19’s or 20’s

Lukecoles

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Hi, looking to change my wheels on my 2010 E Class saloon, anyone got any opinions/thoughts on a nice wheel size fit, currently on 18’s but the car just dwarfs the wheels and definitely needs something bigger!
 

LostKiwi

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The bigger you go the worse the ride and the greater the likelihood of rim damage on potholes UK roads.
 
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Lukecoles

Lukecoles

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Yeah I hear you, the roads around aren’t too bad at all, I’ve driven around on 22”s on previous cars so not too concerned there. But yeah I agree it will effect the handling/ride
 

bembo449

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I think 19's but it still depends on the style of rim you go for pal , certain styles appear larger in the arches than others
 

Craiglxviii

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40C90DA6-2F7A-43F7-9423-A37C8A060A8B.jpeg 18” are about the ideal compromise between style and ride comfort.
These are 18”.

IMNAAHO going above 19” is just pure style over substance and will seriously deteriorate the ride & handling of your car. Particularly as it’s an E Class, they’re meant to look stately.
 

SmartAmg

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These are 19s on my ,
E class coupe.
20180828_172022.jpg
 

LostKiwi

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I have 19s on both our SLs. Both cars came on them but I swapped to 17s on one of them and ride quality was markedly better. It's now back on 19s after I wore out the 17s...

Both SLs have non standard tyres - both are running wider tyres than recommended which also increases the sidewall height.
 

Blobcat

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I'd go with 17's as I struggle to see the wheels from the drivers seat.

I was always a fan of these:

 

Glynn350

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I think 19's look perfect on an E class. The standard 18's look too small, especially on the coupe, and 20's will look too big and bling wannabe. Unless that is your thing...
 
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Lukecoles

Lukecoles

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I'd go with 17's as I struggle to see the wheels from the drivers seat.

I was always a fan of these:

Based on that, should just drive a Ford Fiesta as I can’t see what the car looks from the outside?
 
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Lukecoles

Lukecoles

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I think 19's look perfect on an E class. The standard 18's look too small, especially on the coupe, and 20's will look too big and bling wannabe. Unless that is your thing...
Yeah I don’t want it to look like a pimped out drug dealers car, 19’s may be the best option, wider rears too
 

Craiglxviii

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Yeah I don’t want it to look like a pimped out drug dealers car, 19’s may be the best option, wider rears too
Why do you need a staggered setup? It'll increase the cost of rubber, that's for sure.
 

keefysher

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Regardless of the wheel size you go for the 'fill' of the space will be the same as you change sidewall ratio without altering the gearing of the car, surely.

Are you going to change the suspension too? Lower it.

The 'shape' of the wheels and colour would likely give you more effect to show off. The wrong shape/colour will make it look like a half hearted attempt at a drug mobile.

Mercs lend themselves to multi spoke or 5 spoke imho. Out of my 4 Mercs 3 have had 5 spoke silver wheels, both W211 E Class had 16" 5 spoke and looked elegant, 1 was an Avantgarde with lowered suspension as standard. The W221 S Klasse had 19" staggered 20 spoke multi spoke silver that filled the arches to give a classic pose, even when raised on its air suspension. Similarly my W166 has 20" 5 spoke in two tone grey and when lifted right up on its air suspension where the arches are hardly filled looks like a tonka toy.

The W211 were plenty comfortable, but the Avantgarde was noticeably stiffer and suffered bump thump on uneven roads, especially when laden with 5 up.

A mate had 20" 5 spoke in silver on his W221 S Klasse. It was noticeably harsher riding than my W221 on 19".

Post #72 in this thread gives a view:
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/german-car-show-7-8-sept-billing.121171/page-4
 

Blobcat

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Based on that, should just drive a Ford Fiesta as I can’t see what the car looks from the outside?
Not exactly as a Ford Fiesta (no matter how nice the new ones are (and they are very nice)) are not a Mercedes E-Class. I have Mercedes because of how nice to drive they are, how comfortable they are and how they make me feel when driving them. I like to keep them clean and well maintained and I appreciate the external looks. I've always spent way more time in the drivers seat than on the outside so it's for my benefit not for those admiring glances (or shop window viewing)
 

Glynn350

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I'd say there is a higher proportion of people who's number one consideration is how a car looks (providing they have the money to be picky in this area) than there is those who only care how it drives.

When it comes to the best proportioned wheel size, all car's are different. My previous car, a Honda S2000, had 17" wheels, and IMO they looked the perfect size for the car. The earlier car came with 16's which looked too small, and aftermarket 18's looked out of proportion IMO.

Equally, if I walked out to an E class on 18's or smaller every morning, I wouldn't be happy with it. If I bought 20's I'd feel silly.
I walk out to my car with the optional MB 19's and I think it looks perfect.

Everybody has a different opinion though, and those opinions change as you get older. Function becomes more important than form, which is why a lot of MB owners are happy with their 18's on their E class.
 
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Lukecoles

Lukecoles

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E2877A15-3DA6-41FA-B648-7471AC1E9FC2.jpeg As it sits now...
 

Glynn350

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It might just be the angle, but it looks like the rear wheel has a load of positive camber on it
 
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Lukecoles

Lukecoles

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It might just be the angle, but it looks like the rear wheel has a load of positive camber on it
Maybe, both the rear springs have snapped so that’s not helping!
 


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