wheels fitment question
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W221
wheels fitment question
I just lowered my s550 on a module and really like how it looks lowered. Currently im on the stock 19' wheels and i want to go up to 20'-21'. this is actually my first car with air suspension so there are a few things i wanted to know and ask. on all my previous cars l had coilovers so wheel fitment was easy to figure out and getting that perfect flush look was not a problem, but with these factory air suspension im confused on how aggressive of a wheel i can go. If my air suspension fails and airs out whats the most aggressive wheels fitment can i go with out damaging my fenders from hitting the wheels? thx for the help
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2018 S450 4Matic, 2020 GLE450 4Matic, 2010 S550 4Matic(sold), 2012 ML350 4Matic(sold)
I could be mistaken, but I believe if you have a complete failure of your air suspension you cannot even drive the car on stock rims.
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S500
if you change overall circumference:
you get different gearing
wrong speedo reading
wrong mileage reading
incorrect trip and service info
possible traction, abs and stability control errors
the way a manufacturer does it the tyres shrink so clearance and gearing remain unaltered.... On most Merc's check the clearance of the top suspension ball joint to the tyre... there is no room - the tyre won't go round (or almost no room to change)
I went from 17" to the option Merc 18" ones, I expected no change in ride and a small improvement on steering and ultimate handling.... what a disappointment... they car is nastier to drive, in cold temps the short sidewall doesn't flex, they are louder, there is no grip and the ride is terrible, in the damp it gets no grip (running MO Dunlop's to original fitment spec). And overall ride comfort has gone awol. Its like the difference between comfort to sport +15% in comfort and unpleasant + in sport.
If I knew how it would impact the car I could have saved $1500 and had a car that looked worse but was a better car to drive.
you get different gearing
wrong speedo reading
wrong mileage reading
incorrect trip and service info
possible traction, abs and stability control errors
the way a manufacturer does it the tyres shrink so clearance and gearing remain unaltered.... On most Merc's check the clearance of the top suspension ball joint to the tyre... there is no room - the tyre won't go round (or almost no room to change)
I went from 17" to the option Merc 18" ones, I expected no change in ride and a small improvement on steering and ultimate handling.... what a disappointment... they car is nastier to drive, in cold temps the short sidewall doesn't flex, they are louder, there is no grip and the ride is terrible, in the damp it gets no grip (running MO Dunlop's to original fitment spec). And overall ride comfort has gone awol. Its like the difference between comfort to sport +15% in comfort and unpleasant + in sport.
If I knew how it would impact the car I could have saved $1500 and had a car that looked worse but was a better car to drive.
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 29
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09 s550 4matic
if you change overall circumference:
you get different gearing
wrong speedo reading
wrong mileage reading
incorrect trip and service info
possible traction, abs and stability control errors
the way a manufacturer does it the tyres shrink so clearance and gearing remain unaltered.... On most Merc's check the clearance of the top suspension ball joint to the tyre... there is no room - the tyre won't go round (or almost no room to change)
I went from 17" to the option Merc 18" ones, I expected no change in ride and a small improvement on steering and ultimate handling.... what a disappointment... they car is nastier to drive, in cold temps the short sidewall doesn't flex, they are louder, there is no grip and the ride is terrible, in the damp it gets no grip (running MO Dunlop's to original fitment spec). And overall ride comfort has gone awol. Its like the difference between comfort to sport +15% in comfort and unpleasant + in sport.
If I knew how it would impact the car I could have saved $1500 and had a car that looked worse but was a better car to drive.
you get different gearing
wrong speedo reading
wrong mileage reading
incorrect trip and service info
possible traction, abs and stability control errors
the way a manufacturer does it the tyres shrink so clearance and gearing remain unaltered.... On most Merc's check the clearance of the top suspension ball joint to the tyre... there is no room - the tyre won't go round (or almost no room to change)
I went from 17" to the option Merc 18" ones, I expected no change in ride and a small improvement on steering and ultimate handling.... what a disappointment... they car is nastier to drive, in cold temps the short sidewall doesn't flex, they are louder, there is no grip and the ride is terrible, in the damp it gets no grip (running MO Dunlop's to original fitment spec). And overall ride comfort has gone awol. Its like the difference between comfort to sport +15% in comfort and unpleasant + in sport.
If I knew how it would impact the car I could have saved $1500 and had a car that looked worse but was a better car to drive.
