20 Wheels: how's the road noise?
#1
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20 Wheels: how's the road noise?
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and roads are notoriously poorly-surfaced (grooved asphalt, etc), which makes for a ton of road noise with most cars. Local and cross-country highway driving noise is one the most important aspects of any car for me.
How would the optional 20" wheels & tires compare with the stock 19" wheels, where road surface noise is concerned? Has anyone directly compared both over noisy roads?
How would the optional 20" wheels & tires compare with the stock 19" wheels, where road surface noise is concerned? Has anyone directly compared both over noisy roads?
#3
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2012 CLS63
20 wheels????!!!!!
#5
Road noise is almost non-existent on my 20" with the factory OEM all season tyres (Continental something or other). I drive on pretty rough roads in Colorado, the worst offender for noise is actually a concrete stretch of I-25 - where other cars make strange howling noises the ML is whisper quiet.
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2013 ML350 4Matic
I'm somewhat disappointed in the road noise from my OEM Dunlop 19 inchers. On several streches of US Interstate highways my 2013 ML350 is about 0.5 - 1dB louder than my 2006 Land Cruiser with 18 inch Bridgestones. It is likely to get worse as the tires wear.
I may investigate going to 18 inch wheels at some point.
I may investigate going to 18 inch wheels at some point.
Last edited by Brewsterx; 01-24-2013 at 04:45 PM.
#7
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I have the same experience as Thimee. My 2013 BT with 20 inch wheels is by far the most quiet car I have ever driven. The stock continentals are very good.
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#8
I drove an S-Class before this one, and the quietness in the ML's cabin is almost as good. You can have a normal conversation with someone while driving 70MPH without having to raise your voice at all, it's actually quite creepy how silent it is...
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2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Road noise/ride comfort
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and roads are notoriously poorly-surfaced (grooved asphalt, etc), which makes for a ton of road noise with most cars. Local and cross-country highway driving noise is one the most important aspects of any car for me.
How would the optional 20" wheels & tires compare with the stock 19" wheels, where road surface noise is concerned? Has anyone directly compared both over noisy roads?
How would the optional 20" wheels & tires compare with the stock 19" wheels, where road surface noise is concerned? Has anyone directly compared both over noisy roads?
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; 01-24-2013 at 11:12 PM.
#10
ehhh honestly i just got 20s on my c-class and i kinda regret it i should have went 19s or 18s...its rough...i also have springs...that may possibly play a part...but ultimately i advise agaist it...looks phenomenal though u would have to be willing to scarifice performance...
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2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
ehhh honestly i just got 20s on my c-class and i kinda regret it i should have went 19s or 18s...its rough...i also have springs...that may possibly play a part...but ultimately i advise agaist it...looks phenomenal though u would have to be willing to scarifice performance...
#12
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Road noise is almost non-existent on my 20" with the factory OEM all season tyres (Continental something or other). I drive on pretty rough roads in Colorado, the worst offender for noise is actually a concrete stretch of I-25 - where other cars make strange howling noises the ML is whisper quiet.
#13
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2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
C-class has less suspension travel and as you said runs on springs not airbags so it is a harsher ride to begin with, I personally like wide tires but not low profile tires as I would rather damage a tire than the rims which MB charges an arm and a leg to replace (14k for 4 rims and tires for a GL!) Wish they had something like the 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT 20'' by 295mm
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2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
ehhh honestly i just got 20s on my c-class and i kinda regret it i should have went 19s or 18s...its rough...i also have springs...that may possibly play a part...but ultimately i advise agaist it...looks phenomenal though u would have to be willing to scarifice performance...
#16
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X350d GLE500e 2017, ML350 BlueTec 2012(sold), A200 2013, ML350CDI 2009(sold), Aston Martin DB7 2003
Pirellis on 20" make no noise that I can hear. Very pleasant change from the General UHP 18" on the W164.
#17
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2012 ml-250
Road noise is at an acceptable level for me but noise from the door locks and cooling-heating cup holders drives me crazy. When I go to the first oil change, I will tell them to put some grease to the locks. But I don't konw what to do with the cup holder. Even when I press the cup holder down with my finger I hear the same cracking sound.