When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
MB makes several great looking choices in 20” S class wheels. I still slightly prefer these split 5 spoke wheels. To be honest, these are just as hard to keep clean as the multi-spoke posted above.
Based on the way they look in the wheel arch and the height of the tire, those look like 19" wheels, not 20's. I know they are 20's, but the style of rim makes them look smaller.
Based on the way they look in the wheel arch and the height of the tire, those look like 19" wheels, not 20's. I know they are 20's, but the style of rim makes them look smaller.
UHHHHHH.....if you look at photo it clearly shows 20" on tire sidewall, Im thinking the OP probably knows if he has19 or 20" setup???
I honestly think 20s are better than 19” wheels on α S class being it been so big and heavy. 19” are more suitable for smaller E classes. As long as you don’t have low profile tires like α 255/30 or even 25/20, you will be just fine even if you live in Los Angeles, the pot hole road champion of the world. No run flats as it sounds like your driving inside of a tank.
I honestly think 20s are better than 19” wheels on α S class being it been so big and heavy. 19” are more suitable for smaller E classes. As long as you don’t have low profile tires like α 255/30 or even 25/20, you will be just fine even if you live in Los Angeles, the pot hole road champion of the world. No run flats as it sounds like your driving inside of a tank.
I think the noise factor of run flats depends a lot on the road surface. I have 20 inch with RFs on my coupe and 18 inch non RFs on my SL (both Michelin Pilot Sport 4) and on most surfaces the coupe is quieter apparently due to suspension design improvements when the car was designed to use RFs. On newer road surfaces both are very quiet. I guess maybe my noise tolerance level is less sensitive than many here.
2018 S560 4matic Sedan. Official member of the 18" RIM CREW.
I'm an 80 year old in a 42 year old's body?
Originally Posted by S63AMG888
I honestly think 20s are better than 19” wheels on α S class being it been so big and heavy. 19” are more suitable for smaller E classes. As long as you don’t have low profile tires like α 255/30 or even 25/20, you will be just fine even if you live in Los Angeles, the pot hole road champion of the world. No run flats as it sounds like your driving inside of a tank.
I think your opinion is a widely-held one. I am probably in the minority, but I really dislike the trend of larger and larger wheels; it has taken on a life of its own and whenever the reigning philosophy becomes "more is better", problems creep up. I don't share the view that large wheels add aesthetic appeal simply by virtue of being larger, and I really don't think they add any real-world benefits that outweigh their downsides. Thankfully, we can usually make ourselves happy by fitting the wheel and tire combination of our choosing.
I think maybe when a wheel and tire insurance industry popped up, it should have been a sign that things are going too far...
For me the W222 is best suited for 20" wheels. Looks better and drives the best (with non run flats) as it provides a balance between comfort and performance. There is plenty of rubber as Quattrobenz'sc car shows...
Car designs have changed to accommodate larger wheels so that the car design looks balanced with larger size rims than before. The cars have also gotten larger. The W222 is larger than the W140, a car that was famous for its enormous size back then.
The S-Class has also become more sporty. Old S-Class models like the W126 & W140 had lousy but comfortable steering (recirculating ball instead of rack and pinion). These cars were also big cushy floats with reasonably poor driving dynamics. Today, the adaptive suspension is comfortable but can also handle well at 160mph and can even do some cornering.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Wolfman
................Today, the adaptive suspension is comfortable but can also handle well at 160mph and can even do some cornering.
Well, Wolf, the next time I feel like going 160, or even 100 for that matter, or doing some sort of cornering that requires adhesion well in excess of what my already formidable tires provide, I’ll think about going to 20’s. In the meantime I truly enjoy driving my “Plain Jane,” loaded S560 at legal limits, perhaps +20 on the Interstates.
Good looking front end on your new S560 Streamliner.
Below is a closeup of a rear tire on my S65 in case anyone is concerned the wheels are not 20”. The S class AMG’s have plenty of sidewall rubber for wheel protection. The fronts are 255/40-20’s.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by PatentLawyer
...................Thankfully, we can usually make ourselves happy by fitting the wheel and tire combination of our choosing..........
That has been a great thing about MB, the choice of wheels. So many other makes out there, increase the wheel size based on the level of option packages one selects. If you want the most luxurious model with the best option package, they shove the gigantic wheels down your throat. Genesis has their new GV80 SUV. The base model comes with 19” wheels, but if you want the top line “Prestige” model, they stick you with 22” wheels and there are NO other wheel choices. Several reviewers, who have road tested the Prestige models have commented on the poor ride quality with the huge wheels. To me, making the customers suffer if they want the best model is just ridiculous.
Well, Wolf, the next time I feel like going 160, or even 100 for that matter, or doing some sort of cornering that requires adhesion well in excess of what my already formidable tires provide, I’ll think about going to 20’s. In the meantime I truly enjoy driving my “Plain Jane,” loaded S560 at legal limits, perhaps +20 on the Interstates.
