CAUTION when playing with tire sizes
#1
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CAUTION when playing with tire sizes
Chalk another one up the MB's effing horrendous nanny systems!
I recently upgraded to aftermarket wheels and decided to up the tire sizes. Nothing crazy, just up one width in the front and two in the rear to 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 respectively. My problems started immediately, reminding me of the "waggle" that many of us experienced in the 55s when trying to run 295s in the rear. The rear end would wander side-to-side under hard acceleration or above freeway speeds. We attempted to rectify what we thought was a hardware problem with beefier toe links and bushings to no avail. This car is even worse. On top of those problems, any sudden acceleration with steering input, such as passing the left lane campers on the freeway, causes the TC to inappropriately intervene and send the car thrusting in random directions. Not pleasant at 80mph!!! Some of that can be mitigated by driving with TC off but just barely.
Last night was the worst of all. I was playing with another guy on an empty stretch at upper end of 1/4mile speeds when I tried to brake hard after the run. The car acted like it was trying to initiate the antilock program and wouldn't allow full stopping power, then caused the car to swerve all over at 100+ mph. This car is outright dangerous as is and anyone looking to run tire sizes other than OEM needs to be warned.
I'm willing to bet that just like the 55s, there will be some cars that suffer this problem and some that don't. I'm considering trying to up the front to a 275 but I'll probably give up the nice 305 in the rear. The other option is to find out if there are any programming options in STAR DAS that allow users to choose tire aspect ratios.
Either way, im so sick of MB programming that prevents me from doing what I want with a car I paid cash for and own.
I recently upgraded to aftermarket wheels and decided to up the tire sizes. Nothing crazy, just up one width in the front and two in the rear to 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 respectively. My problems started immediately, reminding me of the "waggle" that many of us experienced in the 55s when trying to run 295s in the rear. The rear end would wander side-to-side under hard acceleration or above freeway speeds. We attempted to rectify what we thought was a hardware problem with beefier toe links and bushings to no avail. This car is even worse. On top of those problems, any sudden acceleration with steering input, such as passing the left lane campers on the freeway, causes the TC to inappropriately intervene and send the car thrusting in random directions. Not pleasant at 80mph!!! Some of that can be mitigated by driving with TC off but just barely.
Last night was the worst of all. I was playing with another guy on an empty stretch at upper end of 1/4mile speeds when I tried to brake hard after the run. The car acted like it was trying to initiate the antilock program and wouldn't allow full stopping power, then caused the car to swerve all over at 100+ mph. This car is outright dangerous as is and anyone looking to run tire sizes other than OEM needs to be warned.
I'm willing to bet that just like the 55s, there will be some cars that suffer this problem and some that don't. I'm considering trying to up the front to a 275 but I'll probably give up the nice 305 in the rear. The other option is to find out if there are any programming options in STAR DAS that allow users to choose tire aspect ratios.
Either way, im so sick of MB programming that prevents me from doing what I want with a car I paid cash for and own.
Last edited by chiromikey; 04-27-2017 at 01:05 PM.
#2
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I recently went 255 / 35 / 19 and 295 / 30 / 19 with none of the described issues.
#4
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2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
In the Developer menu in the ECU there will be a drop down list where you can select a few preset tire sizes that are supplied from the factory that is about it.
#5
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#7
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It looks like it asks for a dynamic tire rolling circumference for front and rear. Can you enter a value or just select from predetermined sizes?
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#8
I always wondered the limits of the 4matic as far as tolerances! Ive run some different setups with luck. Didn't handle the best turning wise on some but TCS never intervened. Glad you and your car are alright! I had an S6 that wouldn't tolerate hardly any difference in front and rear sizes without throwing all kinds of lights.
When I had 20" wheels I ran a 20x9 245/30/20 front 20x10.5 295/25/20 Rear
19" I've had the best luck all around with 19x9.5 all the way around 275/30/19 front 285/30/19 rears.
I'm with you Chiromikey I love the look of a Fat tire on the rear but the 4matic seems to not like it lol
Question: What are you guys using to access the developer menu?
When I had 20" wheels I ran a 20x9 245/30/20 front 20x10.5 295/25/20 Rear
19" I've had the best luck all around with 19x9.5 all the way around 275/30/19 front 285/30/19 rears.
I'm with you Chiromikey I love the look of a Fat tire on the rear but the 4matic seems to not like it lol
Question: What are you guys using to access the developer menu?
#9
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You want to know what's even more ridiculous? I'm not even 4matic!!!!
I think you have to pay extra for a password to access the developer menu but it's been too long since I've played with STAR.
I think you have to pay extra for a password to access the developer menu but it's been too long since I've played with STAR.
#10
#13
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RichardCranium (04-28-2017)
#15
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#16
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Very strange as it would appear the OP's setup is closer to equal front and rear than stock?
#17
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2014 E63s amg 4matic, 2009 C63, 2006 E55 AMG , 2001.5 AUDI S4 stg 3+ w/meth
it a mercedes thing lol ... its used to happen on my c63 too and its rwd... for me it happened mostly at higher speeds or on faster turns lik highway on-ramp.... was super annoying and dangerous at times
and i had the rolling diameter of the tires within 1.5% so it wasnt like my rears where huge with some tiny fronts
and i had the rolling diameter of the tires within 1.5% so it wasnt like my rears where huge with some tiny fronts
#18
Senior Member
it a mercedes thing lol ... its used to happen on my c63 too and its rwd... for me it happened mostly at higher speeds or on faster turns lik highway on-ramp.... was super annoying and dangerous at times
and i had the rolling diameter of the tires within 1.5% so it wasnt like my rears where huge with some tiny fronts
and i had the rolling diameter of the tires within 1.5% so it wasnt like my rears where huge with some tiny fronts
Last edited by Savage212; 04-28-2017 at 11:56 AM.
#20
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I'm hoping I can set the front to back ratios closer to my current set up and keep the car from killing me or someone else! If anyone can look up what available in there I'd appreciate it!
Last edited by chiromikey; 04-28-2017 at 05:41 PM.
#23
Chiro did you get any unrelated CELs that resolved itself?
#25