Donnymac

2012 S550 that's currently in my garage. Sits on 19" Pilot Sports no RF. 114,000 miles.

While the 222 has advanced suspension capabilities, it's a refined road car not a track winner. Whether on 19s or 20s, the suspension can handle way more than the driver but it will not keep you out of trouble. For a little fun, I had my 12 at COTA for a few laps. You can discover limits quickly.

My goal is to get my 16 to ride like my12.

SwineHund550

My 2010 rode too soft and I always had to up it to sport mode, even when I had the summer 20” tires.
The 16 rides smoother on my all season 19’s but way better on summer 20’s in comfort mode. I do a ton of highway driving if that’s worth any of my opinion.

seamus2154

Non runflats I assume? Thanks

SwineHund550

I read my post again and want to clear up that the 19’s rode good in the 2016 but handles great on the 20’s
RunFlat Eagle F1’s
I think the 2016 on comfort is the same as the 2010 on sport mode.

Donnymac

Thanks.

Of the tires you tried and mentioned above, which, if any, were run flats?

Appreciare the help!

seamus2154

I can somewhat agree.
Its pretty well established most feel the W222 is too tight of a ride in comparison to the w221. Well at least those that care about a comfortable ride as previous generations. The Eagle RF F1's are a hard non compliant tire...I have them on my 2016. Most that want a 5000 lb car to handle are asking a lot. I have a BMW M3 and Corvette for that. I have the S class for comfort and quiet. We can't redesign the car but we can get better tires that are more compliant, Non runflats are the answer but size and brand are the issue.

Donnymac

Agree completely.

Any members changed from RF to conventional tires?

All comments welcome. Thanks.

Streamliner

Many here have made the change out of RFT. To some, they don’t feel much difference, but to others, such as myself, the difference is day and night. That said, RFT have been improved greatly over the past few years. They have gone from what I feel were “truly horrible,” as recently as 2015, to what I would now call “very acceptable.” I highly value ride quality, comfort and silence in a luxury sedan, so I ordered my car with 18” wheels and had the dealer swap out the RFT for very cushy, all season tires. I carry a W221 compact spare in my trunk. For me, it is the only way to go.

DABRONX

Ok, were not talking about handling were talking about how the vehicle feels over bumps? I have had a lot of cars and I do not feel the hard impact over bumps you guys say you feel? It wasn't my car till about a few months ago and I was DD a 750i with 20's. The Benz is a lot softer ride in every respect. The Benz has Sport package, 20" AMG wheels and Pirelli RFT's


We cant change the suspension but that might not be the issue here. Tire design and tire/wheel weight is what causes that heavy impact when you hit a bump. Obviously I'm simplifying here.

Just because a car has 18's does not mean the wheel weighs less than a 20. It might actually be the opposite as I am sure AMG wheels aren't that heavy compared to their standard 18" alloy wheel.

I agree the run flats can feel stiff do the sidewall and their weight. There is a weight difference between a run flat and a standard tire. One look on Tire Rack which does list weights for all tires and wheels you can see in a wheel tire combo you can save 15lbs. If it's the heavy bam bam hit when going over pot holes it might be the wheel/tire combo.

If I was looking to improve ride i would shop for the lightest wheel/tire combo. From there you can search which offers the quietest ride.

DABRONX

Ok I just looked and a Pirelli 275/20 RFT is 34lbs vs a non RFT is 28lbs. Thats 6lbs just in the tire!

Funny thing is between a 245 18 and 20 there is no weight difference. So this can mean the 18" standard alloy might be heavier vs the AMG performance 20".

seamus2154

Unsprung weight in a tire, rim, or rotor is a big deal for handling. I track a Zo6 Corvette for many years and light is fast and handles better. The bang or harshness of the RF tire is mainly the tire just not being compliant. The side wall is not absorbing much impact at all. Any bump starts at the tire impact and works it's way into the suspension. It all works together. Coil springs, shock valving, sway bars along with tires are tuned to work together. I had this same issue on the vette with RF tires. Same suspension, just changed tires to Michelin PSS and it was another world in a positive direction. It was the sidewall. I don't think this is a weight issue. Several have noted the same having already switched to a non RF. Realize this 5000lb car with no air in the tires can be supported by the sidewall alone on RF's. I'd say they have no give or flex.

And yes if you drove a 3000lb vette around a track...you can feel a 6-10lb difference in wheels, rotors or tires. But in handling not bumps.

DABRONX

Again not going to get into complicated suspension dynamics here but drop a 20lb tire and then drop a 25lb tire and you will hear and feel the difference. Yes, the sidewall of a RFT tire is stiff as I noted but we cant change anything else so the only variables are weight and sidewall stiffness. Problem is they are saying they still feel the harshness without the RFT's. That eliminates the sidewall.

I am not debating how weight effects handling, I get it. No unsprung weight is not the sole cause of a a rough ride by far and I fully agree with you.

