Keep factory 18's or put on my AMG 20's? seeking experience
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 10
From: Denver
2019 S560; 2019 Range Rover Supercharged; 1985 European model 280SL, Navigator Black Label, Lexus LX
Keep factory 18's or put on my AMG 20's? seeking experience
It is about time to replace my tires and am struggling with whether to just put on some new 18" tires or to swap my wheels. I bought a set of the newer AMG 20's and they've been in storage. I was waiting to swap them until my tires needed replacing - now I am wondering if I want to do it at all.
Please let me know your thoughts if you have done it - would you stick with the 18's or go to the 20's? I know some people will automatically so go with the AMG wheels as they like to trick out their rides but my question is also trying to balance ride and everything else that goes with it. My thoughts are that the 18" tires and wheels probably ride better and surely last longer but perhaps the 20's are not too low profile and they ride pretty good as well.
Please let me know your experience and opinions please.
Thanks in advance!
Please let me know your thoughts if you have done it - would you stick with the 18's or go to the 20's? I know some people will automatically so go with the AMG wheels as they like to trick out their rides but my question is also trying to balance ride and everything else that goes with it. My thoughts are that the 18" tires and wheels probably ride better and surely last longer but perhaps the 20's are not too low profile and they ride pretty good as well.
Please let me know your experience and opinions please.
Thanks in advance!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 616
Likes: 5
From: Planet Earth
S500
Go for it !!
BUT get a couple of Conti's or Michelins' or you will be sorry..(just too dangerous with lesser quality rubber imho.)
I have recently gone from 17 inch 235x55 Michelin OE-tires to 20 Inch 255x35 all round, Michelin Super Sport ,man what a difference.
Yes,you will sacrifice some comfort and will get a lot more sporty feeling (as far as that is possible for a W221) in return.
The 'road response' is much better and my Benz glues to the curves now.
True if you where to drive a lot with customers in the back fi as taxi or limo, in big cities: keep the 18's their just more comfortable, but when you do a lot of highway with curves and bends go for the 20's.
I use the car in a mixed situation(road wise cities and highways) but would not want to go back as this car is comfortable enough to handle the lower sidewalls
.
Plus it looks a lot better with the 20's:
BUT get a couple of Conti's or Michelins' or you will be sorry..(just too dangerous with lesser quality rubber imho.)
I have recently gone from 17 inch 235x55 Michelin OE-tires to 20 Inch 255x35 all round, Michelin Super Sport ,man what a difference.
Yes,you will sacrifice some comfort and will get a lot more sporty feeling (as far as that is possible for a W221) in return.
The 'road response' is much better and my Benz glues to the curves now.
True if you where to drive a lot with customers in the back fi as taxi or limo, in big cities: keep the 18's their just more comfortable, but when you do a lot of highway with curves and bends go for the 20's.
I use the car in a mixed situation(road wise cities and highways) but would not want to go back as this car is comfortable enough to handle the lower sidewalls
.Plus it looks a lot better with the 20's:
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 10
From: Denver
2019 S560; 2019 Range Rover Supercharged; 1985 European model 280SL, Navigator Black Label, Lexus LX
Thanks
I appreciate all the input thus far. Would you mind sharing more pictures as well as tire sizes if you have them?
I should have researched this more a while ago but want to get a handle on the rubber to rim look as much as I can. I've had really low profile tires before on another car which had them from the factory and from that experience id say I prefer something in the middle. Not a stock Lincoln town car look but also not a low rider look either.
Thanks again
I should have researched this more a while ago but want to get a handle on the rubber to rim look as much as I can. I've had really low profile tires before on another car which had them from the factory and from that experience id say I prefer something in the middle. Not a stock Lincoln town car look but also not a low rider look either.
Thanks again
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
From: New York
toyota sienna, S550, Subaru Outback
Your rims are nice..i would put them on asap 
Here is my car:
It has 255/35/20 in the front and 275/35/20 in the rear. I run a staggered setup but for you 255/35/20 is your tires all around unless your rear is staggered.
With 20's it's going to be a little harsher on bump roads but it's not terrible. On the highway, it's going to be smooth..you also might hear some more road noise with the 20's at least that was how it was for me..but overall it's still quiet....
Here is my car:
It has 255/35/20 in the front and 275/35/20 in the rear. I run a staggered setup but for you 255/35/20 is your tires all around unless your rear is staggered.
With 20's it's going to be a little harsher on bump roads but it's not terrible. On the highway, it's going to be smooth..you also might hear some more road noise with the 20's at least that was how it was for me..but overall it's still quiet....
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 10
From: Denver
2019 S560; 2019 Range Rover Supercharged; 1985 European model 280SL, Navigator Black Label, Lexus LX
tire size / staggered or keep the same
Thanks for the pictures - nice (and clean 
) cars - please keep sharing if you have them. I imagine this may be useful for others as well.
My wheels in question are the MB AMG 20's so they are 8.5 in the front and 9.5 for the rear. The S65 that they are made for uses 255/35/20 for the front and 275/35/20 for the rear. With that said, it appears I could arguable use 255 all around although the lip would look different. A 255/35/20 tire supposedly will fit anywhere form a 7.5 to a 9.5 wheel.
Has anyone done the same tires on staggered wheels or have any ideas on how that would turn out? My car is a regular S550 and not the S65 so I certainly don't need the extra width for the rear. I also don't want it to look odd like I am trying to make the car look like more of a muscle car than it is - at the same time using 255/35/20 all around may look strange in a different way.
thanks again for the input
) cars - please keep sharing if you have them. I imagine this may be useful for others as well.My wheels in question are the MB AMG 20's so they are 8.5 in the front and 9.5 for the rear. The S65 that they are made for uses 255/35/20 for the front and 275/35/20 for the rear. With that said, it appears I could arguable use 255 all around although the lip would look different. A 255/35/20 tire supposedly will fit anywhere form a 7.5 to a 9.5 wheel.
Has anyone done the same tires on staggered wheels or have any ideas on how that would turn out? My car is a regular S550 and not the S65 so I certainly don't need the extra width for the rear. I also don't want it to look odd like I am trying to make the car look like more of a muscle car than it is - at the same time using 255/35/20 all around may look strange in a different way.
thanks again for the input
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Black 2008 S550 sport 2011 E350
I have the 20" AMG wheels on mine and I run 255/35/20 in front and the 275/35/20 in the rear and the ride really hasn't changed to me. However, my car came with the 19" AMG wheels with the AMG sport package so that may be the reason I'm not feeling much differences.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 20
From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
I have the stock 18s. The roads in my part of the world devour 20+ inch rims. Sure wish I was brave enough to risk putting on larger wheels.
