Rhschnauss

I have noticed my 2015 S550 will jar you when driving over manhole covers and small potholes. Can the suspension be tuned by the dealer to be a softer ride?
I have it set on comfort.

carnut1

I doubt they can do much to change the setting, but what size wheels you have a whether or not you have run-flat tires makes a big difference.

hyperion667

Yes, just go to your dealer, tell them you have extra money to spend and that you car needs to be evaluated and maybe add some more cotton *****. Also, avoiding manholes and small potholes works well too.

Carfan500

What kind of wheels do you have?

it's good

I and others have posted on this forum about MB's continual tweaking of the tire/suspension combo on the s class.I had a MY15 w/19" wheels.My MY17 with same is much better over bumps,etc.It just handles and rides better.MB has said so much in website info for 17&18 i.e."suspension re-engineered with lighter components for better response."17&18 weigh about 100lbs. less.

Streamliner

Quadrobenz

I (unfortunately) fly from LAX frequently, it is a 130mile round trip. The Limo company always sends one of two drivers. one has an S550 with 18" and runflat tires. The other driver has a BMW, looks like 18" or 19" wheels with runflats. I own an S65 with 20" wheels, no runflats. The S65 is smoother and quieter than either of the two others, so the runflats really do degrade the ride experience. No one has ever complained about the ride quality of my S65, but I am sure 18" wheels and no runflats would be even better. One other point. I think we are all discussing S class cars with ABC. If you happen to have an AWD version with Airmatic the ride will always be worse than one with ABC and MBC.

Rhschnauss

Jason B

Get rid of the runflats. In a 20" a non runflat will make s HUGE difference. GO with the Michelin pilot A/S 3+

Aah

RFTs have a horrible ride, wear is quicker, and cost of replacement is much higher. That being said ...there is no available spare to purchase or to store for that matter, especially in a S coupe. I’ve learned to live with them but not ideal.

Rhschnauss

supra55vp

I have new (125 miles) 2018 S560 with MBC, Distronic and 11R 19" wheels. The tires are Michelin MXM4 ZP RFT 102H (245/45R19 front, 275/40 R19 rear). After a very short time, the ride sucks. My past three generations of Lexus LS (430, 460) were way more smooth riding that this S560, but it is a lot more attractive without the large mouth bass grille. However, the ride is terrible. I read the posts about the RFTs and seem to conclude that they are not near ideal for a supposed high class land yacht like the S560.

So what are the options for real tires for the wheels on my S560? Or did I make a big mistake switching from Lexus to MBZ?

AppleFan1

I would say that something is drastically wrong with your car. From everything I have heard and read plus first hand experience from posters here, the 2018 S Class especially with MBC is like floating on air. Even without the MBC the airmatic suspension is fantastic. Bring it to the dealer and find out what is wrong.

joeyb1000

Welcome, fellow Former LS460 Owner. Yes, the S-Class with run-flats does not ride as nice as the LS460 (without run-flats), but I thought it was better than the LS500. However, I would not have said "terrible", so maybe it's worth a trip to the dealer. Perhaps your suspension is stuck in Sport mode, or something like that.

I plan on moving to Bridgestone Serenity tires at some point. Run-flats are too harsh for the roads that I drive on, and they are more prone to sidewall damage when you hit potholes.

Jason B

Interesting, so a negative on run flats is the sidewall will break easier than a non run flat...

First thing I'd do is swap out the run flats. The ride will greatly improve. It still boggles my mind why Mercedes put these on for cars in the USA. Just covers up and masks the abilities of the super smooth airmatic, etc.

HSCLA

Maybe the same batch of clowns that built my noisy 560 did yours. Boy, do i miss my wonderful 2015 S550!

grossmsj

Konigstiger just posted this service bulletin:

Service Campaign 2018030016 APR18 - 2018 217 uncomfortable handling characteristics, dealer will level suspension and update Airmatic software. Approximately 8 vehicle affected.

AppleFan1

This makes so much sense about Supra's major complaint. I knew there had to be something wrong with his new S Class.

infinitiq45a

I must admit that I am very confused. I currently have a 2013 W221 S550 4 Matic with 19" rims and Conti tires. The ride is very good. Everything I read in reviews on the S Class is that it has the best ride of any car in the world and so it is disappointing to read about poor ride quality in this thread. When the 2014's were first launched, did they come with Run Flat Tires and if so, why was the automotive press so complimentary about the ride? I am thinking about changing my 2013 for a 2015 but now I am concerned if the ride is going to be worse.

Socalsteve

Streamliner

supra55vp

My dealer has ordered a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 MOXL to replace the Michelin MXM4 ZP MOE RFTs. Are there any concerns about the Pilot Sport versus the Pilot A/S 3+ that I should know about?

Jason B

That's a high speed summer tire. The A/S 3+ is a high performance all season tire good for all seasons, snow if needed, etc, which will last much longer than the tire they ordered. You might want to switch it out.

Detailingdoc

Where do they sell the Michelin A/S 3+ for the staggered 20" rims? I dont see them as an option when going by vehicle type on tirerack or discount tire.

I currently have the goodyear asymmetric but am looking at getting rid of the run flats and using a more all season tire rather than summer.

i may just go with Conti DWS 06's.

Jason B

Choose AMG sport package and you should be able to find them. IF not, let me know.