cte430

My wife will most likely be picking up her ML 500 this week. Since I don't know squat about wheels/tires for SUV's figured I'd ask for some suggestions. But, before you guys go nuts with 20" wheel suggestions bear in mind we are both 40 yrs. old LOL. The car comes stock with 17" wheels. Am I to assume that going to 18's would effect the ride the same as it would in a car? i.e. Used to have an '03 E500 that came with 17"s all around and put staggered 18"s on it. I did not think the ride suffered much. She will be the primary driver, so I don't want her hating the thing because the ride is to rough. the couple of test drives I took told me that the ride is rough enough as is! I just want something a little nicer than the stock 17" set up. I checked tirerack and they have the 5 spoke AMG in 18". I'm even more lost when it comes to tires for SUV's. I can talk all day about tires for my car, but that's about it! We're in the Northeast, so an all season is necessary. Any thoughts? Thanks.

GregW / Oregon

I'm running 18x10 Lorinsers (designed just for the ML) w/ 285/50-18s on my ML320. What little difference I find from 16s or 17s I actually prefer. My wife drives this vehicle mostly and she is fine with it. The 18s add a certain firmness to the ride that is lacking in ths stock tires. I have Yokohama AVS/STs, a high-performance SUV tire that I have found to be quiet, grippy in dry and wet (but not for snow) and good looking (I'm on my asecond set). The extra size is perfect for the proportions of the vehicle, I believe. Not so radiical that you can't use them off-road. They are near same diameter as 275/55-17.

I am selling the ML and would be willing to sell the wheels/tire--drop me an e-mail if interested (greg.a.williams@comcast.net )

Ronin007

cte430 - My suggestion would be to get the 18 inch rims that you like and mount some high performance summer tires on those and keep your 17 inch rims and get dedicated winter tires. That way you get the best of both worlds. I always find all season tires suck at something (normally winter driving) and therefore you are compromising your ride. You get to keep your 18 inch rims nice by not exposing them to the winter crud and get winter tires that will keep the ML on the road where it belongs.

You should post in the TireRack forum to get some suggestions on tires. Luke knows his stuff and could hook you up. Good luck to you!!

saturnstyl

I like the 18" 2 piece wheels mercedes offers. Some michelin 4x4 diamaris oughtta do nicely. Perhaps some fender flares? I wish somebody would give me an open checkbook and an ML. I would make that unit something to behold, and do it pretty much out of the mercedes catalog.

GregW / Oregon

I agree--that's what I did. AVSs for summer and Pirelli Scorpions for snow/ice. Work great.

cte430

That's kinda what I did when I had my '03 E500 but I liked the look of the staggered AMG 18"s so much that I bought 2 sets!! One set with SO-3's and the other with Yokohama db's (had the pilot sport A/S and they were a disaster). Luke is definitely the man But this is the wife's ride and i'm sure she could'nt care less! This is just me wanting what I want LOL.

cte430

Steve, you're talking about the 2 piece AMG wheels, right? Saw them on tirerack and they are mucho bucks. About $800 ea. if I remember correctly.

jzee

...selling my 18" brabus (replica) with Continental Sport 285/50/18
$600...in mint condition..only has 3K miles in it

Ronin007

I would like to see someone turn one into a true off-road vehicle. It is too easy to mod one for the street or track. Besides, that has been done before. It has a true frame and a real low range so the basics are there unlike a lot of the other SUVs on the market right now. Mercedes has run them in Dakar rally, but I am think more along the lines of a trail/exploration vehicle. If that could be done, I would give up my Range Rover!!

bottedi

I just got 4 new Michelin CrossTerrain tires installed on my ML320. I love them. Best ride I've had since I bought the car. Huge difference to the Dunlaps that came with the car.

KILLERLEXUS

i like the 18x10 set up with the 285/50/18 makes the truck look muscular. how an ML should look like,classy yet able to play ruff when the time calls for it,,

GregW / Oregon

Exactly!