25 GLS 450 Ride Quality on 21s
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 721
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25 GLS 450 Ride Quality on 21s
Got rid of Escalade, got into this - last couple SUVs were X5, X7, and before that a couple 166 GLSs..
I'm shocked by how bad the ride quality is on this vehicle, 21" AMG twin spoke setup. Tire pressure set to 33 all around, last I checked.
Otherwise happy with vehicle outside of the trim on the back of the second row... it's held together by crappy plastic bits.
4 months of ownership in , 4500 miles.. love the tech, space and utility. But man ride quality is shockingly bad and lateral movement over bumps in turns is nervous, as well.
Anyhow, about on par with LX i drove as a comp but nowhere close to current gen X7, even on 22s.
I'm shocked by how bad the ride quality is on this vehicle, 21" AMG twin spoke setup. Tire pressure set to 33 all around, last I checked.
Otherwise happy with vehicle outside of the trim on the back of the second row... it's held together by crappy plastic bits.
4 months of ownership in , 4500 miles.. love the tech, space and utility. But man ride quality is shockingly bad and lateral movement over bumps in turns is nervous, as well.
Anyhow, about on par with LX i drove as a comp but nowhere close to current gen X7, even on 22s.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 85
Likes: 7
From: NYC
Some of the past. ’13 CTS V Wagon, ‘15 GL550. ‘17 GLS550. Current: ‘20 GLE580.
Got rid of Escalade, got into this - last couple SUVs were X5, X7, and before that a couple 166 GLSs..
I'm shocked by how bad the ride quality is on this vehicle, 21" AMG twin spoke setup. Tire pressure set to 33 all around, last I checked.
Otherwise happy with vehicle outside of the trim on the back of the second row... it's held together by crappy plastic bits.
4 months of ownership in , 4500 miles.. love the tech, space and utility. But man ride quality is shockingly bad and lateral movement over bumps in turns is nervous, as well.
Anyhow, about on par with LX i drove as a comp but nowhere close to current gen X7, even on 22s.
I'm shocked by how bad the ride quality is on this vehicle, 21" AMG twin spoke setup. Tire pressure set to 33 all around, last I checked.
Otherwise happy with vehicle outside of the trim on the back of the second row... it's held together by crappy plastic bits.
4 months of ownership in , 4500 miles.. love the tech, space and utility. But man ride quality is shockingly bad and lateral movement over bumps in turns is nervous, as well.
Anyhow, about on par with LX i drove as a comp but nowhere close to current gen X7, even on 22s.
Very accurate. I rented a X7 and a 450 before leasing one. The ride was harsh and bumpy. I opted for one with E-ABC total different experience.
It came with the 23”. just got delivered a set of 21”
Last edited by Scorpio550; Jun 17, 2025 at 09:38 PM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 75
Likes: 15
From: Panama
2024 GLS450 2020 BMW X6 2022 Land Cruiser Prado
Got rid of Escalade, got into this - last couple SUVs were X5, X7, and before that a couple 166 GLSs..
I'm shocked by how bad the ride quality is on this vehicle, 21" AMG twin spoke setup. Tire pressure set to 33 all around, last I checked.
Otherwise happy with vehicle outside of the trim on the back of the second row... it's held together by crappy plastic bits.
4 months of ownership in , 4500 miles.. love the tech, space and utility. But man ride quality is shockingly bad and lateral movement over bumps in turns is nervous, as well.
Anyhow, about on par with LX i drove as a comp but nowhere close to current gen X7, even on 22s.
I'm shocked by how bad the ride quality is on this vehicle, 21" AMG twin spoke setup. Tire pressure set to 33 all around, last I checked.
Otherwise happy with vehicle outside of the trim on the back of the second row... it's held together by crappy plastic bits.
4 months of ownership in , 4500 miles.. love the tech, space and utility. But man ride quality is shockingly bad and lateral movement over bumps in turns is nervous, as well.
Anyhow, about on par with LX i drove as a comp but nowhere close to current gen X7, even on 22s.
Hey man, mine is a 2024 GLS 450 with the 23 In wheels....
peesonally the ride quality hss many descriptions....
