C220 16" or 17" Wheels?

[8ig_steve]

I am just finalising the spec on my new C220 CDI Elegance Estate. I am seriously considering going for the no cost option of 16" wheels. This is because the roads around the village where I live are so badly potholed I am hoping smaller wheels will help with the ride.

I would love to hear opinions on this option from members! before I finally decide

 

[markjay]

I always went for the thicker rubber because I am more interested in ride comfort rather than opposite-lock performance.

Admittedly the larger shiny wheels do look the part, and the car will be easier to sell-on with them, but as said for me comfort is premium...

Same goes for the various lowered-suspension 'sport' and 'avantgarde' models - not for me, not with London speed bumps...

Interestingly, when I started driving career, /80 tyres were 'standard' for 'passenger cars', i.e. the tyre carried no special marks, while sporty Italian cars had /70 tyres who were so labelled e.g. 185/70. In the Eighties, the likes of the Golf GTI and 205 GTI amazed everyone with the radical super-sporty /60 tyres... if I remember correctly, initially only Pirelli made them. Ride quality in cars have been going downhill ever since, with /55 tyres being the norm for everyday family cars. Sheer madness, if you ask me...

 

[D-18]

I made a similar choice recently between 16" and 17" wheels on my E280. Decided to go with the 16" as my view is the same as markjay's - the larger wheels look better, but I'm more interested in comfort than looks.

I was able to try the same car with both size of wheels and there was less difference than I would have expected. That said, I would make the same choice again as I do think the 16" wheels are a bit more forgiving over the urban blacktop.

The suspension setup probably contributes far more to the overall ride quality than the size of the wheels/tyres, unless you go for some of the really low profile 'teeth chattering' stuff.

 

[Lockking]

I always went for the thicker rubber because I am more interested in ride comfort rather than opposite-lock performance.

Admittedly the larger shiny wheels do look the part, and the car will be easier to sell-on with them, but as said for me comfort is premium...

Same goes for the various lowered-suspension 'sport' and 'avantgarde' models - not for me, not with London speed bumps...

Interestingly, when I started driving career, /80 tyres were 'standard' for 'passenger cars', i.e. the tyre carried no special marks, while sporty Italian cars had /70 tyres who were so labelled e.g. 185/70. In the Eighties, the likes of the Golf GTI and 205 GTI amazed everyone with the radical super-sporty /60 tyres... if I remember correctly, initially only Pirelli made them. Ride quality in cars have been going downhill ever since, with /55 tyres being the norm for everyday family cars. Sheer madness, if you ask me...

"Those were the days my friend" Remember the crossplys?

 

[fuzzer]

Last year id have said 18" ... this year 16" all the way based on the roads