Low profile tyres no match for pot holes

[White Merc Estate]

Hi there everyone!

It's now got to the point where I'm seriously considering chopping in my E 220 D with 20" wheels and low profile tyres for a Volvo XC60 with 18" wheels and 'ordinary' tyres. My Mercedes is costing me a small fortune in wheels and tyres, what with all the pot holes I keep encountering 'out here in the sticks'!

Here's my question. Can my 20" wheels with low profile tyres be replaced with 18" wheels with ordinary tyres with a bit more rubber on them? Or would this be a costly nightmare because of the brakes and speedo and sat nav and stuff and stuff? Let me have you expert opinions guys, please.

Chris

 

[V6Matty]

Quickest way to check will be to look at the tyre options in your fuel cap, that would indicate the sizes available to fit your car, you can then go for the lowest possible without the worry of anything like Speedo being out of calibration

 

[lewyboy]

Hi there everyone!

It's now got to the point where I'm seriously considering chopping in my E 220 D with 20" wheels and low profile tyres for a Volvo XC60 with 18" wheels and 'ordinary' tyres. My Mercedes is costing me a small fortune in wheels and tyres, what with all the pot holes I keep encountering 'out here in the sticks'!

Here's my question. Can my 20" wheels with low profile tyres be replaced with 18" wheels with ordinary tyres with a bit more rubber on them? Or would this be a costly nightmare because of the brakes and speedo and sat nav and stuff and stuff? Let me have you expert opinions guys, please.

Chris

I don't blame you, I am picking up a new XC90 on Thursday, I opted for the smallest wheels, 19" for comfort.

I don't really get big wheels, they don't make the car any faster.

 

[JBell]

Here's my question. Can my 20" wheels with low profile tyres be replaced with 18" wheels with ordinary tyres with a bit more rubber on them? Or would this be a costly nightmare because of the brakes and speedo and sat nav and stuff and stuff? Let me have you expert opinions guys, please.

No problem

Front wheel 8Jx18 ET43 fitted with 245/45R18 100Y XL
Rear wheel 9Jx18 ET53 fitted with 275/40R18 99Y XL

These sizes will keep everything in tolerance so the speedo etc will all read correctly

 

[mioba]

I don't blame you, I am picking up a new XC90 on Thursday, I opted for the smallest wheels, 19" for comfort.

I don't really get big wheels, they don't make the car any faster.

they look good thats all.

Functionality - no

 

[Blobcat]

I had 17" wheels on my W213 E220d with 225/55 tyres, no issues with wheels cracking or tyre damage. Your brakes might be larger although I'd find someone with 17"'s and see if they'll fit over your calipers - I expect they will and your woes will go away

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

How many wheels and tyres are you getting through? My wife is the best pot hole spotter in the country lol. My son’s E220d on 20in wheels has had 1 cracked wheel in 80k miles so I consider he has done very well but the car sees a lot of motorway and A roads.

 

[PaulG]

 

[ajlsl600]

Perhaps an en mass refusal to pay road tax, in whatever guise would be the way forward. We sure pay enough for privilege of having tyres, rims wrecked.

 

[Blobcat]

Perhaps an en mass refusal to pay road tax, in whatever guise would be the way forward. We sure pay enough for privilege of having tyres, rims wrecked.

Which is one reason it was changed to Vehicle Excise Duty - the exchequer realised how much £££ was coming in and wanted to use it for other things... that and it allowed Toll Roads to be made without the argument that drivers are paying twice for them...

 

[ajlsl600]

Wxxxers. Instead solve prob, change rules,

 

[White Merc Estate]

Thanks guys, for all your answers, especially JBell.

How many wheels and tyres are you getting through? My wife is the best pot hole spotter in the country lol. My son’s E220d on 20in wheels has had 1 cracked wheel in 80k miles so I consider he has done very well but the car sees a lot of motorway and A roads.

I've lost count! I think it's 2 wheels = c£1,500 and 4 tyres = c£1,300. Plus, I replaced the run flats which were on there when I bought it second-hand = £1,500, so that little lot tots up to £4,300ish. Then there's all the stress, wasted time, breakdown fiascos, I could go on...

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Thanks guys, for all your answers, especially JBell.

I've lost count! I think it's 2 wheels = c£1,500 and 4 tyres = c£1,300. Plus, I replaced the run flats which were on there when I bought it second-hand = £1,500, so that little lot tots up to £4,300ish. Then there's all the stress, wasted time, breakdown fiascos, I could go on...

Not good is it! The wheels will weld successfully but only if the crack is less than 20mm long we have a very good wheel refurbisher near us who welded my son’s 20in wheel and the repair wasn’t visible

 

[JBell]

Thanks guys, for all your answers, especially JBell.

I've lost count! I think it's 2 wheels = c£1,500 and 4 tyres = c£1,300. Plus, I replaced the run flats which were on there when I bought it second-hand = £1,500, so that little lot tots up to £4,300ish. Then there's all the stress, wasted time, breakdown fiascos, I could go on...

Part of the problem is the Run Flats, the side walls are so stiff they send more shock through the wheels

 

[DSK]

The roads are truly awful for all low profile wheels period regardless of size. Anything with lots of side wall, relatively simple and robust suspension is what you need. What used to be pot holes are now craters. The repairs last 2 weeks at best. They are even littering the motorways.

I was doing similar similar but looking at the old Mitsubishi shogun warrior as one pulled up alongside last week, looked like a mini monster truck and in the moment just seemed so right too for our roads and to beat about in with all the blind dim wit idiots on the roads. Seemed like a no brainier, cheaper than a set Wheels/tyres and who cares if someone dinks it, ground clearance, no problem, practicality to be beaten, simple to maintain ….. I was stunned at the price of the legendary Toyota Landcruisers though. Shame the diesels will be forced off off the roads….


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[EmilysDad]

The roads are truly awful for all low profile wheels period regardless of size. ....

Arghhhh! You meant FULL STOP!

 

[Blobcat]

Arghhhh! You meant FULL STOP!

That's what the pot holes bring you to...

 

[lewyboy]

they look good thats all.

Functionality - no

I also prefer plain alloys rather than diamond cut.

(I suppose that white 8-spokes are out as well now)?

 

[Wighty]

Perhaps an en mass refusal to pay road tax, in whatever guise would be the way forward. We sure pay enough for privilege of having tyres, rims wrecked.

Ok buddy , but I’ve got the top bunk when the po-po round us up

 

[Chrishazle]

I was doing similar similar but looking at the old Mitsubishi shogun warrior as one pulled up alongside last week, looked like a mini monster truck and in the moment just seemed so right too for our roads and to beat about in with all the blind dim wit idiots on the roads.

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I used to enjoy intimidating everyone with the RR Vogue I had in the late 80's or maybe early 90's. Tow hitch on the back, step-ups on 2" steel tubular framework both sides and proper bull bar on the front. Even London black cabs thought twice about arguing with me in that! Wife was driving it very carefully and slowly one January on icy lane when it did not answer the steering on a LH bend, went across the road into the front OS corner of a Renault 18. Broke one of the bull bar mounting bolts and one of the spotlights, bull bar tipped back a little and put a 20p sized small dent in the bonnet. Renault was a write-off, bonnet crupmled and vertical, radiator back behind where the wheel was supposed to be - front OS wheel near the driver's door, luckily no-one hurt.