jarring ride
Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 222
Likes: 100
From: PA
2020 S63 Coupe, 911, BMW 760 2022 SL55 2024 Range Rover
I cannot stand run flat tires, if I buy a car that comes with them I pull them immediately. If the car is a summer car I like Bridgestone SP04's because they have a very strong side wall, but they do not make them in every size so I use Pilot sport 4S's as well. Since the S class is used in the winter I have Bridgestone all season tires on my 20" AMG wheels. My RR (came with 22" how stupid) has 20" with Nokian snow tires since it only gets used in bad weather. People tend to forget just how important tires and wheels are, these are the things that connect your car to the road, and I'm always surprised that many people do not do enough research to make a good decision. There is a guy named Damon at TR give him a call, he and I have had many discussions about what tires work best for a drivers needs.
Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 22
2009 C350, 2015 S550
Carnut1: what are the all season bridgestones that you run on your 20" amg rims? I see the potenza pole position on tirerack but they are closeout.
Also can anyone confirm that tires purchased through tirerack and installed at one of their i installation locations stil qualify under the wheel and tire warranty? Meaning they wouldnt exclude them being non run flats and not installed at their location.
Has anyone used the warranty for non dealer sold tires? Does the dealer replace the tire with the exact same model?
Also can anyone confirm that tires purchased through tirerack and installed at one of their i installation locations stil qualify under the wheel and tire warranty? Meaning they wouldnt exclude them being non run flats and not installed at their location.
Has anyone used the warranty for non dealer sold tires? Does the dealer replace the tire with the exact same model?
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Granite Bay, CA
2025 EQS4V
Jarring ride and run flat tires
The stock setup for my new 2018 S560 produced a terribly poor comfort ride. Many posters attributed this to the RFTs. It turns out that ditching them is no simple matter for several reasons. First off, AWD 4Matic drastically reduces or even eliminates non-RFT due to 4Matic needing all season tires. With the sizes of wheels MBZ uses, this pretty much heads into a dead end. In my situation, I ordered an S560v RWD so I could get Magic Body Control. The non-RFT tire options for my 19" wheels opens up a bit. I put a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 MOXL tires on the car. Now, without RFTs, what about a flat? Well it seems that MBZ had already thought about this. In the trunk bed is the foam unit in the first attached picture. With the new Michelins, a compressor and tire repair tank is included as shown in the second picture.
The car now has a much more comfortable ride and I have some peace of mind about fixing a possible flat. Thus far I don't see a way to turn the MBC on and off. The dealer says it is on all the time. So, no way to compare how well MBC actually does nor reproduce what they show on YouTube.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 265
Likes: 21
From: San Diego
04 Lexus LS430
ABC in an E Class is Air Body Control and is air suspension. Not the same as S Class ABC(MBC now)
Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 222
Likes: 100
From: PA
2020 S63 Coupe, 911, BMW 760 2022 SL55 2024 Range Rover
I have the high performance potenza all season tires (RE970) on my car with the 20 AMG rims. You may have issues if you have tire and wheel warranty on your car. I'd check with your dealer, I never buy that since I rarely end up keeping stock wheels and tires.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
S550 4 MATIC
The stock setup for my new 2018 S560 produced a terribly poor comfort ride. Many posters attributed this to the RFTs. It turns out that ditching them is no simple matter for several reasons. First off, AWD 4Matic drastically reduces or even eliminates non-RFT due to 4Matic needing all season tires. With the sizes of wheels MBZ uses, this pretty much heads into a dead end. In my situation, I ordered an S560v RWD so I could get Magic Body Control. The non-RFT tire options for my 19" wheels opens up a bit. I put a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 MOXL tires on the car. Now, without RFTs, what about a flat? Well it seems that MBZ had already thought about this. In the trunk bed is the foam unit in the first attached picture. With the new Michelins, a compressor and tire repair tank is included as shown in the second picture.
The car now has a much more comfortable ride and I have some peace of mind about fixing a possible flat. Thus far I don't see a way to turn the MBC on and off. The dealer says it is on all the time. So, no way to compare how well MBC actually does nor reproduce what they show on YouTube.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,198
Likes: 4,424
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
This goes back to my original post where I commented about what I read about a poor ride on RFT's. What doesn't make sense is that surely the majority if not all of the S Class's tested by the motoring press must have been on RFT's and for these reviews, the comments on ride comfort have been that it is one of the best if not the best riding cars. Where is the disconnect? Sorry I am just puzzled. I love the ride on my W221 S550 4 Matic but want the new features of the W222 but I don't want to take a step back in ride comfort.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 833
From: Newcastle, WA
2019 S63 4Matic+, 2018 E400 Cabrio, wardens car.
I have to wonder how much of the perceived ride differences in the new facelifted 560 is psychosomatic. I went and test drove a new 2018 S560 4matic yesterday and it rode, drove and sounded exactly like my 2015. Same wheel dimensions and tires and I drove it for around half an hour in all kinds of traffic. Sorry folks but I do not see much of a difference. As much as the sales guy gushed about the improvements, I did not notice any difference in ride quality. Maybe it is the new MBC but that is irrelevant to me as I cannot get MBC because I need 4matic most of the year in the rain and sometimes snow. YMMV.
