2017 e350d with 20” run flats

[Steveteare]

I have just bought a 2017 e350d estate and compared to my 2014 250d it’s a quantum leap in what it can do etc however the ride is starting heaven forbid to feel like an Audi..... it’s feeling every pothole and it can’t be the all round airbags but the 20” in pimp my ride wheels and run flat tyres that came on it. They looks great but the practicality of British roads is wearing me down.... anything I can do?

 

[Benzowner]

Smaller wheels and larger profile tyres

 

[Abb]

Changing your tyres for NRF would be my first port of call. If you still find it to harsh, then smaller wheels with larger profile tyres as suggested above, is really your only option.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

.... anything I can do?

Buy a nice set of smaller wheels from someone who has changed up to 19's or 20's.

18's will be way better. What wheels did you have on the E250 ?

As for the run flats, well, they're a bit sheet, but you have to search your own heart about whether you want the safety / breakdown / wife-friendly benefits.

20" wheels look great - but only drive well on Autobahns around Stuttgart.

.

 

[Abb]

Are they OEM or aftermarket alloys? Just out of curiosity.

 

[Steveteare]

These are Mercedes 20 wheels with Potenza run flats on the back and a Michelin and Goodyear on the front... yes I was amazed I didn’t check myself the tyres and left it with the Mercedes dealer but I’m bob smacked that there are 4 different brands in there..... My e250d has 19 Mercedes wheels with Michelin normal tyres. The thought of spending 750 on a set of 19 wheels and then the same again at least on tyres is a big spend for a car I’ve just bought... i thought just about replacing the 20 tyres with normal ones

 

[markjay]

... i thought just about replacing the 20 tyres with normal ones

It won't fix it... but it will go some way towards improving things.

 

[Smiley]

Have a look in the owners manual to see what the smallest wheel that will fit / is approved. Buy a set of those wheels used on ebay; put a new set of matching tyres on. Sell the 20s on ebay.....someone with 19s will want to "upgrade".

 

[Merc220cls]

I could never understand the need for the current trend of the fitting huge wheels with low profile tyres.
Give me big fat tyres any day as they are much smoother on the road, remember the XJ6 when it was launched, (well maybe not lol) where the rider was super smooth.
Put on top of this, the current state of our roads and there lies the problem.
I’m sure the standard fit would be 19” the same as fitted on my CLS Shooting Brake but even with these the ride can be very firm especially on our rough roads.
My SL (2004) is fitted with 17” with bigger tyres and the ride is much smoother. I was tempted to upgrade the wheels to a more modern style but have changed my mind as I don’t want to impart the ride and spoil things.
Have a word with your local tyre specialist who may be able to supply tyres with a larger profile to improve things. I would certainly aim for a matched set as I always feel tyres of a different make and pattern work against each other. You don’t see Lewis Hamilton going out with a mixed set do you !

 

[markjay]

I could never understand the need for the current trend of the fitting huge wheels with low profile tyres.

Aesthetics?

 

[SmartAmg]

I could never understand the need for the current trend of the fitting huge wheels with low profile tyres.
Give me big fat tyres any day as they are much smoother on the road, remember the XJ6 when it was launched, (well maybe not lol) where the rider was super smooth.
Put on top of this, the current state of our roads and there lies the problem.
I’m sure the standard fit would be 19” the same as fitted on my CLS Shooting Brake but even with these the ride can be very firm especially on our rough roads.
My SL (2004) is fitted with 17” with bigger tyres and the ride is much smoother. I was tempted to upgrade the wheels to a more modern style but have changed my mind as I don’t want to impart the ride and spoil things.
Have a word with your local tyre specialist who may be able to supply tyres with a larger profile to improve things. I would certainly aim for a matched set as I always feel tyres of a different make and pattern work against each other. You don’t see Lewis Hamilton going out with a mixed set do you !

I would hardly call 20" "huge"