Need wheel advice

[Coggers]

So, here's the background:

I own a W203 C55 AMG. I've never been too happy with the harsh ride of my car and so, at the PCS meet yesterday I asked Olly to look at the suspension for defects whilst he was up on the ramp.

He found nothing wrong, but immediately started questioning whether the wheels were correct for the car.

I have replica wheels which have low profile tyres and possibly the incorrect offset for the car, hence the ride comfort problems.

Here are the numbers I found on the wheels:

Front - 235/35Z/R19 (couldn't see the fronts without taking the wheels off due to the large discs)

Rear - 265/30Z/R19 19x9.5J ET 38

On alloywheelsdirect website it says I can fit up to 19" wheels on the car.

I need some expert wheel person to advise me on what they think I should do. I've tried using the wheel offset calculator but none of these numbers mean anything to me.

1. Is it possible that the lower quality of the replicas is causing my 'crashy' ride? If so, then I can replace them with identical 19" AMGs?

2. If its the low profile tyres or possibly an incorrect offset then I guess I need to look at different sized wheels altogether?

3. Option 3. I love the wheels and put up with the harsh ride causing crashing noises through the car when I hit bumps?

Thanks for taking the time to read my long winded explanation. Hope someone can help!

 

[Coggers]

Here is one of the wheels.



And on the car

 

[bolide]

30-profile Falken tyres & 19" rims... there's a clue there!

Try the car on 17s or 18s and see what it's like

Nick Froome

 

[renault12ts]

The off set (which determines how far the wheels stick out) is for the wheels not the tyres. The tyre sizes are correct for the wheels.

As above, I doubt it will make any difference what make the wheels are...19s will be crashy.

 

[Coggers]

It's not that easy just to try it on different wheels unless I borrow some. Justin1600 offered me a ride in his car so might try something like that.

Olly said about the fact that the tyres were stretched out to the width of the wheels which would make the side walls firmer but once again my lack of wheel knowledge is holding me back.

Maybe a tyre change would help?

 

[HB]

What suspension do you have? Eibachs with bilstein I guarantee will solve your issue. The crashyness will disappear.

 

[renault12ts]

It's not that easy just to try it on different wheels unless I borrow some. Justin1600 offered me a ride in his car so might try something like that.

Olly said about the fact that the tyres were stretched out to the width of the wheels which would make the side walls firmer but once again my lack of wheel knowledge is holding me back.

Maybe a tyre change would help?

They may be stretched....but they are the ones for the size of wheel. Even 18s will be harsh...19s must be awful.

 

[Coggers]

What suspension do you have? Eibachs with bilstein I guarantee will solve your issue. The crashyness will disappear.

I have the OEM suspension at the moment and suspension change was what I was originally talking about doing to solve the problem before all of the talk about wheels. If I could keep my wheels and solve the problem that would be absolutely ideal.

They may be stretched....but they are the ones for the size of wheel. Even 18s will be harsh...19s must be awful.

The trouble i need 18s or 19s to keep the car looking nice. 17s make it look like a toy car in my opinion. Guess its always a comprimise between comfort and looks. Was hoping to have both......maybe a suspension change is back on the table! LOL

 

[renault12ts]

Try an old Carrera...that's crashy. It goes with the territory...

 

[Charles Morgan]

I am running 18s with Bilstein coilovers and Yokohamas on my C55. The car does not particularly like choppy surfaces (nor indeed speed bumps) but there is absolutely no harshness to the ride (I find a harsh ride on a road car unforgiveable) - on good surfaces it is extremely good. I would try 18s before switching the suspension around.

 

[Coggers]

I am running 18s with Bilstein coilovers and Yokohamas on my C55. The car does not particularly like choppy surfaces (nor indeed speed bumps) but there is absolutely no harshness to the ride (I find a harsh ride on a road car unforgiveable) - on good surfaces it is extremely good. I would try 18s before switching the suspension around.

Hi Charles. I didn't get a chance to speak to you yesterday which was a shame, as I would have liked to have seen your car. Spent quite a while talking to Justin though.

Its all very frustrating. I absolutely love the car, and the only thing that bothers me even in the slightest is when I go over a pothole or drain and the panels in the car protest by making a crash noise.

If I change the wheels, I could end up changing the look of my car (probably for the worse) and get a similar ride. Its really frustrating!!

If I had £1500 for H&R suspension, £1900 for the wheels and £1000 for new tyres for the wheels, then I would do that of course.

18" AMG wheels with exactly the same look as mine are around £1900 (without tyres of course)

 

[Charles Morgan]

Coggers - it is most frustrating when a set-up is a bit of a pain, and a pretty horrible cost to change! I don't know where you are, but perhaps you, me, Justin and any others interested should have a bit of a session to learn about how each other's car is set up. Did you get to see Justin's car in action?

 

[Coggers]

No, he offered but I had to leave before I got a chance. By the time Olly had inspected my car, Justin had his car in for an oil change so didn't have time to hang around.

I'm near Portsmouth so would be good to meet up. I know BenzedUP meets a few people every now and then. He has H&R coilovers I believe.

Do you know of any specialists about? I'm just wondering whether its worth taking it to that place that Olly uses for car setups and getting them to look it over. Experts might be able to help me.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Suspension specialists - Wheels in Motion in Chesham set up the C55 after Olly fitted the coilovers and have done some good work for me - I recommend them highly.

 

[Coggers]

Suspension specialists - Wheels in Motion in Chesham set up the C55 after Olly fitted the coilovers and have done some good work for me - I recommend them highly.

Not sure if they are the ones that Olly mentioned. Bit far away for me.

 

[just240]

No, he offered but I had to leave before I got a chance. By the time Olly had inspected my car, Justin had his car in for an oil change so didn't have time to hang around.

I'm near Portsmouth so would be good to meet up. I know BenzedUP meets a few people every now and then. He has H&R coilovers I believe.

Do you know of any specialists about? I'm just wondering whether its worth taking it to that place that Olly uses for car setups and getting them to look it over. Experts might be able to help me.

Hi Coogers, great to meet you on Saturday. I think you should just take your car to one of the wheel specialists like the 1 Olly uses as they will be able to give you a definitive answer for everything.
FYI - I had a ride out in Charles car on Saturday to demonstrate his suspension setup. I can honestly say i was extremely impressed & although his car has been lowered considerably the ride & comfort where not compromised compared to my standard setup.
I'd be happy to take you out for a comparison drive if needed. I'm in London but BenzedUP & i thought of a good place to have a meet - Mercedes world at Brooklands in Surrey. Maybe we should try & arrange something. I also think Terrymcg might be interested as he'd done a few mods to his C55 as well & that makes 5 of us!

 

[Coggers]

That would be great! I'm still really torn as to what to do. Would be interesting to get other opinions as i'm extremely critical of my cars. It could just be the normal ride!

What weekends are you available?