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S500
The admonition to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, means before judging someone, you must understand his experiences, challenges, thought processes, etc.
its worse on UK roads where I live, 10% worse for 20% handling gain I'd accept, 25% worse for most of the time no gain at all isn't so clever
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I had first the rear of the car go all the way down for spring leak then the same happened in front. No rubbing of tires to fenders in either end of the car.
And I don’t think a German car maker would make a car that would have possibility of tires rubbing the fenders if car hits the lowest point on springs. That could happen during normal drive on a bad road.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 1,297
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
if you change overall circumference:
you get different gearing
wrong speedo reading
wrong mileage reading
incorrect trip and service info
possible traction, abs and stability control errors
the way a manufacturer does it the tyres shrink so clearance and gearing remain unaltered.... On most Merc's check the clearance of the top suspension ball joint to the tyre... there is no room - the tyre won't go round (or almost no room to change)
I went from 17" to the option Merc 18" ones, I expected no change in ride and a small improvement on steering and ultimate handling.... what a disappointment... they car is nastier to drive, in cold temps the short sidewall doesn't flex, they are louder, there is no grip and the ride is terrible, in the damp it gets no grip (running MO Dunlop's to original fitment spec). And overall ride comfort has gone awol. Its like the difference between comfort to sport +15% in comfort and unpleasant + in sport.
If I knew how it would impact the car I could have saved $1500 and had a car that looked worse but was a better car to drive.
you get different gearing
wrong speedo reading
wrong mileage reading
incorrect trip and service info
possible traction, abs and stability control errors
the way a manufacturer does it the tyres shrink so clearance and gearing remain unaltered.... On most Merc's check the clearance of the top suspension ball joint to the tyre... there is no room - the tyre won't go round (or almost no room to change)
I went from 17" to the option Merc 18" ones, I expected no change in ride and a small improvement on steering and ultimate handling.... what a disappointment... they car is nastier to drive, in cold temps the short sidewall doesn't flex, they are louder, there is no grip and the ride is terrible, in the damp it gets no grip (running MO Dunlop's to original fitment spec). And overall ride comfort has gone awol. Its like the difference between comfort to sport +15% in comfort and unpleasant + in sport.
If I knew how it would impact the car I could have saved $1500 and had a car that looked worse but was a better car to drive.
It may have saved me from a tire damage when I hit a steel bar on road at highway speed though. Other than that, nothing.
And I had the exact same tire type from the same manufacturer on both rims so it should not be about the possible tire difference either.
Last edited by Arrie; Mar 14, 2021 at 09:12 AM.
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09 s550 4matic
Interesting observations between 17” and 18” rims. With my E550 I did the opposite. I went from the factory 18” rims to 17” in hopes to soften the ride. It did not make any noticeable change in anything, No softer ride, no loss of handling in turns, no difference in tire noise.
It may have saved me from a tire damage when I hit a steel bar on road at highway speed though. Other than that, nothing.
And I had the exact same tire type from the same manufacturer on both rims so it should not be about the possible tire difference either.
It may have saved me from a tire damage when I hit a steel bar on road at highway speed though. Other than that, nothing.
And I had the exact same tire type from the same manufacturer on both rims so it should not be about the possible tire difference either.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 1,297
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
The amount of sidewall on an 18 will give optimal in cabin smoothness, which is the reason Mercedes chooses 18 inch wheels as a default. Take most advice from BOTUS with a grain of salt as he’s usually dishing out bias or outright false information while trying to bash anything Mercedes related.
If you want smoothness you can get softer ride with some cheap tires with flimsy side walls on 20” rims than good quality tires give on 17”.
I believe 18” was selected for looks with biggest they felt is ok for tire/rim safety when hitting obstacles on roads.
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09 s550 4matic
How can you say 18” gives optimal in cabin smoothness?
If you want smoothness you can get softer ride with some cheap tires with flimsy side walls on 20” rims than good quality tires give on 17”.
I believe 18” was selected for looks with biggest they felt is ok for tire/rim safety when hitting obstacles on roads.
If you want smoothness you can get softer ride with some cheap tires with flimsy side walls on 20” rims than good quality tires give on 17”.
I believe 18” was selected for looks with biggest they felt is ok for tire/rim safety when hitting obstacles on roads.
But yes, I would def agree that there’s many reasons they developed the car with an 18” rim in mind as the base.....looks included. If Mercedes felt there would have been much to be gained in terms of comfort by offering a 17” rim with the design of this chassis, I assume the engineers would have looked into it while developing the 221.