Road vibrations are nonee...
Small bump cumpliancee is amazing
but
The lateral movements when the reaar falls into a bump....
its horribleee
Its feels with very little control... making it feel likee unstablee
i dont understand the behavior of thiss suspension tune.. doesnt make any sense...
I have the bmw x6 xdrive 40i m sport with the adaptive air suspension... and the body control is amazing and the ride quality is very very soft... but obviously it crashes over bumps a lot more with lower profile tires
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Thanks for the responses dudes... yeah i didn't even consider the 580 this go around cause wanted to get something done quick and found the right 450 build but in hindsight if i had known eabc made that big a difference i would have waited to find the right 580 build...my last two 166s had it, but i don't recall how the ride was compared to the bimmers been driving recently... or the escalade.
all i know is this feels like im driving on 24s set to 50 psi - it's absurd lol
all i know is this feels like im driving on 24s set to 50 psi - it's absurd lol
Member
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 75
Likes: 15
From: Panama
2024 GLS450 2020 BMW X6 2022 Land Cruiser Prado
Thanks for the responses dudes... yeah i didn't even consider the 580 this go around cause wanted to get something done quick and found the right 450 build but in hindsight if i had known eabc made that big a difference i would have waited to find the right 580 build...my last two 166s had it, but i don't recall how the ride was compared to the bimmers been driving recently... or the escalade.
all i know is this feels like im driving on 24s set to 50 psi - it's absurd lol
all i know is this feels like im driving on 24s set to 50 psi - it's absurd lol
Never thought that the ride quality on 21 would be like that...
personally this is my first MB ...
tbh... i do regret this purchase..
$133,000 dollars here in Panama...
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Joined: May 2024
Posts: 12
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GLS450 E400 E350
I let my wife choose whatever vehicle she wanted after she test drove a few. Our 2022 GLS handles terribly in my opinion as well. I think automakers are getting lazy with initial suspension tuning now that minor driver adjustments are possible. The car behaves better in sport mode with ADS plus (?) activated. Any setting that firms up the the suspension seems to reduce the lateral reactions. Still not great at all on the 21's were running however. People still get in out 14 year old w212 wagon and comment on how smooth it feels. Back to basics Mercedes!
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Joined: Apr 2015
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NA
33 PSI a bit low ?
I have 22's and run them around 40 PSI ..
Driving in sport is marginally acceptable - other than that its a boat - and I am coming from a full size RR which was about the same
Nice on the highway
I have 22's and run them around 40 PSI ..
Driving in sport is marginally acceptable - other than that its a boat - and I am coming from a full size RR which was about the same
Nice on the highway
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Member
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 75
Likes: 15
From: Panama
2024 GLS450 2020 BMW X6 2022 Land Cruiser Prado
my 2022 land cruiser prado 150 vx with kdss...
my 2024 gls has 23 in wheels... i tun them at 38psi front and 41 psi in the back...
This guY here... has 30psi on 4 corners and doesnot behave like a boat... no body roll on corners
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Lateral movement over bumps is from MB’s poor choice on excessively high negative camber. Well documented on GL* vehicles.
Air suspension on 9Y0 Cayenne with 21s is sublime.
Air suspension on 9Y0 Cayenne with 21s is sublime.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
I find my negative camber to be entirely appropriate. The rear contributes to handling, and my wear across the tread width is even.
Previous GLEs (166) had marginal handling, corrected by stronger chassis and dialed-in negative camber.
Edit- in test driving 166 models, both I and my wife ranked comfort/control thusly: #1 AMG ARC (similar to but more advanced than the P Car), #2 steel springs, #3 plain air.
Comparing the Cayenne suspensions, the PDCC with rear steer ranked 1.5. Without rear steer, #2.5.
Last edited by mikapen; Jul 14, 2025 at 07:10 PM.
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2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
I've noticed it a bit on the 23s. I've lowered the pressure to 36PSI and have driven it in sport and it definitely does help. Reading more, I think I will invest in the ~$800 rear camber kit and correct the excessive camber in the back for the saje of my tires and a little more confidence from the rear.
