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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?
2020 S450 plus 10 others & 2019 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
If you stick with the 20”s and go with non run flat you’ll benefit by reduced noise and I think a bit smoother ride. But keeping the same profile 20” will not reduce the possibility of bending a rim. I have 20”s on my car and fortunately the roads are pretty good in my area, plus the car is a toy so it’s only driven about 500 miles/mo.
Last edited by Jagbuxx; Feb 22, 2021 at 08:53 PM.
Reason: Add photo
I traded in a 2017 with 20's amg line rims and had put Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTZ tires on it and it rode great, much better than with the Pirelli run flats that were on the car when I got it and the Uniroyals are only like 150 each too and seemed to be wearing very well. The car I traded for was a 2018 S560 with Continental Run flats and 19 inch rims and now I'm back to a more harsh ride but as soon as these tires where out I'll go with the Uniroyals again. A lot think because the Uniroyals are a cheap tire they are no good, but fact is Uniroyals are made by Michelin. Needless to say I drive my 2018 pretty hard to try and wear out the Continentals ASAP, lol. I also did like the way the 20's looked much better on my 2017 than the 19's on the 2018 which are both AMG line rims. I drove the 20's all last summer on the 2017 on Rhode Island Roads which are known for not the greatest roads and did not bend a rim. At least not with the Uniroyals. I think what are saying is run flats vs reg tires are more likely to bend rims, at least thats been my finding over the years. The forces from the bumps is much more transmitted into the rims as the sidewalls of the run flats are so brutally stiff.
I have a set of staggered 19" AMG 5 spokes that are darn near perfect in the for sale section with like new non-RFT Michelins from my 2015 S550. Buy the car you want and then buy these, the 20" rims actually sell pretty good on the second hand market and you will get most of your money back. I went to 20" as the roads where I live are pretty good.
Thank you all for your input so far. I’m starting to think I should just get one with the 20’s and replace the run flats with a normal tire. I live in Atlanta and our roads are pretty good here. My choices are just so limited if I wait for one with 19’s especially because I want the Designo Diamond White color in particular. If color didn’t matter, then my choices would be more open, but I want white.
Ya especially in Georgia with the 20's you should be fine and a non run flat tire, even a run flat on smooth roads like here in Florida is not so bad. So far I've got 4500 miles on my Run flats on my 2018 when I get back to RI this summer with the bumpy roads I might just replace them half worn with the Uniroyals, it's really not too much money and I know I'll be a lot more happy with the ride and probably less likely to bend a rim up north too with the non run flats.
Just buy some 19" wheels and sell the 20s......no brainer. There are many websites selling stock wheels. I would definitely not want to run 20" in my area. I have staggered 19" split five spoke with Michelin Primacy MOE tires, they are just OK. As soon as they wear out I will be mounting summer only tires as I use a dedicated snow setup TSW Clypse 19x8.5" on all four with Nokian 245/45/19.BTW, the car rides much better on the snow tires than the MOE tires
I’d like to know of the people who have bent 20” wheels, what exactly did they hit? Everyone’s definition of a pothole is different. Did they hit a 1” deep pothole or a 4” deep pothole. Because hitting a 4” deep pothole would bend about any wheel.
You know how they have those steel plates that cover the road when they are doing roadwork? Would hitting one of those at 55 mph bend the 20” wheel?
I just want to know what people are hitting that’s bending the wheels.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Mitch Alsup
Streamliner will be around shortly to tell you the smoothest ride comes from 18" wheels and non-run flat tires.
And so will I.
You rang?
So much of this has to do with experience. If someone has been driving and old Ford F100 pickup forever and they go for a drive in an W222 with 22” wheels and the stiffest run flats, they will think they have died and gone to Heaven. However, if you have been driving luxury sedans for years and are quite critical about ride quality and comfort, nothing beats an S560 with 18” wheels, cushy, conventional tires and Magic Body Control, NOTHING! OK, maybe a new Rolls, but who’s coughing up a half mil?
So much of this has to do with experience. If someone has been driving and old Ford F100 pickup forever and they go for a drive in an W222 with 22” wheels and the stiffest run flats, they will think they have died and gone to Heaven. However, if you have been driving luxury sedans for years and are quite critical about ride quality and comfort, nothing beats an S560 with 18” wheels, cushy, conventional tires and Magic Body Control, NOTHING! OK, maybe a new Rolls, but who’s coughing up a half mil?
Well, I’m currently driving a 2016 E400 with stock 18” wheels. So do you think I will like the ride on 20’s then?
Well, I’m currently driving a 2016 E400 with stock 18” wheels. So do you think I will like the ride on 20’s then?
I came from a mid-size sedan that had 18s and competes with the E... When I got my S-Class, I was shocked at the ride quality for a 20". It was amazing. After switching out the Run flats for Non run-flats, I was impressed with how much better the ride can be. The cabin is quieter, ride is smoother, and the bumps are less noticeable. I kept the same tire, the Pirelli P Zero just in non run-flat form.