You cant change the handling of the car so work with what you have.. Well again to cover myself of course you can but it is unlikely someone will incur that expense. Without someone giving the exact scenario of the issue and again what they feel is their ultimate feel it's hard to give a broad solution as for some it might be the noise of hitting the object and others the actual jolt it causes.

My idea was people are saying they are going to say a 15" because of the sidewall size and me trying to explain that yes the sidewall absorbing the impact will help but the weight added can cause more of the issue they are feeling.

The reason we don't have plush riding cars anymore is the Mag's all decided that they wanted every car to feel like Porsche and unfortunately for some of us that can afford multiple cars its not what we want in our S Class. Driving an S Class around a track and recording specs is useless for 99% of buyers but specs sell cars.

Hey, all good! That's the idea of these forums, If I wanted just my opinion I wouldn't be on here.

Donnymac

That about sums up the primary differences. It's not that weight doesn't matter but as to passenger tread/tire impact response( bumps, seams and potholes)speed, sidewall design and psi matter most to impact shock transmission thru the car. Obviously the suspension system plays a roll as well. But for first line of defense, the tire is front and center.

If I'm on a great road surface and can haul ***, I prefer max inflated rigid RF sidewalls. Put me on worn out paved roads with RFs and the fun is over. Flats are another issue. If I stayed in town and assistance was 30 minutes away, RFT might be acceptable. But where I drive, help could be 3 to 24 hours away. I need a jack and a spare which MB deems not required. And the roads I travel are all needing help.

RFT are engineered to "short term" support car weight with no psi to help. NonRFT, by design, will not support car weight without psi. The option is A or Z with driving conditions a factor for owner choice. The difference berween the two is sidewall flex. One is a weight lifter and the other is a cupcake. Both are safe and have different applications to understand. Hardball softball.....which had you rather get hit by?

In the next 3 weeks, my plan is to switch from 20" RFT to 19" nonRFT.

Sal Collaziano

Believe it or not, I'm getting used to the firmish ride... I'm probably going to leave everything as is - and switch to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires when the time comes... I think that might do it for me...

seamus2154

We can accept it here in Florida, as I have too. But it is terrible on real bumps which thank God is not that common in south Florida. I have adjusted my driving to avoid the big bumps as it's just so harsh on the suspension. But I will not wait for these tires to wear out, I will be going Michelins this summer. Good luck

Sal Collaziano

The only reason I'm waiting is because there's really not much life left in the tires I have. Plus, I really don't want four big tires taking up space in my garage - and I don't want to just get rid of them with half life still left in them. Otherwise, I'd be swapping them out now. I'll be watching to see how you feel with your upcoming updates...

UrBusted

I'm on 20" low profiles in the horrible roads of the UK, and think the ride to be great, I can't imagine how much better going to 18" would be lol

Streamliner

It all depends on one’s standards. If one has driven 1980’s Corvettes with the “Performance” suspension, or an old pick-up truck, then a W222 with 22” wheels and run flat tires with rubber band depth sidewalls will feel like a dream in comparison. In addition, some folks just don’t seem to be as critical as others. The bottom line fact, is that smaller diameter wheels, shod with cushy, “all season,” conventional tires will give a MUCH softer, more compliant ride, as opposed to larger diameter wheels with run flat, performance tires.

I ordered my 2018 with MBC, 18” wheels and had the dealer swap the RFT for non-run flat, Bridgestone Serenity Plus Tires. I truly feel that my car has “THE” best ride of any car on the planet, this side of a new Rolls-Royce.

Sal Collaziano

All seasons tires ride softer than Summer tires? I'm in Florida so I never considered all seasons.

Donnymac

Well the used 19" OEM AMG takeoff wheels I ordered arrived and I have to admit my initial look does not match what was advertised. They look refurbished and are flawless as to finish.....that is not what I ordered or wanted So, not sure what is under the redo!

i really hate to buy new but may have to. So much for my shopping skills. Will be on 20" RFT a little longer than planned.

Going to run a few more traps this week.

Streamliner

Ah, man, sorry to hear that. If bought on eBay, I’d send them back. Even if not on eBay, if paid with a credit card, I’d protest the charge and demand a refund. It is surprising some of the consumer protections out there. Good luck.

Donnymac

Thanks. It will work out on EBay if need be. Just hate the lost time and PITA.

David45

First post. Howdy folks.

I agree that a plush ride is nice. But I change lanes “a lot”. I’m wondering if the OP and other like minded comfort concerned, feel you-all lose something in the control department.

One person’s tire wall flex is comforting while another (me at least) will just feel a discomforting loss of control. That said, I’d like the most comfort I can get.

steinjr

Just picked up a 2015 S550 and the previous owner swapped out the stock 20’’ wheels for 18’’, but I don’t think they put on the correct tire sizes to keep the stock wheel diameters. The car has 245/45/R18 all around. Concerned the wrong diameter will cause issues.

What tire sizes do I need to get for the 18’’s so they are the same diameter as front 245/40/R20 and rear 275/35/R20?

Thanks in savage for the help.

Donnymac

Try these links

https://tiresize.com/chart/

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-size-calculator