2 cracked alloys and 6 damaged tyres in 15 months

[keelbyfish]

TooMany2cvs said:

Well, you say "an E-Class with AMG alloys" - but the only one that comes with 20" as standard is the E63S. Even the vanilla E63 is "only" on 19"... So is that what we're talking about, or is this an option that you actively chose because of cosmetic reasons?

Ive just looked on the configurator and they're '20" AMG alloy wheels - multi-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in titanium grey with high-sheen fini
+ £595'

Having never experienced anything like this before I thought they seemed like a decent option.

[keelbyfish]

cb1965 said:

So what if he did? If Merc specify it as an option then it should be fit for purpose.

Thank you.

[TooMany2cvs]

keelbyfish said:

Ive just looked on the configurator and they're '20" AMG alloy wheels - multi-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in titanium grey with high-sheen fini
+ £595'

So could be any AMG-line, from E220d upwards. What size tyres are they shod with?

What size does standard-fit start at on E-classes fitted with the same engine as yours?

Rim diameter on the E-class range in general in the UK goes up from 17" - in Germany, they start at 16".

Can I point you back to...

keelbyfish said:

Oilchange said:

I'm a bit cynical, I think the whole situation revolves around two things

1st the obsession with alloys that are really too big, shod with tyres that are possibly too thin and subsequently don't have the impact absorption a fatter tyre would have. Couple that with stiff suspension and a road system that is at best, below average and you have a recipe for broken wheels. Anything bigger than 17" is imo too big really.

2nd the manufacturers awareness of this ^ and their absolute delight to provide the customer with what they want (fashion?) safe in the knowledge that there will be a decent profit from selling replacement oem alloys. And they can sidestep any blame by pointing at the roads.

A win win for the manufacturers.

Having said that, I've seen quite a few Jags wearing what look like average sized wheels (maybe 16"?) with fatter tyres, perhaps they are concerned about ruining the legendary Jaguar ride.

Couldn't agree with you more. They look nice, but with hindsight, they shouldn't really be selling them in the UK

You actively chose those wheels. They didn't force you to tick the option.
...and...

TooMany2cvs said:

Really? It came as a big surprise to you that a tyre with a sidewall > < this thick would pass on more impact from poor road surfaces than one with a much taller sidewall? Or it came as a surprise that road surfaces are poor?

[anonymous-user]

keelbyfish said:

cb1965 said:

So what if he did? If Merc specify it as an option then it should be fit for purpose.

Thank you.

Just ignore certain posters who have a beef with people buying large wheels and low profile tyres as they think you have no taste and of course what they think is more important than what you think.

Ignore, also, anyone who claims larger wheels will always do this as they won't if they are properly made. I went through 2 AMG IV split rims on my SL before I decided enough was enough and swapped to forged BBS. AMG IVs were roughly twice the price of the BBS (which themselves weren't cheap), but never had a problem since.

Many US Merc oweners have done the same moving to Vosen, BBS and the likes

[TooMany2cvs]

cb1965 said:

Ignore, also, anyone who claims larger wheels will always do this as they won't if they are properly made.

Perhaps they will, perhaps they won't.

The point is that 20" with 30/35 profile rubber is inherently going to be massively more prone to it than 17" with 55 profile rubber. This should be no surprise to anybody. Nor should the condition of the roads we drive on every day. To make a conscious and solely cosmetic choice like 20" option rims, then complain about the fairly predictable end result, seems a tad perverse.

[anonymous-user]

TooMany2cvs said:

cb1965 said:

Ignore, also, anyone who claims larger wheels will always do this as they won't if they are properly made.

Perhaps they will, perhaps they won't.

The point is that 20" with 30/35 profile rubber is inherently going to be massively more prone to it than 17" with 55 profile rubber. This should be no surprise to anybody. Nor should the condition of the roads we drive on every day. To make a conscious and solely cosmetic choice like 20" option rims, then complain about the fairly predictable end result, seems a tad perverse.

It's not a case of perhaps they will, perhaps they won't, it's a case of they won't if they're made properly. That is an engineering fact! What really rankles with you is the fact it was a cosmetic choice as you keep mentioning it so why not stop beating about the bush and hiding behind ill informed rhetoric and say what's really on your mind and then we can all move on and hopefully see the OP get a decent conclusion.

[TooMany2cvs]

cb1965 said:

What really rankles with you is...

Nothing at all.

I really couldn't care less about what wheels the OP chooses to buy. I'm merely explaining the reality of consequences.

[keelbyfish]

And as for suggesting its my style of driving or its the roads I use, in total i probably total around 40,000 miles a year. Ive got no points and get around 55 mpg .

I cover all the East Midlands and South and West Yorkshire, so one particular authority isn't to blame. However its a well known fact the Uk roads are probably in a worst state than they've ever been. If it had been 1or2 Id probably had thought id been unlucky but to have to fork out a fortune where Im totally blameless is not good.

Im one very disappointed Mercedes customer and as its quite clear they really don't give a dam

[anonymous-user]

TooMany2cvs said:

cb1965 said:

What really rankles with you is...

Nothing at all.

I really couldn't care less about what wheels the OP chooses to buy. I'm merely explaining the reality of consequences.

