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Posted on W222 but figured some of you guys don’t even check that one anymore and can give input if you’ve had a Bach before.
Just as some background, I’ve been daily driving an S Class for the past year. First, a 2018 S450 with non-RFT 20” rims that had 255s in the front and 285s in the back. It was pretty quiet but not as “whisper quiet” as people here say. Not even from the wind noise. Suspension is finicky over bad roads, lots of noise that makes it seem to be handling the bumps worse than the car is actually handling over the bumps if you take the noise away. Now I’m in an S560 with 20” RFTs and a 245/275 setup. Suspension feels better with these tires, although it does crash over ****ty roads still. I’m sure non-RFTs will help but not all that much as I saw with my S450.
Im honestly unsatisfied, having come from a 2017 E300 before moving up to the big boy S-Class, and I love the interior too much to move over to a 2019+ Audi A8L which I’ve heard has a much better suspension over bumps and clocks in lower on sound tests.
My conclusion is now: either move on to the slightly-less appealing S580 W223 with its foam tires and superior wind insulation, or try to somehow get foam tires on mine and see if there’s a difference? I’ve driven the S500/580 already and can confirm it’s better insulated. Otherwise, I’d like an overall quieter ride, including wind noise, and have seen semi-mixed reviews about the S650 Maybach version being quieter inside and comfier on non-RFTs. My question is, from people with experience with the S650 or by extension the S600 (not the 560 version with no MBC), is the interior quieter at speed, or does the suspension panic less over ****ty roads? I just prefer the look of the W222 over the W223, so going to the 580 is really ehh to me.
Posted on W222 but figured some of you guys don’t even check that one anymore and can give input if you’ve had a Bach before.
Just as some background, I’ve been daily driving an S Class for the past year. First, a 2018 S450 with non-RFT 20” rims that had 255s in the front and 285s in the back. It was pretty quiet but not as “whisper quiet” as people here say. Not even from the wind noise. Suspension is finicky over bad roads, lots of noise that makes it seem to be handling the bumps worse than the car is actually handling over the bumps if you take the noise away. Now I’m in an S560 with 20” RFTs and a 245/275 setup. Suspension feels better with these tires, although it does crash over ****ty roads still. I’m sure non-RFTs will help but not all that much as I saw with my S450.
Im honestly unsatisfied, having come from a 2017 E300 before moving up to the big boy S-Class, and I love the interior too much to move over to a 2019+ Audi A8L which I’ve heard has a much better suspension over bumps and clocks in lower on sound tests.
My conclusion is now: either move on to the slightly-less appealing S580 W223 with its foam tires and superior wind insulation, or try to somehow get foam tires on mine and see if there’s a difference? I’ve driven the S500/580 already and can confirm it’s better insulated. Otherwise, I’d like an overall quieter ride, including wind noise, and have seen semi-mixed reviews about the S650 Maybach version being quieter inside and comfier on non-RFTs. My question is, from people with experience with the S650 or by extension the S600 (not the 560 version with no MBC), is the interior quieter at speed, or does the suspension panic less over ****ty roads? I just prefer the look of the W222 over the W223, so going to the 580 is really ehh to me.
On your S560 the issue is the 20" wheels. Also, what tire pressure are you running? You will have the same issue with the S580. You cannot get away from the lack of sidewall to the tires.
I extensively test drove the A8 back to back with the S Class. The A8 does not ride better than the S Class nor is it quieter. Its all about wheels and tires. I tested both with a sound pressure meter and the readings are the same, as they were with my previous LS460L. 59 dB or so at 75 MPH.
My S560 on 19s with non runflat tires aired to 31 PSI is the best riding/driving car I have ever had, and I have had a lot of great riding cars, 4 Lexus LS sedans etc.
Only difference with the W223 is the 20 wheel option has taller sidewall tires, as do the 19s since 19s are now standard and the largest wheel is a 21. So, a W223 on 20s will ride better than a W222 on 20s.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
My 2018 S560 had wind noise issues. My 2015 S550 did not have them, nor does my 2020 S560. All cars with 18” wheels,, Magic Body Control and Bridgestone QuietTrack tires. THE most silent, smooth riding sedan this side of a Rolls-Royce. Anyway, as has been pointed out, the 20’s are the OP’s biggest problem.
With that said, on a W223 I would choose the 20s. Sidewall is similar to the W222 on 19s, and the 19s look really small on the 223 IMO. I think the mid spec wheel is the best compromise of looks vs ride.
With that said, on a W223 I would choose the 20s. Sidewall is similar to the W222 on 19s, and the 19s look really small on the 223 IMO. I think the mid spec wheel is the best compromise of looks vs ride.