Admittedly, I can only dream of going 160 due to COVID. We usually spend a good amount of time in Europe each year where we can stretch the legs of the cars we rent...
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Admittedly, I can only dream of going 160 due to COVID. We usually spend a good amount of time in Europe each year where we can stretch the legs of the cars we rent...
You know, it’s been many years since I’ve had any desire to drive fast. You might recall that about a year ago, my two, great sons-in-law took me to the Porsche Experience Center, where I drove a new Carrera S with an instructor. I did the standing start 1/4 mile, but found myself lifting off the throttle before I crossed the finish line. When he was at the wheel, taking the road course a bit faster each lap, I finally told him “that’s enough.”
As a young man, I would hang out at Vasek Polak Porsche in Hermosa Beach. Mr. Polak was personal friends with Dr. Ferry Porsche and he used to get offers to purchase rare racing Porches for his little “museum” he had in a room off his huge showroom and I loved going there, since I lived close by. Vasek Polak also actually sponsored his own 917 at one time, along with many 911’s. He often employed professional racing drivers to sell new cars at his dealership. Anyway, Mr. Polak crashed a brand new 911 Turbo, on the Autobahn in Germany in 1997. They said he was going about 110mph. After being in the hospital in Germany for over a month, he was in an air ambulance, being flown back to the US, when he suffered a heart attack and tragically died. Call it what you will, but my desire to drive fast was really cooled by his accident. A man used to driving very fast, driving an extremely competent car, on a road built for high speeds and he crashes. If it wasn’t safe for him, it surely isn’t safe for me, over here, on roads with 65mph speed limits and every other driver you see is on their phone. Nope, can’t do it anymore. RIP Mr. Polak.
Last edited by Streamliner; 03-07-2021 at 09:54 AM.
Looking to get a 2017 S550. I really want one with 19 inch wheels because all I hear about is that if you get the 20’s, you will bend a rim. The problem is that it is so hard to find one with 19’s. About 80% of them have 20’s. So my question is, if I bought one with 20’s and took the run flats off and replaced with a “normal” tire, would my chances of bending a rim decline significantly? Or should I just continue to wait for one with 19’s?
My car came with 20 inch run flats. I immediately took them off and replaced them with a set of Michelins...and bought a donut for the truck. I'm happy with the ride. I see guys putting 22 inch wheels and tires on these cars..lol...Tires look as thin as rubber bands.
I think the noise factor of run flats depends a lot on the road surface. I have 20 inch with RFs on my coupe and 18 inch non RFs on my SL (both Michelin Pilot Sport 4) and on most surfaces the coupe is quieter apparently due to suspension design improvements when the car was designed to use RFs. On newer road surfaces both are very quiet. I guess maybe my noise tolerance level is less sensitive than many here.
A lot of that is differences between the cars themselves too. Your S Class Coupe is likely much better insulated from the road than your SL.
A lot of that is differences between the cars themselves too. Your S Class Coupe is likely much better insulated from the road than your SL.
SW20S, Absolutely. I totally agree.
I also think that the design of the cars has an impact too. The designers designed that coupe to use run flats so their suspension and insulation designs took that fact into account.
The test results suggest (especially accounting for that the 18"s and larger had a sticker compound) that the correlation between performance and wheel size (for a fixed rolling radius of course!) involves give-and-take in all directions. In other words, there's evidence in here for folks on both sides of the fence.
The test results suggest (especially accounting for that the 18"s and larger had a sticker compound) that the correlation between performance and wheel size (for a fixed rolling radius of course!) involves give-and-take in all directions. In other words, there's evidence in here for folks on both sides of the fence.
Thanks for posting that very interesting comparison study. One thing that C&D didn't mention however is what size wheel/tire the suspension was designed for. That has to have some effect on performance when changing the size and weight of the wheel/tire combo.
Thanks for posting that very interesting comparison study. One thing that C&D didn't mention however is what size wheel/tire the suspension was designed for. That has to have some effect on performance when changing the size and weight of the wheel/tire combo.
I find the C&D comparison interesting but not as useful. It is over 10 years old and manufacturing techniques have changed the equation of wheel weight; same as tire tech; the improvements over the last 10 years are more than in the 30+ years preceeding it. It is now normal that the smaller stock wheel is heavier than larger flow formed or forged wheel. To your point as well, suspensions are designed for more rigid run flat sidewalls and 20" wheels so that the ridequality doesn't suffer at all.
Side note, our SL also produced a bit more tire noise with the PS4s than with our previous PSS tires. Better tire and a touch more noisy...
