wheel sizes

[gchild]

I currently have 16" oem alloys on my c280 sport. Question i have is what are the advantages/disadvantages of moving from this set up to say a set of 18" oem wheels?

your thoughts please?

 

[Blobcat]

Advantages first;
On a race track the larger rims will improve handling slightly
At the moment large rims are in fashion

Disadvantages;
Ride comfort will suffer
You will feel every imperfection in the road
Tramlining in the wet
More likely to damage the wheels in pot holes or against kerbs
Tyres cost more
You may get to be on first name terms with your Chiropractor

 

[noops]

I've got 18's on mine, the pro's are: better looking, better handling (less lean on sharper bends than a thicker profile tyre). Con's: can be a harsher ride, costs as in bigger wheels means bigger tyres which will mean spending more at the tyre shop. To be honest with you I would change them because as soon as I put mine on they transformed the car - it looks a lot newer but the only thing is now that it gets a lot more attention, which can be good or bad it all depends on your point of view.

What alloys are you looking at?.

 

[gchild]

Thanks for the prompt responses. Things that concern me are:
-ride comfort. The car suffers on poor roads as my car has been factory lowered as part of the sport spec. Would this get significantly worse?
-attention. Hopefully the look but don't touch kind would be preferable!

The wheels i am thinking of are amg II monoblocks from w210 E55.

 

[Blobcat]

I would recommend you try before you buy. I had 18" AMG monoblocks on my car when I bought it, I changed them for the standard 16" Avantgarde wheels as part of the deal.
If I wasn't doing the mileage I am and was to spend more time looking at the outside of the car then I may have kept the larger wheels. However I spend a lot of time driving and the only wheel I can see from the drivers seat is the steering wheel

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

ah, but there's always that crafty peek at the reflection in the shop window (occasionally followed by the horrible crunching sound of the guy in front's rear bumper becoming an integral part of your engine bay)

 

[Balal]

If I wasn't doing the mileage I am and was to spend more time looking at the outside of the car then I may have kept the larger wheels. However I spend a lot of time driving and the only wheel I can see from the drivers seat is the steering wheel

very well worded Blobcat ... totally agree with you.

 

[gchild]

I must add, I am a weekend driver doing not much mileage at all!

OmniCognateNeutronRangler - i've been there