Stiff suspension
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Joined: Jul 2024
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S550, S560, GLS450, CLS550, CLS63
Stiff suspension
Hey guys. I have a 2020 s560 4matic. Currently running Michelin pilot sport all season4 245/45/ ZR 19 in the front and 275/40/ ZR19 in the rear. I had a 2015 s550 4matic that was honestly way more comfortable this thing just feels so stiff over bumps. I don’t know tire pressures at the moment but they are around 40 like it suggests on the door jam sticker. Is the reason for the stiffness the zr tires since they’re rated for over 150 mph or is something else wrong. The car has about 79k miles but all suspension components look great. The only thing I can think of is the tires being the style I got makes it a lot stiffer. It does do wonders for handling this boat but I didn’t think about how it might affect the comfortability. I’m just not sure if it’s the tires or something else. Any tips or ideas are appreciated. I’m probably going to get another set of rims anyways so I’ll try other tires to see if that was part of the issue. Thanks in advance.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
First start with using proper tire pressure. The ones on the door sticker are not the correct ones. Those are only for max load technically as in the car is full of passengers and cargo and you are planning to drive north of 155 mph. So the pressure is higher to handle all that. Open the fuel door flap and look at the sticker on the inside. It lists various pressures for different tires, loads and speeds. Use what’s known as the normal load pressure. 2-3 passengers, little cargo and speeds below 155 mph.
Having said that. Z rated tires will be stiffer, and the lower the profile, the stiffer they are. Just one word of caution, if your roads are bad and you have a habit of driving through potholes, then the lower pressures will give you less protection.
Ultimately, if you want comfort oriented tires, you need to look at touring tires and larger sidewalls. Also, your tires are likely runflats as most cars these days don’t have a spare tire anymore. Those are also stiffer. Many replace them with non-runflats and carry a flat tire kit.
Having said that. Z rated tires will be stiffer, and the lower the profile, the stiffer they are. Just one word of caution, if your roads are bad and you have a habit of driving through potholes, then the lower pressures will give you less protection.
Ultimately, if you want comfort oriented tires, you need to look at touring tires and larger sidewalls. Also, your tires are likely runflats as most cars these days don’t have a spare tire anymore. Those are also stiffer. Many replace them with non-runflats and carry a flat tire kit.
Last edited by superswiss; May 13, 2026 at 03:38 PM.
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From: SD
Various
On my 2020 560 4M I just put on a new set of OEM Michelin run flats and think the ride is fine. No complaints. And I run 33-34 psi.
Edit… I have the tire you’re running on my Fcar and it rides fine. 32-33 psi.
Edit… I have the tire you’re running on my Fcar and it rides fine. 32-33 psi.
Last edited by NbyNW; May 14, 2026 at 08:02 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: San Jose CA
‘11 C300 ‘11 C350
We’re in the same situation, replaced Michelin Primacy A/S with Pilot Sport 4 due to the former no longer available in our size.
the Pilot Sports are clearly the better performing tires when pushed but ride like they’re full of water compared to the Primacy’s.
Yesterday’s eighty mile drive had me thinking about Goodyear’s “Assurance Comfortdrive” tires.
the Pilot Sports are clearly the better performing tires when pushed but ride like they’re full of water compared to the Primacy’s.
Yesterday’s eighty mile drive had me thinking about Goodyear’s “Assurance Comfortdrive” tires.
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
We’re in the same situation, replaced Michelin Primacy A/S with Pilot Sport 4 due to the former no longer available in our size.
the Pilot Sports are clearly the better performing tires when pushed but ride like they’re full of water compared to the Primacy’s.
Yesterday’s eighty mile drive had me thinking about Goodyear’s “Assurance Comfortdrive” tires.
the Pilot Sports are clearly the better performing tires when pushed but ride like they’re full of water compared to the Primacy’s.
Yesterday’s eighty mile drive had me thinking about Goodyear’s “Assurance Comfortdrive” tires.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
The DWS is still a performance tire. If you want a comfortable, but still excellent dry handling AS tire, I recommend the CrossClimate2. It's available in OP's sizes and load rating. That's a Grand Touring AS tire and is actually rated for severe snow service, complete with the three mountain peaks. It's an all-weather tire, rather than just an AS tire. An AS tire without the three mountain peaks is still subject to chain control on an AWD/4WD vehicle. I've got it on my wife's car for an occasional trip up to Tahoe. Prior AS tires were crap in actual snow.
Last edited by superswiss; May 15, 2026 at 04:17 PM.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Based on personal experience or what you've read? I've read mixed reports online about the noise of the CC2. From personal experience, they are quiet. However, California is one of the states that extensively uses rubberized asphalt to significantly reduce road noise. It's the concrete sections on some of the overpasses where I get excessive noise with my PS4S for example, but as soon as I'm back on asphalt they quiet down. The CC2 on my wife's car is never loud, though, and it doesn't have the level of noise insulation that an S Class has. It does get louder on the concrete sections, too, though. I've driven in Texas, though, where tires are howling at highway speeds due to the surface. Most tire noise I've ever experience on any car was there.
Last edited by superswiss; May 15, 2026 at 06:06 PM.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
Based on personal experience or what you've read? I've read mixed reports online about the noise of the CC2. From personal experience, they are quiet. However, California is one of the states that extensively uses rubberized asphalt to significantly reduce road noise. It's the concrete sections on some of the overpasses where I get excessive noise with my PS4S for example, but as soon as I'm back on asphalt they quiet down. The CC2 on my wife's car is never loud, though, and it doesn't have the level of noise insulation that an S Class has. It does get louder on the concrete sections, too, though. I've driven in Texas, though, where tires are howling at highway speeds due to the surface. Most tire noise I've ever experience on any car was there.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
What do you need AS tires for in Phoenix?
The DWS is still a performance tire. If you want a comfortable, but still excellent dry handling AS tire, I recommend the CrossClimate2. It's available in OP's sizes and load rating. That's a Grand Touring AS tire and is actually rated for severe snow service, complete with the three mountain peaks. It's an all-weather tire, rather than just an AS tire. An AS tire without the three mountain peaks is still subject to chain control on an AWD/4WD vehicle. I've got it on my wife's car for an occasional trip up to Tahoe. Prior AS tires were crap in actual snow.
The DWS is still a performance tire. If you want a comfortable, but still excellent dry handling AS tire, I recommend the CrossClimate2. It's available in OP's sizes and load rating. That's a Grand Touring AS tire and is actually rated for severe snow service, complete with the three mountain peaks. It's an all-weather tire, rather than just an AS tire. An AS tire without the three mountain peaks is still subject to chain control on an AWD/4WD vehicle. I've got it on my wife's car for an occasional trip up to Tahoe. Prior AS tires were crap in actual snow.
I use summer tires all year round here in the valley of the sun.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
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2020 S560 4matic. 2017 Z06 convertible.
I have the michelin pilot all season non-run flats on my S560 and continental dws extreme contact non- run flats on my Z06.
I like to run 32psi on all cars. The continental are by far the softer ride. But they are more noisy. I find that when I raise the 560 with the airmatic suspension it rides harder and doesn't handle as sharp. Definitely a softer ride with lowered suspension mode.
I like to run 32psi on all cars. The continental are by far the softer ride. But they are more noisy. I find that when I raise the 560 with the airmatic suspension it rides harder and doesn't handle as sharp. Definitely a softer ride with lowered suspension mode.