Not to mention I commute to Los Angeles daily aka Pothole city. I haven't had any sort of bent rim issue or tire blowout. I actually had more problems with my run flats than I do the non run-flats (Flats and less mileage life). Generally, OEM wheels are much stronger than aftermarket, unless you're spending a crazy amount on a Vossen, HRE, etc, so I am shocked that people are reporting bent wheels on their S.
My car has never left me stranded with a tire out or anything. And if it does happen, I have AAA just in case. Too bad these cars don't have any room for a spare. Just some food for thought. Good luck on your search!
Last edited by S550e; Mar 4, 2021 at 01:44 PM.
Reason: Add photo
I came from a mid-size sedan that had 18s and competes with the E... When I got my S-Class, I was shocked at the ride quality for a 20". It was amazing. After switching out the Run flats for Non run-flats, I was impressed with how much better the ride can be. The cabin is quieter, ride is smoother, and the bumps are less noticeable. I kept the same tire, the Pirelli P Zero just in non run-flat form.
Not to mention I commute to Los Angeles daily aka Pothole city. I haven't had any sort of bent rim issue or tire blowout. I actually had more problems with my run flats than I do the non run-flats (Flats and less mileage life). Generally, OEM wheels are much stronger than aftermarket, unless you're spending a crazy amount on a Vossen, HRE, etc, so I am shocked that people are reporting bent wheels on their S.
My car has never left me stranded with a tire out or anything. And if it does happen, I have AAA just in case. Too bad these cars don't have any room for a spare. Just some food for thought. Good luck on your search!
Those are the same wheels that are on a car that I’m looking at now. That’s a beautiful car you have there! Yeah, I’d still like to know what people are hitting that is bending wheels. It must be something huge.
I have been driving MB since 1997, my first was an R139 SL600 with 18's, big wheels way back in '97. All my current MB's have 20" except the front of the SL65 which are 19's. In over 750,000 miles on my MB's I have never had a bent wheel, and never had run flat tires. MB does not use run flats on real AMG's. I find the ride of the modern 20" non runflat tires to be acceptable, passengers have never commented the car was rough riding. I can tell you from riding in many MB and BMW limo's that they ride better than any smaller size run flat tire. Each of us have our priorities, Streamliner wants quiet comfort, I want maximum performance from my tires, neither is right or wrong.
I did break two front wheels by hitting a rock (twice I did this) that fell off a truck in front of me. One wheel was an 18" and one was a 19". In both events the tire instantly went flat, I just gradually slowed to around 40mph and kept driving. With 35 series tires ultra high performance tires there was no impact on handling and in one case I drove 30 miles to a tire store, the other time it was around 10 miles. I see no reason to avoid factory MB 20" wheels with non run flat tires. Aftermarket wheels can be a different story depending on the type of construction and the quality.
I have been driving MB since 1997, my first was an R139 SL600 with 18's, big wheels way back in '97. All my current MB's have 20" except the front of the SL65 which are 19's. In over 750,000 miles on my MB's I have never had a bent wheel, and never had run flat tires. MB does not use run flats on real AMG's. I find the ride of the modern 20" non runflat tires to be acceptable, passengers have never commented the car was rough riding. I can tell you from riding in many MB and BMW limo's that they ride better than any smaller size run flat tire. Each of us have our priorities, Streamliner wants quiet comfort, I want maximum performance from my tires, neither is right or wrong.
I did break two front wheels by hitting a rock (twice I did this) that fell off a truck in front of me. One wheel was an 18" and one was a 19". In both events the tire instantly went flat, I just gradually slowed to around 40mph and kept driving. With 35 series tires ultra high performance tires there was no impact on handling and in one case I drove 30 miles to a tire store, the other time it was around 10 miles. I see no reason to avoid factory MB 20" wheels with non run flat tires. Aftermarket wheels can be a different story depending on the type of construction and the quality.
Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. Sounds like I’d be OK with 20’s, just probably need to switch from runflats to normal tires.
If you are going with MB 20's on your S there is one more decision. I have an S65, a heavy car with the V12 so the load on the front tires is more than an S560. The AMG's come with 255 front and 285 rear non run flats. I recall the S560 is 245 and 275. It is worth considering using the AMG sizes. The AMG recommended front tire pressures range from 36 to 50 psi depending on load and maximum speed. I have tried them all. Unless one is driving on the autobahn at 186 with a full passenger load 50 is untenable. 36 results in mushy, imprecise handling with minimal ride benefit. 42 to 44, with the V12, is the sweet spot. Handling is sharp, ride is almost identical to 36psi and it provides a lot more wheel protection for pothole and other road junk. I hope your decision works out well for you.
Those are the same wheels that are on a car that I’m looking at now. That’s a beautiful car you have there! Yeah, I’d still like to know what people are hitting that is bending wheels. It must be something huge.
Thank you! In my opinion, the best looking wheel choice if you don't have the sport package.
I have those wheels on my S-600--a bit of a pain to clean--with with all those spokes.
I agree, but the reward from cleaning them and seeing them shine is quite beautiful. I try to clean them every weekend to reduce heavily caked on brake dust. I have been using an array of wheel woollies and brushes to get into every little spoke.
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.
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.
i have those exact wheels on my 16 E400, but 18’s of course and I really like them.
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