. Throw in a MB Tirefit kit if you go non RFT route.
Not so: I have had two Pirelli P7 RF patched. A good tire shop can patch.
Problem with any tire kit is that if you do not remove the stuff rather quickly it sets and the cost of removal from the wheel is often more expensive than a new wheel. So keep this fact in mind when you use a kit. Of course if you are stranded with a non RF and no spare, you have no choice.
Not so: I have had two Pirelli P7 RF patched. A good tire shop can patch.
Problem with any tire kit is that if you do not remove the stuff rather quickly it sets and the cost of removal from the wheel is often more expensive than a new wheel. So keep this fact in mind when you use a kit. Of course if you are stranded with a non RF and no spare, you have no choice.
The ideal solution is RF plus a spare!
Interesting. Guess I didn't have the luck you have being able to locate one.
When I bought my 2023 E it came with run flats. After the test drive I had them removed and replaced with non RF Michelin tires. World of difference. For the ride alone I would never have another RF tire.
When I bought my 2023 E it came with run flats. After the test drive I had them removed and replaced with non RF Michelin tires. World of difference. For the ride alone I would never have another RF tire.
To be fair, my experience as well but we do need to factor in dealership overinflating as well being part of the reason... And I mean I didn't have 20s.
In a 20” tire, the sidewall height is around 3”, that is not a lot to give considering the thousands of pounds of force on it each time you hit a pot hole. A 3 inch sidewall would have to be twice as thick as a tire with 6 inch sidewall. .
when i bought my car it came with DWS06+ regular tires. the ride is very nice. i don't know what runflats would be like on an E class but have had them on various other cars including a 3 series BMW and i recall them being quite noisy
i unfortunately met a pothole that won against my front left tire about a month ago. no spare so had to get towed. was able to just replace the front tires and kept the front right as a spare. still looking for a rim to mount it to, but that's my plan. i keep an inflator and a tire patch kit in the car too.
i considered just moving to 19's instead of replacing a couple of tires, but it's really not that much more sidewall. if i could spec it 19 vs 20 at no cost i would go with the 19s but i don't think you're going to see much difference personally to justify a few thousand dollars in cost
Last edited by natesamg; Sep 10, 2025 at 01:05 PM.
I know this has been debated many times, but I wanted to ask the specific question regarding 20 inch wheels. Previously posted the following question in the C238 forum, but I think this W213 forum is a lot more active.
I have a 2023 E53 coupe with the 20 inch wheels and runflats. Low speed ride over road joints, bumps, rough surfaces is not great. It causes loud, unpleasant noises in the cabin and vibrations from the rear of the cabin. I am considering the switch to non-run flats, but I would love to hear from anyone who has made the switch and whether it really makes much difference on the 20 inch wheels. I am reluctant to change to the 19 inch wheels due to the increased cost of new wheels AND new tires.
Not a direct answer, but I upsized from 18 inch with run flat to 20 inch with non RF. I did it to improve the appearance (to each his own), but was concerned about ride quality. IMO, the ride quality is good. I can't say it's better, but it isn't worse. Depending on the brand and model of tire, AND whether the tire shop and you want to meet the OE load requirements, the non RF may need to carry a few lbs more pressure, which can affect ride quality. Just my guess, but I don't think you will see a substantial improvement by switching.
Not so: I have had two Pirelli P7 RF patched. A good tire shop can patch.
Problem with any tire kit is that if you do not remove the stuff rather quickly it sets and the cost of removal from the wheel is often more expensive than a new wheel. So keep this fact in mind when you use a kit. Of course if you are stranded with a non RF and no spare, you have no choice.
The ideal solution is RF plus a spare!
Agree, you can patch run flats.
I have RFs on my wife's 2018 BMW G30. Had them patched few months back with no issues after.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Originally Posted by C280 Sport
When I bought my 2023 E it came with run flats. After the test drive I had them removed and replaced with non RF Michelin tires. World of difference. For the ride alone I would never have another RF tire.
Originally Posted by figuwx
my wife had RF on her 20 CLS450.. that made my 18 E63s feel like i was riding on a pillow of how harsh a ride it was. I got her non-RF conti's and it was massively different to warrant never going to RF ever again.
I’m in this boat.
Wife’s ‘22 E450 came with RF Conti’s on 19” AMG wheels. Horrible. And I mean abjectly horrible. I’m on 19” DWS 06 all around in my ‘06 S55 and it feels like an airplane compared to a go kart. And to make matters worse, hers all need replacing at 30k miles, except the one where she kept hitting potholes and asking me to come get her while the tow truck was incoming. So much for running flat or whatever TF they’re supposed to do. A complete gimmick, and not a good one at that.
In addition to moving to DWS ‘06, I’m gonna add a bit of size to the rim to quit running on rubber bands. A bit wider + a similar aspect ratio might = a close enough rolling diameter + a MUCH better ride.
OP should consider this on 20s… one step wider with a bit more sidewall and ditch the RF gimmick.
Having changed from an A8 to an E450, I can’t see comparing an S class to an E class for ride comfort. I will say my E450 with air suspension is pretty close to my A8 for ride comfort even with run flats. (No run flats on Audis).
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.
