Thicker Tire
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,125
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From: Costco
2023 S500
You will need to downsize to a 20” wheel if you want a legitimate thicker tire. I have the 20’s and I think it strikes a good balance between looks and comfort. And, this size doesn’t blowout unlike the 21s, at least anecdotally speaking.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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23 S580 Executive
I'd say the 20s get you down to noise; no worse for failure rates than elsewhere in other words. The factory 21s are, a special hell, you don't see anything like that failure rate on other forums that I've been on and that's not a few. There has to be something going on with the wheel design, tires, suspension, make your own guess, but they're trouble whatever the reason.
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 5,151
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From: Colorado
G550
I agree with the replies above that recommend 20" wheels. Use the "tire rim calculator" under "tools" on the mbworld homepage. Try to find a tire that keeps diameter and width as close as possible to your existing setup.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 11
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From: Detroit, MI
2022 s580
Would it be fair to say the 21’s with factory Pirelli tires on W223’s are a special kind of hell? I am currently thinking about 21’s with Michelins-hoping they are sturdier…to keep me out of hell -LOL.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,350
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From: Birmingham, AL
2019 S560, 2022 Audi S8
Keep in mind that there are around 20 different variants of 21" Pirelli P Zero tires. As you all know, I have a 2022 Audi S8 and I'm now on my 2nd set of 21" Zeros. I discussed with the tire store management about the troubles you guys are having and he said that MB probably has the wrong tire/rim combo because I have had zero problems with my tires. I have 34K miles on my car and the only reason I had to get new tires was because I hit a big pothole some time back and it got my alignment out of whack and in the process I went ahead and got all 4 tires replaced. Only the left rear tire was wearing out prematurely. It makes me wonder if folks with the W223s could use the same tires used on Audi A and S8s and not have problems.
Last edited by MBS63AMG; Mar 23, 2024 at 10:32 PM.
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Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 100
Likes: 73
From: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
2021 S 580
As I’ve posted, four blowouts with the 21”/P Zero combo. Changed all 4 to Michelin 6 months ago, zero failures.
However, maybe moving out of San Diego, with its 3rd world roads, to Florida has something to do with it.🤪
However, maybe moving out of San Diego, with its 3rd world roads, to Florida has something to do with it.🤪
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Joined: Jun 2015
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23 S580 Executive
People have popped Michelin on the stock 21s as well. It's a better tire and can better survive whatever the hell is wrong with those wheels but the low problems answer is staying away from the factory 21s. It seems MB might agree with that since the 21s no longer show on the configurator?
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
2022 s580
Thank you. I understand that 20” is safer/better than 21” for ride and pothole/blowout issues. Unfortunately(for me), I think the car just looks better on 21”. That leaves me with aftermarket 21” which generally I don’t like as well -or trying a sturdier tire on factory 21’s to try to bridge the gap.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 810
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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
21" wheels should not have any more tire failures than a 20" wheel when the profile and section width of the tires are the same. If anything the 21" wheels will be better. For example, your car has 255/35-21 and 285/30-21 tires. My SL65's have the same tires in the 20"size. The 21" version of the tires have a slightly higher load rating and have a slightly lower angular rotation rate at a given speed because the rolling circumference of the 21" is larger. Both of these factors help the durability of the tire. 21 and 22" wheels get a bad rap because they are frequently an upsize from factory 19's or 20's. The car then has 30 series in the front and 25 series in the rear. That is not the case for the W223 with factory 21's.
It has to be the specific Pirelli's on the car causing the failures. I always use the Michelin 4s summer tires, in Detroit an all season may be a better choice. Also look at the speed ratings of the tires in addition to size and load range. The AMG spec tires have an extended load range as well as the (Y) speed rating. These tires never fail unless a large pothole is taken at speed, that almost always damages the wheel as well. The Audi S8 tires mentioned above are likely similar to the AMG spec MB tires.
My wife is from Michigan so I find myself driving in the city of Detroit more than I like. As bad as many of those roads are they are better than most of the streets within the city limits of San Diego where I am now. The worst roads I encounter are in Lansing, the city line between Lansing and East Lansing is like a 3rd world to first world transition.
It has to be the specific Pirelli's on the car causing the failures. I always use the Michelin 4s summer tires, in Detroit an all season may be a better choice. Also look at the speed ratings of the tires in addition to size and load range. The AMG spec tires have an extended load range as well as the (Y) speed rating. These tires never fail unless a large pothole is taken at speed, that almost always damages the wheel as well. The Audi S8 tires mentioned above are likely similar to the AMG spec MB tires.
