How much worse is the ride from 19s to 20s
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Joined: Jun 2014
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04 SL600
How much worse is the ride from 19s to 20s
W221 600 here. Car originally came with 19s, bought a set of 20s and having second thoughts on poor ride quality. I thought MB offers 20s as options on the later year W221 and the new Ss? Any thoughts? Thanks!
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
My S600 came with 18's....which I've now relegated to snow tire duty in the winters. I have 20" AMG reps and I notice zero drop off in ride quality from 18's to 20's. Comfort is exactly the same, but it feels a little tighter around turns with the shorter profile. I think the ABC give a comfortable ride no matter what the wheel size is. I don't believe 20's were ever an option on the 221 S600, but I believe they are now an option on the 222. I definitely wouldn't go bigger than 20's though, as the car may start to look ghetto and risk bent rims with a minuscule sidewall.
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2016 C300
No perceptible difference in my experience. If you put your car on 19" in "Sport" you'll get a sense of how it rides on 20" in "Comfort". My 221 came on 19" and I hemmed and hawed for months before I bit the bullet, and when I did I wondered what took me so long.
I do think tires make a big difference. I always put my cars on Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I've tried others and they've been decent but nothing like the ride quality on the Super Sports. I went from 19" Conti AS to 20" MPSS and the Michelins more than compensated for the bigger rims (and shorter sidewalls). To my eye a 221 on anything smaller than the 20 looks half baked. Aesthetically the car was designed around 20s. I realize not all parts of the country have roads suitable for them.
I do think tires make a big difference. I always put my cars on Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I've tried others and they've been decent but nothing like the ride quality on the Super Sports. I went from 19" Conti AS to 20" MPSS and the Michelins more than compensated for the bigger rims (and shorter sidewalls). To my eye a 221 on anything smaller than the 20 looks half baked. Aesthetically the car was designed around 20s. I realize not all parts of the country have roads suitable for them.
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Joined: May 2017
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Mercedes s500 (w221)
My S500 came with 20"s from the factory, they were an option i believe. I've driven on 18's and 20's. Never 19's though. I have an ABC suspension and I didn't feel much difference at all.
I found the car was more camber sensitive on the 18's. In the UK a lot of our roads slope away from the centre to prevent water pooling in the middle, I found on the 18s with the bigger sidewall I was pulled by the road a lot more. As for ride quality, Hitting a nasty pothole was just as bad on 18's as my 20's, just avoid potholes at all costs.
It seems like this is a general theme, so I suppose the difference between the 19's and the 20's will be marginal.
I found the car was more camber sensitive on the 18's. In the UK a lot of our roads slope away from the centre to prevent water pooling in the middle, I found on the 18s with the bigger sidewall I was pulled by the road a lot more. As for ride quality, Hitting a nasty pothole was just as bad on 18's as my 20's, just avoid potholes at all costs.
It seems like this is a general theme, so I suppose the difference between the 19's and the 20's will be marginal.
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MY S350 came with 20s as a factory option (I didn't have a choice since I bought it CPO).
- Two cracked rims within 2 months of driving in New Orleans, one of which could not be repaired = $2,300 out of pocket for a new rim and Yokohama tire.
- Based on the VMI, the original owner also had bad luck (in the Northeast) , with at least one replacement rim, and numerous tire repairs that were covered under the wisely obtained tire and wheel service contract.
- Once I moved to the California Bay Area I took no more chances after another flat tire. $1,600 later and TireRack shipped me four aftermarket 18" rims, with Continental tires and TPM sensors, and two years later not a single rim dent, scuff, or flat tire. The only bad thing is that the replacement rims do not have the little holes in them that MB dealers use to do a real factory alignment.
TBH, I didn't even try to sell the 20" rims - they're still in the backyard, and I wouldn't wish them on anyone. The funny part is the VMI indicated these 20" rims were installed a month or two AFTER the car was delivered to the original owner....like they wanted to bling it up a bit. Why isn't fashion ever practical? ;-)
- Two cracked rims within 2 months of driving in New Orleans, one of which could not be repaired = $2,300 out of pocket for a new rim and Yokohama tire.