You know, it’s been many years since I’ve had any desire to drive fast. You might recall that about a year ago, my two, great sons-in-law took me to the Porsche Experience Center, where I drove a new Carrera S with an instructor. I did the standing start 1/4 mile, but found myself lifting off the throttle before I crossed the finish line. When he was at the wheel, taking the road course a bit faster each lap, I finally told him “that’s enough.”
As a young man, I would hang out at Vasek Polak Porsche in Hermosa Beach. Mr. Polak was personal friends with Dr. Ferry Porsche and he used to get offers to purchase rare racing Porches for his little “museum” he had in a room off his huge showroom and I loved going there, since I lived close by. Vasek Polak also actually sponsored his own 917 at one time, along with many 911’s. He often employed professional racing drivers to sell new cars at his dealership. Anyway, Mr. Polak crashed a brand new 911 Turbo, on the Autobahn in Germany in 1997. They said he was going about 110mph. After being in the hospital in Germany for over a month, he was in an air ambulance, being flown back to the US, when he suffered a heart attack and tragically died. Call it what you will, but my desire to drive fast was really cooled by his accident. A man used to driving very fast, driving an extremely competent car, on a road built for high speeds and he crashes. If it wasn’t safe for him, it surely isn’t safe for me, over here, on roads with 65mph speed limits and every other driver you see is on their phone. Nope, can’t do it anymore. RIP Mr. Polak.
Interesting story! Thanks for sharing...
Speed isn't the issue as much inattentive drivers. In Germany as in the US, autobahn/highway accidents have the lowest accident/fatality rates.
Speed isn't the issue as much inattentive drivers. In Germany as in the US, autobahn/highway accidents have the lowest accident/fatality rates.
I had the chance in my life of owning, until now, different cars, among these Audi, BMW, Jaguars, Mercedes and Porsche.
For my 70’s anniversary I offered myself a nice MB S-Class Cabriolet.
I live in the Alps at 1400 meters (some 4600 feet) altitude and when it snows, my cabriolet is useless, but the E450, with its pneumatic suspension in the raised position and four wheel drive its the solution: not need for an SUV
My E450 sleeps outside during all winter. Temperature at night can reach - 18’ celsius (-0,— Fahrenheit) and it starts on first call !
The Mercedes-Benz S-class cars - Limousine, Coupé and Cabriolet - , including the AMG iteration, are not real Sport Cars, they are very nice, luxurious, comfortable and fast.
On European Highways were speed is generally limited to 120/130 kms/hour (some 75/80 mph) except in some parts of the Autobahn where speed is unlimited, the S-Class are beautiful long distance cruisers.
Their weight, dimensions and suspension settings cannot compare them to Ferrari, Lamborghini, MacLaren and Porsche, which are real Sports Cars; even the Bentley Continental is too heavy and bulky to call it a real Sports Car.
The only Mercedes that can be called a real Sports Car is the AMG-GT.
This said, putting more rubber on the road for the S-Class, does not really improve any performance, but just spoil comfort; it can only, for some people, add to the looks.
My S-Class Cabriolet is fitted, for the summer season, with AMG 20” wheels/tyres that I find noisy, and less comfortable if compared to the 19” equipment which I use for the winter season.
I am planning therefore to getting rid of my 20” and replace them with 19” which is the standard equipment.
I love my S Cabriolet, it has got a fantastic acceleration between the gears, relaxing on the highway, even at 130 mph in Germany, (when allowed), when open it is really enjoyable, very comfortable, but in the European country roads, do not talk about Alpine roads, it is no match to my son Porsche.
The advice is to keep standard dimensions and forget about runflat tyres.
i just ordered 20 inch amg wheels and tires from a 2022 S580. doees anyone know if they will fit my 2019 s560. 255 40's on front 285 35s on rear. much appreciaed.
Good looking front end on your new S560 Streamliner.
Below is a closeup of a rear tire on my S65 in case anyone is concerned the wheels are not 20”. The S class AMG’s have plenty of sidewall rubber for wheel protection. The fronts are 255/40-20’s.
i think this answers my question if 255 40's on the front and 285 35s on 20 inch amg rims from a 2022 s580 will fin my 2019 s560?
i think this answers my question if 255 40's on the front and 285 35s on 20 inch amg rims from a 2022 s580 will fin my 2019 s560?
Keep in mind that wheel offset/backspace is different to tire size, and it's even possible that the lug pattern is different. They might fit, but they might not, I have no idea, just saying that tire size alone is not enough to go on.
My car came with 20 inch run flats. I immediately took them off and replaced them with a set of Michelins...and bought a donut for the truck. I'm happy with the ride. I see guys putting 22 inch wheels and tires on these cars..lol...Tires look as thin as rubber bands.
Hello Maallen40, I know this is a relatively old post, but I was wondering what "donut" spare you bought for your S550. Also, have you had a need to use it and how did that go? Thank you! LTGTRNOLA
03-06-2021, 08:29 AM
