kmj

Is there any way that you can fix your cruise control to work when you swap to bigger tires. I took my 16" rims off of my SLK 230 and now with the 17" rims and tires, the car's cruise control began to cut off at times and I have to reset it. I put the 16" tires back on and the cruise control works again!! It tends to start acting up at around 71 - 72 mph with 17" wheels. Does anyone know how to bypass this and not mess up the Traction control?

KMJ

Brian_R170

If it's truely the new wheels and tires that are causing your problem, then you have a much bigger problem than just cruise control.

If larger tires are the problem, then ABS and ASR (ESP on '01/'02 model) will also malfunction. When either ABS or ASR is activated, the cruise control will disengage, so this may be your problem.

To prevent this problem you have to keep the outside diameter of the tires within 3% of the outside diameter of stock tires.

What size tires are on your new 17-inch rims?

kmj

I have 225/45-17 in the front and 245/40-17 in the rear. I also talked to the service manager at my local Mercedes dealer and he said that he had someone with a 2002 SLK 230 have the same problem. The funny thing is he told me before he serviced my car that I was going to have cruise control issues. I did my trials after that.

Brian_R170

Mercedes-Benz offers 17-inch wheels with 225/45R17 in front and 245/40R17 in the rear as accessories. Plus, those sizes are stock on the SLK32 and SLK230/320 Sport.

The problem is probably not your tire size.

The only suggestion I have is to use 255/40R17 tires in the rear instead of 245/40R17. The 255s will have a diameter/circumference that is closer to the 225/45R17 tires in the front and also closer to the stock 16-inch tire setup.

BTW, what rims are you using?

kmj

Now I am beginning to wonder was the dealer blowing me some smoke about the tire size and maybe I have a more serious problem!!! I have authentic 17" AMG 5 spoke 203's.

KMJ

jswedberg

You should not be having cruise control issures with those tires.

The dealer can modify the parameters relating to number of wheel revolution per mile, but that is normally only for larger (or smaller) diameter tires and applies mostly to COMAND navigation accuracy.

Brian_R170

Yep. I know several people that have upgraded to the 17-inch AMGs and none had a problem. Something else is going on.

scbysnx

wow this is an old thread.. up it goes!

I'm having an issue with stock 16's even. At around 80 the cruise control starts cutting off I figured maybe it was normal but apparently its not.

dcbingbing

I also have 225/45-17 in the front and 245/40-17 in the rear without cruise control problem. It just doesn't make sense that cruise control can detect the size of the tire itself and stop to work.

Buellwinkle

My kid has 17's on her SLK230, no problems with cruise control. Never thought a 16 year old would take to cruise control but she uses it all the time.

bazzle

Doesnt matter if you have 10" or 50" diameter tyres (rim size doesnt matter) as long as the difference between front and rear is within a couple of % all should be OK>

Check
1. Tyre sizes (ie is front worn and rear new?)
2. VSS sensors at wheels fully home?
3. Tone rings clean?

If one end more worn than the other increase tyre pressure 4 lbs on worn ones, reduce 2 lbs on good and go for a drive again.. carefully

Bazzle

oneriz

My SLK230 had original AMG 17" stock wheels and I never had such problems but when I went with other Mercedes 17" wheels, I started developing the same Cruise Control and ABS problem intermittently. This has not much to do with the tires or the RPMs, but actually with the offset of the wheels. The sensors for ABS are very sensitive which are right by the brakes. Try checking your wheels offset with your 16" wheels.

gmanc

Hey, I had two new tires put on the front of my 99 SLK 230 Sport and had alignment done at the same time. Now my cruise control cuts off when I enter a left hand curve. Straight road or right hand curve has no problems, just left hand curves, no matter how slight of a curve. Any suggestions would truly be appreciated. Thanks