My wife is from Michigan so I find myself driving in the city of Detroit more than I like. As bad as many of those roads are they are better than most of the streets within the city limits of San Diego where I am now. The worst roads I encounter are in Lansing, the city line between Lansing and East Lansing is like a 3rd world to first world transition.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
21" wheels should not have any more tire failures than a 20" wheel when the profile and section width of the tires are the same. If anything the 21" wheels will be better. For example, your car has 255/35-21 and 285/30-21 tires. My SL65's have the same tires in the 20"size. The 21" version of the tires have a slightly higher load rating and have a slightly lower angular rotation rate at a given speed because the rolling circumference of the 21" is larger. Both of these factors help the durability of the tire. 21 and 22" wheels get a bad rap because they are frequently an upsize from factory 19's or 20's. The car then has 30 series in the front and 25 series in the rear. That is not the case for the W223 with factory 21's.
It has to be the specific Pirelli's on the car causing the failures. I always use the Michelin 4s summer tires, in Detroit an all season may be a better choice. Also look at the speed ratings of the tires in addition to size and load range. The AMG spec tires have an extended load range as well as the (Y) speed rating. These tires never fail unless a large pothole is taken at speed, that almost always damages the wheel as well. The Audi S8 tires mentioned above are likely similar to the AMG spec MB tires.
My wife is from Michigan so I find myself driving in the city of Detroit more than I like. As bad as many of those roads are they are better than most of the streets within the city limits of San Diego where I am now. The worst roads I encounter are in Lansing, the city line between Lansing and East Lansing is like a 3rd world to first world transition.
It has to be the specific Pirelli's on the car causing the failures. I always use the Michelin 4s summer tires, in Detroit an all season may be a better choice. Also look at the speed ratings of the tires in addition to size and load range. The AMG spec tires have an extended load range as well as the (Y) speed rating. These tires never fail unless a large pothole is taken at speed, that almost always damages the wheel as well. The Audi S8 tires mentioned above are likely similar to the AMG spec MB tires.
My wife is from Michigan so I find myself driving in the city of Detroit more than I like. As bad as many of those roads are they are better than most of the streets within the city limits of San Diego where I am now. The worst roads I encounter are in Lansing, the city line between Lansing and East Lansing is like a 3rd world to first world transition.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,296
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23 S580 Executive
Urbanization is a kind of Ponzi scheme where income from new developments are transferred toward paying for existing streets because the taxes levied in older neighborhoods do not cover the maintenance in that area. It's a transfer of cost from new areas that require little maintenance to older areas that are in some stage of deterioration.
The sum collected in all areas along with state and federal inputs is more than enough to pay but it's not all going to roads which is one of the reasons some areas are better maintained than others; they're sinking more back into roads than others.
There are a lot of other factors but It's a problem nation-wide: When all you can afford to do is repair potholes rather than replace aging roads, the roads in get rougher and rougher, which increases the speed of their decline making them more expensive to maintain. Washington has relatively good roads and to put a number on it you're looking at more than 25,000 potholes filled in Seattle during 23 but they're falling behind and the number of unfilled potholes continues to increase.
The sum collected in all areas along with state and federal inputs is more than enough to pay but it's not all going to roads which is one of the reasons some areas are better maintained than others; they're sinking more back into roads than others.
There are a lot of other factors but It's a problem nation-wide: When all you can afford to do is repair potholes rather than replace aging roads, the roads in get rougher and rougher, which increases the speed of their decline making them more expensive to maintain. Washington has relatively good roads and to put a number on it you're looking at more than 25,000 potholes filled in Seattle during 23 but they're falling behind and the number of unfilled potholes continues to increase.
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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
We purchased a second home on the Embarcadero 14 years ago. As a result we have learned a little more about some of the issues the city faces. The city of San Diego has had self inflicted financial issues for decades, they seem to always be near bankruptcy. Oversimplified, it is very generous municipal benefits and pensions that outgrow revenue coming in. Much of the tax money collected is earmarked to wages, benefits, pensions and bond issues and cannot be diverted. Revenue has not grown nearly as fast as the old spending plans assumed. There are few large commercial business in the city, most have left for the suburbs further reducing tax collections. With the departure of the Navy from some of the prime locations near the water, these sites are now being redeveloped. On Friday and Saturday there was a constant flow of tandem dirt haulers and concrete trucks up and down Pacific Highway. Does damage to the roads that were recently repaired.
The city is working as money is available to rebuild the right of way, fix and expand the storm sewers and then lay new pavement. At the current rate it looks like a long, long time until the roads will be fixed. Watch for potholes and broken pavement when visiting the city, it takes the city a while to temporarily patch them.
The city is working as money is available to rebuild the right of way, fix and expand the storm sewers and then lay new pavement. At the current rate it looks like a long, long time until the roads will be fixed. Watch for potholes and broken pavement when visiting the city, it takes the city a while to temporarily patch them.
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