- Based on the VMI, the original owner also had bad luck (in the Northeast) , with at least one replacement rim, and numerous tire repairs that were covered under the wisely obtained tire and wheel service contract.
- Once I moved to the California Bay Area I took no more chances after another flat tire. $1,600 later and TireRack shipped me four aftermarket 18" rims, with Continental tires and TPM sensors, and two years later not a single rim dent, scuff, or flat tire. The only bad thing is that the replacement rims do not have the little holes in them that MB dealers use to do a real factory alignment.
TBH, I didn't even try to sell the 20" rims - they're still in the backyard, and I wouldn't wish them on anyone. The funny part is the VMI indicated these 20" rims were installed a month or two AFTER the car was delivered to the original owner....like they wanted to bling it up a bit. Why isn't fashion ever practical? ;-)
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From: Welwyn, Herts, UK
2006 S600
I found ride quality took a dive over small bumps when I dropped to 30 profile tires.
With large bumps it doesn't make much difference.
The TYPE of tire you fit makes a big difference to behaviour of the car.
Nick
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
20" wheels should be running 35 profile tires to have the proper diameter. The NE is loaded with potholes and crappy roads. I live in IL and our roads are just OK. I've been running 20's for 2 years and have never had any issues with bent wheels...and I HAVE hit several potholes. I also had 20's as stock equipment on my SRT8 for the 6 years I had the car and never had one issue. If you live in an area with tons of bad roads, then by all means consider 19's on 40 profile tires. If your roads are OK, do not be afraid to run 20's as you'll likely NEVER bend a wheel. BTW, if you do ever get a wheel bend, they can usually be repaired to new condition for under $200. 20's are really the only size that looks appropriate on these big cars. 18's and 19's look too small for the wheelwells and car length. The ABC seems to do a good job too adjusting to potholes. Perhaps wheels have a tougher time over potholes with Airmatic?
I think the concern about bent wheels comes when people run ghetto 22's with 25 series rubberband tires.
I think the concern about bent wheels comes when people run ghetto 22's with 25 series rubberband tires.
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Dallas suburbs
S550
I think it matters
I'm on my 4th s class and think tire size and tire brand are pretty important for ride quality and noise. The difference between the "standard" tire and the AMG wheels is obvious, to me, and a big step down. On a slightly rough, concrete street with a lot of expansion joints, I had no trouble telling which cars had AMG wheels/tires.
Whether or not it matters to you enough to offset your preference of the big wheel looks or performance, is for you to decide.
Whether or not it matters to you enough to offset your preference of the big wheel looks or performance, is for you to decide.
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2016 C300
I don't think there's necessarily anything special about AMG branded wheels anymore vs any other similarly sized aftermarket wheels or regular non AMG Mercedes wheels.
The 221 could be spec'd with the AMG Sport Appearance Package (4 piece body kit and staggered 19" wheels) or Sport Plus, which stepped up to staggered 20".
The tires do make a huge difference. Personally I'm partial to the Michelin PSS. On 20's they have just the right amount of give without feeling loose. But I live in Florida where you can run ultra high performance tires year round, and the roads tend to be in decent shape. I've never bent a 20 down here. Up north, different story.
The 221 could be spec'd with the AMG Sport Appearance Package (4 piece body kit and staggered 19" wheels) or Sport Plus, which stepped up to staggered 20".
The tires do make a huge difference. Personally I'm partial to the Michelin PSS. On 20's they have just the right amount of give without feeling loose. But I live in Florida where you can run ultra high performance tires year round, and the roads tend to be in decent shape. I've never bent a 20 down here. Up north, different story.
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Joined: Jul 2015
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2013 S550 - Diamond White
I live in Seattle and had 20"s for 8 or 10 years with 30-35 series rubber. I do not recommend it unless you streets are well maintained. Ours are eff'ing garbage. I've gone through so many rims and tires. I will never do 20" here again. My 221 came with 19"s. Good enough....until I lower it. (what am I doing to myself!?) 
