[Beketoff]

Hi all,

I would like to know your experience, whether 17" inch rims make the riding comfort worse in terms of stiffness/noise compared to 16", other things equal (i.e. same type of tyres fit)?

I'm currently driving W246 with 17" rims and stock Pirelli runflats, and thinking of getting rid of runflats as they are definitely contributing to a very stiff ride (I feel and hear every crack, pothole, badly made speed bumps). However, I wonder whether a switch to normal conventional tyres fit on the same 17" rims will improve the riding comfort only marginally, as compared, for instance, to switching to smaller 16" rims and conventional tyres?

Also, is there a difference in stiffness/noise between the all-season tyres vs. normal summer / winter tyres? I understand that A/S tyres should have a stronger compound to be effective under all conditions, hence, harder/noisier driving?

 

[RedMercedesGuy]

A 16" tire will ride slightly more comfortably than a 17" tire if you keep the overall diameter (wheel + tire) the same as the 16" tire will have a larger sidewall measurement than the 17". I've never had run flat tires so I can't answer that part of the equation for you. Tire noise is a function of a number of factors including the tread design, material composition, stiffness/softness of the tire, etc. Most all season or summer tires are going to be quieter than a winter/snow tire as the tread design on a snow tire is going to be designed to clear the tread so that traction can be maintained.

The amount of tread left on the tire can also contribute to the amount of road noise.

Depending on the types of road you drive on you may or may not be able to tell the ride difference between 16" & 17" tires.

 

[S Addict]

My W220 S500 has the AMG 18's fitted.
It is vastly harsher ride than the 16's on my W140.
Albeit the W220 is a lot pointier in the corners.