Wheels keep cracking
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Joined: May 2025
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Wheels keep cracking
This is the only vehicle for which I have experienced 3 complete sets of wheels that continually crack. It began with the OEM AMG wheels (which lasted roughly 9 months); when the welds failed, I replaced them with Forgiato, but those lasted only about 5 months before all 4 wheels had welding issues again. Now, I've encountered my first crack on the Vossen HF5, but they have lasted the longest so far before a crack appeared (just over a year and a half). Many individuals claimed that eliminating the run flat tires resolved their issues, but when I switched to the Vossen, I also removed the run flats, proving that wasn't the answer, though it did hold up for nearly 2 years before one wheel broke, so I guess you can say it did help a bit. Has anyone else encountered something alike in their S class? If so what was your solution? A few tire shops I been to all claim it is just the bad roads in the Bay Area (basically said nothing I can do about it) and the car being heavy doesn't help, but there is clearly much heavier cars such as the G-class. Have two other Mercedes and one has had a crack before, but the weld held and it never cracked again (been 5 years since those got welded). Just trying to find some sort of solution to preventing the cracking as just buying a new set of wheels is starting to become a repetitive expense that is not even lasting long.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Illinois
S560/SL550/LS460/Q70L 5.6 AWD
When I bought my car, S560, two years ago first thing I did was to replace the RF's and the 19" wheels with NRF's and 18" wheels, never had any problem with this configuration and I also have a very smooth ride.
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
OP wheels don’t just crack. Hitting pot holes, curbs and the like while running under-inflated tires kills the wheel. Any wheel.
I have never cracked a wheel. My tires always have the Maximum pressure as stated in the gas door. It doesn’t ride as nice but zero drama is worth the trade off for me.
Moving from 20” to 18” wheels with taller sidewalls where they clear the brakes offers more protection for the wheel and generally better ride quality.
I have never cracked a wheel. My tires always have the Maximum pressure as stated in the gas door. It doesn’t ride as nice but zero drama is worth the trade off for me.
Moving from 20” to 18” wheels with taller sidewalls where they clear the brakes offers more protection for the wheel and generally better ride quality.
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Joined: Nov 2024
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From: The Racing Capitol of the World
2019 AMG S 65 and too many other vehicles to list here in this small box
OP wheels don’t just crack. Hitting pot holes, curbs and the like while running under-inflated tires kills the wheel. Any wheel.
I have never cracked a wheel. My tires always have the Maximum pressure as stated in the gas door. It doesn’t ride as nice but zero drama is worth the trade off for me.
Moving from 20” to 18” wheels with taller sidewalls where they clear the brakes offers more protection for the wheel and generally better ride quality.
I have never cracked a wheel. My tires always have the Maximum pressure as stated in the gas door. It doesn’t ride as nice but zero drama is worth the trade off for me.
Moving from 20” to 18” wheels with taller sidewalls where they clear the brakes offers more protection for the wheel and generally better ride quality.
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Laguna Niguel
'94 SL600,'05 SL600,'06 S65,'07 E63,'14 E63S,'09SL600 all sold, ‘15 S65,‘18 E63S,'17 SL65, '17S65Cab
I have driven a lot of miles on MB AMG's and V-12's with no wheel failure issues. All of my AMG's have forged wheels. I trust you know that the MB 18" and 19" wheels are not forged, they are all cast. In the 20" size none of the MB wheels are forged. Of the five AMG wheels offered over multiple years, two are cast and three are forged. Of the two optional Maybach wheels, the multi-spoke is cast, only the flat disc style wheel is forged. MB does make 19" forged wheels for use on the front of the SL63's and SL65's.
I would suggest filling all the tires to the max pressure is a bit extreme, since for the AMG tires and non-RFT performance tires that is 51PSI. I feel true, quality, forged wheels are worth it on 5k+lb W222's.
I would suggest filling all the tires to the max pressure is a bit extreme, since for the AMG tires and non-RFT performance tires that is 51PSI. I feel true, quality, forged wheels are worth it on 5k+lb W222's.
Last edited by Quadrobenz; Oct 12, 2025 at 03:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 35
Likes: 10
OP wheels don’t just crack. Hitting pot holes, curbs and the like while running under-inflated tires kills the wheel. Any wheel.
I have never cracked a wheel. My tires always have the Maximum pressure as stated in the gas door. It doesn’t ride as nice but zero drama is worth the trade off for me.
Moving from 20” to 18” wheels with taller sidewalls where they clear the brakes offers more protection for the wheel and generally better ride quality.
I have never cracked a wheel. My tires always have the Maximum pressure as stated in the gas door. It doesn’t ride as nice but zero drama is worth the trade off for me.
Moving from 20” to 18” wheels with taller sidewalls where they clear the brakes offers more protection for the wheel and generally better ride quality.