20's are definitely the way to go imo, like you said, best blend of looks and comfort
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Old School
And dangerous. Those center locks were illegal in Germany due to the pedestrian injuries caused in accidents…
But this is a beautiful car with fitting wheels.
I would just love to know how many pedestrians were injured when they came into contact with a spinning knock-off wheel locking nut. Probably one person, who happened to be related to a government official. I guess we can be thankful they didn’t ban rotating wheels while they were at it. Of course today, we see all sorts of horrendous wheel adornments, which should get the vehicle impounded and sent to the crusher, but nobody says a word these days.
I would just love to know how many pedestrians were injured when they came into contact with a spinning knock-off wheel locking nut. Probably one person, who happened to be related to a government official. I guess we can be thankful they didn’t ban rotating wheels while they were at it. Of course today, we see all sorts of horrendous wheel adornments, which should get the vehicle impounded and sent to the crusher, but nobody says a word these days.
Don’t disagree. I remember our Jaguar XJ12 coupe couldn’t have the hood ornament in Germany either.
But some of the things I see on cars here are just nuts…
Those wheels and tires look great and period correct on the car. A beautiful car at that. 20" wheels look great on the 223. They ride more harsh than 18" wheels for sure, but they look better.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by teksurv
Those wheels and tires look great and period correct on the car. A beautiful car at that. 20" wheels look great on the 223. They ride more harsh than 18" wheels for sure, but they look better.
Lots of things look better, but are not practical. I happen to think that 20” wheels look great on an S Class, but on a vehicle that is supposed to offer a hushed, ultra comfortable & compliant ride, they just don’t make sense, at least to me. The idea of sacrificing ride quality for looks is obviously a matter of personal preference, but on my big, daily driver saloon, I’ll take deeper sidewalls and a cushier ride any day over a sexy look.
20's are definitely the way to go imo, like you said, best blend of looks and comfort
Those are the ones I would choose.
Originally Posted by Streamliner
How do these wheels & tires look? Just curious.
They look great on THAT car. That car was designed to have a wheel and tire package that looks like that. Modern cars anre designed proportionally to look right with bigger wheels. For instance, on my LS400 the 16" wheels looked great, but they looked too small on my LS430 which looked better on 17s, LS460 looked better with 19s. 19s look great on the W222 IMO, but look too small on the W223.
Originally Posted by Streamliner
Lots of things look better, but are not practical. I happen to think that 20” wheels look great on an S Class, but on a vehicle that is supposed to offer a hushed, ultra comfortable & compliant ride, they just don’t make sense, at least to me. The idea of sacrificing ride quality for looks is obviously a matter of personal preference, but on my big, daily driver saloon, I’ll take deeper sidewalls and a cushier ride any day over a sexy look.
Its not as simple as just saying "20s are not practical" it depends on the size of the tire's sidewalls. For instance, you say 19s ride poorly on the W222, yet your W223 will have 19s and you'll say they ride great.
The 20s on the W223 have more sidewall than the 20s on the W222 and will ride better.
To put it into numbers, the W222 on 19s runs 245/45s in the front, and 275/40 in the rear. So the W222 has 110 mm of sidewall height front and rear. The W222 on 20s runs 245/45 in front, 285/35 in the rear. So, those tires have 102 mm in sidewall height in the front and 100 in the rear. so only about 1/3rd of an inch different.
BTW, my W222 rides great on 19s. I think the 20s look better but the ride tradeoff is not worth it, and 18s may ride slightly better but there I don't think the looks tradeoff is worth it. The mid tire option is a great compromise, on the W222 that was the 19, on the W223 that is the 20.
My 2020 S560 has the 18” wheels, RFT and Magic Body Control. Its as smooth as it gets. My 2017 S550 had 20" rims with the sport package and it rode rough.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by amir1
My 2020 S560 has the 18” wheels, RFT and Magic Body Control. Its as smooth as it gets. My 2017 S550 had 20" rims with the sport package and it rode rough.
IF you dumped the RFT and went for a set of Bridgestone QuietTrack tires, you would be truly AMAZED at how much better the ride becomes.
Lots of things look better, but are not practical. I happen to think that 20” wheels look great on an S Class, but on a vehicle that is supposed to offer a hushed, ultra comfortable & compliant ride, they just don’t make sense, at least to me. The idea of sacrificing ride quality for looks is obviously a matter of personal preference, but on my big, daily driver saloon, I’ll take deeper sidewalls and a cushier ride any day over a sexy look.
Bent rims have become more of an issue in today's times due to low profile tires on large diameter rims.
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Of course today, we see all sorts of horrendous wheel adornments, which should get the vehicle impounded and sent to the crusher, but nobody says a word these days.
