20 Wheels: how's the road noise?
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Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 81
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2016 GL 450
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?
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Joined: Oct 2012
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S550, SRX, ML550
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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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Central US
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; Jan 24, 2013 at 04:45 PM.
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S550, SRX, ML550
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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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
Likes: 1,264
From: Lake Oswego, OR
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; Jan 24, 2013 at 11:12 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2013
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07 c230 sport
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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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
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From: Toronto
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...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 2
2016 GL 450
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
Likes: 1,264
From: Lake Oswego, OR
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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
Likes: 1,264
From: Lake Oswego, OR
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...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
Likes: 1,264
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 625
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From: Australia
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.
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S550, SRX, ML550
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 22
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From: North Cyprus
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.