Last edited by superpop; May 6, 2018 at 12:52 PM. Reason: misspelling
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,198
Likes: 4,424
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I have to wonder how much of the perceived ride differences in the new facelifted 560 is psychosomatic. I went and test drove a new 2018 S560 4matic yesterday and it rode, drove and sounded exactly like my 2015. Same wheel dimensions and tires and I drove it for around half an hour in all kinds of traffic. Sorry folks but I do not see much of a difference. As much as the sales guy gushed about the improvements, I did not notice any difference in ride quality. Maybe it is the new MBC but that is irrelevant to me as I cannot get MBC because I need 4matic most of the year in the rain and sometimes snow. YMMV.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 396
From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
The “disconnect” as you so aptly put it, comes from the fact that the vast majority of magazine reviews are written by folks who just about LIVE in “performance” vehicles. They constantly gush over cars produced for “street” use that have 500, 600 & 700+ horse power. They lavish praise on vehicles that can “fry” the pavement and “destroy” a set of tires in a few minutes. The larger the wheel diameter and the most shallow of tire sidewall designs gets these guys giddy with excitement. To these clowns, the roughest riding S Class seems to be floating on air. To those of us who live in the real world, where 700HP monster cars, with 18” wide tires, with half inch sidewalls, waste away in bumper to bumper traffic, going not one bit faster than the Nissan Leaf next to them, we know the true value of comfort, as we struggle with the realities of day to day driving in the course of living our lives. IMO, a W222 with 20” & larger wheels, shod with aggressive “performance” tires, is like a woman wearing 4”+ high heel pumps to Disneyland: they may look sexy, but that’s where the good part ends.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,198
Likes: 4,424
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Streamliner, I love your posts and knowledge about the S-Class. However, do you think the guy in the following link is lying about how quiet and comfortable the ride is among other incredible features? It really does sound like the new rft's must be improved markedly from a few years ago. That combined with the new air suspension must be making a sizable difference on the ride quality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqEH2ZmoSu8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqEH2ZmoSu8
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 396
From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
And I love your posts and comments as well, Bean. No matter what wheel/tire combination is used, I believe that the ride quality has been improved across the board with face lifted 2018 model. It’s just the fact that different folks have different benchmarks for ride quality and I believe that the OP was expecting his particular car, as equipped, to ride better than it does. I attribute what he deems to be the unacceptable ride quality to the wheel size and the Run Flat tires. That said, just as his car is, it probably rides better than 95+% of the other new cars on the planet.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 73
Likes: 10
From: East Bay, CA
2018 S450
Guys, The '18 S Class is a beautiful and comfortable ride.
Before we opted for the S450 we drove Audi, BMW and yes even the Genesis, nothing holds a candle to this ride.
And yes I'm an old guy (58) with the 20" rims and she is smooth as a gravy sandwich.
Before we opted for the S450 we drove Audi, BMW and yes even the Genesis, nothing holds a candle to this ride.
And yes I'm an old guy (58) with the 20" rims and she is smooth as a gravy sandwich.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 396
From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
Wow! So, you're saying that even with the 20" rims, the ride is terrific? Very impressive. If that's the case, the 18" rims I have ordered my 2019 S450 with might be even more comfortable. I can't wait until mine arrives. Hopefully, it will be sooner than September. By the way, you're still a youngster. 😀
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 396
From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 222
Likes: 100
From: PA
2020 S63 Coupe, 911, BMW 760 2022 SL55 2024 Range Rover
After owning 466 cars let me give the benefit of that experience, living with a car (any car) is very different than a test drive made by someone who in many cases know far less about car design (how many patents do they have), and engineering than I do. I often wonder about these reviewers and whether the week before they staring doing this they were asking if you want fries with that burger. I have spent over 45+ years rebuilding cars, and have made my fair share of good and bad moves. You rarely see a review where they say gee look at all these pot holes lets go drive right at them a see how the car handles it, but you know we are going to bend a rim and probably need to replace a tire or two. You are going to not get the best ride from a car with 20" wheels and run flats, that is the truth. What you can do is soften (which they did not do with the S class) the suspension to a point that the car handles like boat (remember that term), some people would rather have comfort and that's fine, but the S class is set up to be a big car with a pretty steering response and that starts with the suspension setup, it will not ride like a Lexus no matter what you do.
Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 127
Likes: 27
From: Lincoln, CA
2018 S450
You can count me in as one of the 2018 S450 drivers with 18" wheels. It's a fantastic ride and can only get better when I replace the RFTs when they wear down.
Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 17
From: NJ
2019 S450, 2020GLC300
Me too. It was a major factor in choosing the 450 over the 560. I also plan on getting off the runflats when they wear down.
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 115
Likes: 21
From: Calgary
2014 S550 4matic, 2014 Corvette, 2016 Camaro SS 2011 Lexus RX350
The car magazines are fully aware of low profile tires causing a rough ride.
Almost all comparison tests of sedans and sports sedans the one with big wheels gets a rougher ride comment and usually low profile tires mentioned.
They are hip, the car manufacturers not so much!
Methinks they are concerned about style as so many in aftermarket seem to want to upsize their rims for that bling effect.
Almost all comparison tests of sedans and sports sedans the one with big wheels gets a rougher ride comment and usually low profile tires mentioned.
They are hip, the car manufacturers not so much!
Methinks they are concerned about style as so many in aftermarket seem to want to upsize their rims for that bling effect.