Excellent, so let's move on then.

[gsxr renegade]

I'm genuinely properly staggered that the OP thinks Mercedes should bear any responsibility in the slightest for this.

The simple fact is it's the state of the roads/you hitting potholes that is causing your tyres to fail and your wheels to break.

I would imagine Mercedes will have the wheels stringently tested to make sure they're up to standard and safe, but there is an element of responsibility on the OP to avoid the worst of the potholes and if that isn't an option then blame needs to be pointed at the people responsible for maintaining the roads, not the dealer/manufacturer FFS.

It's threads like this that make me glad I don't work in a public facing role....

[keelbyfish]

I'm clearly not your typical Piston Head. The amount of milage I do doesn't make driving that much of a pleasure. I just wanted a car that was comfortable, economical and looked nice

I was just hoping to get some advice off motoring enthusiasts

[gsxr renegade]

keelbyfish said:

I'm clearly not your typical Piston Head. The amount of milage I do doesn't make driving that much of a pleasure. I just wanted a car that was comfortable, economical and looked nice

I was just hoping to get some advice off motoring enthusiasts

Fair enough, apologies my post came off quite harsh.

If you are looking for recompense, I'd start with the authority/authorities responsible for the roads where the damage has occurred.

They have a responsibility to keep the roads up to standard and if you're hitting potholes that are sometimes unavoidable then they do bear some responsibility for that.

Granted it is a pain is the arse but I'd be keeping a record of where the damage occurs so you can report it to the relevant authority.

If they are aware of the hole and haven't fixed it properly or at all, then you have legitimate grounds for a claim against them.

[anonymous-user]

keelbyfish said:

I'm clearly not your typical Piston Head. The amount of milage I do doesn't make driving that much of a pleasure. I just wanted a car that was comfortable, economical and looked nice

I was just hoping to get some advice off motoring enthusiasts

As I said ignore the naysayers. This is a well documented issue with Mercedes and BMW alloy wheels. I have been where you are, but the problem is that getting Mercedes to accept any responsibility is going to be hard work and they know it so they play the percentages game. If you want some reassurance that you're right select any alloy wheel refurbisher who straightens wheels and ask them how many bent or cracked AMG wheels they get and their reply will be 'plenty'. However that doesn't hep you.

Sadly I think you're unlikely to find a solution via Mercedes without a lot of legal wrangling and therefore you need to find the cheapest way to get some better wheels on your car. I would also consider ditching the run-flats as that will definitely improve the ride too. Sorry i can't be more encouraging, but take some small consolation in the fact that you are right and the wheels are not really fit for purpose.

[HustleRussell]

Specifying 20” wheels on a car which you are going to punt up and down the motorway for 40,000 miles a year is like buying a pair of Brogues and going out delivering mail in them.

[E36Ross]

Don't get the obsession with big wheels/rubber band tyres.

My car is on 195/45R16 and that's a pain to drive but I can't change size so I live with it, You do feel every bump though and do ps off some people when you drive that bit slower on a stty road. Can't image driving a 30 or 35 profile.

My daily is on 195/70R15 and is a joy to drive, barely feel any little bumps.


Is the Merc really an AMG, Why not fit on a set of 18" with bigger tyres to match?

[Ron99]

Last winter my Swift Sport suffered two badly damaged tyres on B-roads. Fortunately the rims seem fairly robust and were fine.

When winter arrives and the recently-filled potholes re-open (and are joined by even more potholes) I think the car will become un-driveable on the roads where it should excel. So I doubt the car will still be with me after the end of the summer.

[Paddymcc]

Had exact same problems with 19" AMG Type III alloys. Cracked 2 sets before I binned them and fitted some aftermarket OEMS wheels and haven't had a problem in 3 years.

I drove the exact same roads on a 911 and M3 with 19" wheels and never suffered the same problems so I suspect it's mercedes ste wheel and suspension combo.

[bobbo89]

HustleRussell said:

Specifying 20” wheels on a car which you are going to punt up and down the motorway for 40,000 miles a year is like buying a pair of Brogues and going out delivering mail in them.

Exactly what I was thinking, if I was doing that mileage for work i'd want 16's and balloon tyres!

[98elise]

havoc said:

KungFuPanda said:

It’s the roads that aren’t fit for purpose not the wheels.

The UK retail arm of the mfrs know full well what UK roads are like. But their marketing departments insist on pushing oversized alloys so as to make more money.

I'd say the mfrs DO have a responsibility, quite frankly.

(And yes, the councils and HA have arguably greater responsibility)

The wheels are fit for purpose, that purpose is to look good at the expense of comfort and compliance.

Their marketing department don't force you to buy the wheels, or the car. If you want to avoid pothole damage then buy smaller wheels and higher profile tyres.

I have owned a Merc with AMG wheels but I realised I needed to drive it differently to the ford fiesta (with high profile tyres) it replaced

[Adam_W]

keelbyfish said:

Can anyone suggest what my next step should be?

Slow down a bit, stop tailgating so you can see the road ahead and avoid driving over the rough bits and in the gutter.

I've done over 30k miles a year in the UK over the last 4 years, not even a puncture on my huge BMW alloys and low profile RFTs