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From: Pacific Northwest
2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
You most likely did not read my post all the way. I said the roads in the Bay Area are pretty bad. Never claimed they just cracked magically. I check tire PSI weekly as a regular routine. The Vossen HF5 are hybrid forged, so more durable than cast, but of course not as expensive as fully forged which can explain why they have been the most durable so far. Hopefully not, but if the weld ends up leaking I will look into getting some fully forged and maybe drop down a size.
I have the 20" OEM forged 10 spoke on my 18 S63 (2 years) no cracks or bends and some of the roads around Seattle are brutal. I run max PSI, mainly for the sportier feel, but some have said that helps protect the wheels. On my 17 S550, I had 20" OEM cast wheels, never went more than 4 months without a bend or crack, horrible experience.
The car's weight means I wouldn't never even consider anything larger than 20's, they might look nice but you're asking for trouble.
Last edited by carlosinseattle; Oct 12, 2025 at 06:39 PM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2025
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What size wheels are you running?
I have the 20" OEM forged 10 spoke on my 18 S63 (2 years) no cracks or bends and some of the roads around Seattle are brutal. I run max PSI, mainly for the sportier feel, but some have said that helps protect the wheels. On my 17 S550, I had 20" OEM cast wheels, never went more than 4 months without a bend or crack, horrible experience.
The car's weight means I wouldn't never even consider anything larger than 20's, they might look nice but you're asking for trouble.
I have the 20" OEM forged 10 spoke on my 18 S63 (2 years) no cracks or bends and some of the roads around Seattle are brutal. I run max PSI, mainly for the sportier feel, but some have said that helps protect the wheels. On my 17 S550, I had 20" OEM cast wheels, never went more than 4 months without a bend or crack, horrible experience.
The car's weight means I wouldn't never even consider anything larger than 20's, they might look nice but you're asking for trouble.
Last edited by antica; Oct 12, 2025 at 06:58 PM.
Thread Starter
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Super Member
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From: Illinois
S560/SL550/LS460/Q70L 5.6 AWD
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S600
OK, we have insufficient information::
We need to know where you live so we can lookup road conditions
We need to know wheel sizes (all 4 not wheels:: the size, offset, width, diameter, ...)
We need to know what tires you are running {brand, size, mileage, tread depth, kind {all season, GT, performance}}
We need to know what air pressures you are running
We need to know under what driving conditions the wheels failed
Since you hare having troubles--the biggest change you can do is to fit::
a) Forged wheels
b) 18" sizes if you can get ones to fit over the brake calipers
c) 19" if you cant get 18" to fit {19" have more tire options, too}
d) 3-piece so you can repair a bent rim at lower cost
e) run 35 (or higher PSI) allowing the tire to protect the wheel
f) quit hitting pot holes, ...
We need to know where you live so we can lookup road conditions
We need to know wheel sizes (all 4 not wheels:: the size, offset, width, diameter, ...)
We need to know what tires you are running {brand, size, mileage, tread depth, kind {all season, GT, performance}}
We need to know what air pressures you are running
We need to know under what driving conditions the wheels failed
Since you hare having troubles--the biggest change you can do is to fit::
a) Forged wheels
b) 18" sizes if you can get ones to fit over the brake calipers
c) 19" if you cant get 18" to fit {19" have more tire options, too}
d) 3-piece so you can repair a bent rim at lower cost
e) run 35 (or higher PSI) allowing the tire to protect the wheel
f) quit hitting pot holes, ...
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From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
Also, worth noting, if you DO see a pothole last minute, don’t stab the brakes pedal. Just roll over it, if it’s too late or can’t steer around it. You’d be surprised how many people actually destroy wheels by doing this.
Road conditions in most large inner city areas are unpredictable. Burbs can be just as bad, especially if you live in super rural areas with things like dirt roads to get to your house.
I consider wheels on these cars as consumables. Of course if you’re replacing 4-8 wheels a year, you’ve got an issue.
Plenty of valid suggestions posted above so no need to rehash.
Good Luck
Road conditions in most large inner city areas are unpredictable. Burbs can be just as bad, especially if you live in super rural areas with things like dirt roads to get to your house.
I consider wheels on these cars as consumables. Of course if you’re replacing 4-8 wheels a year, you’ve got an issue.
Plenty of valid suggestions posted above so no need to rehash.
Good Luck
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 573
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From: Half Moon Bay, CA
2016 S550e, 2005 Nissan Xterra 4x4, 1984 300ZX
He said Bay Area, I live in Half Moon Bay and plenty of bad roads, put my 2016 in service in 2019 with AMG 19" wheels and no issue (knock on wood). We do have bad roads but a few days in New Jersey and this week in Houston tells me there are plenty worse! Run 18" and get more sidewall given you have this happening over and over again.
