Mercedes 20'' rims and run flat tyres

[Abbeyfeale]

Hi everyone, this topic has possibly been discussed previously as I am starting to believe it is a bigger problem that Mercedes want us to believe, I purchased a E220 with 20'' rims and run flat tyres, 99% of my driving is Motorway, the first couple of months all was ok then it started, blow out after blow out on the motorway, all rims with several cracks, 5 new tyres, Mercedes told me it was my style of driving and i must have been banging in to curbs. I would like to take this further and take Mercedes on because from what i can see on social media there are lots of people with the same problem, just needs putting all together

[swisstoni]

Abbeyfeale said:

Hi everyone, this topic has possibly been discussed previously as I am starting to believe it is a bigger problem that Mercedes want us to believe, I purchased a E220 with 20'' rims and run flat tyres, 99% of my driving is Motorway, the first couple of months all was ok then it started, blow out after blow out on the motorway, all rims with several cracks, 5 new tyres, Mercedes told me it was my style of driving and i must have been banging in to curbs. I would like to take this further and take Mercedes on because from what i can see on social media there are lots of people with the same problem, just needs putting all together

Problems like this are usually dealt with in the way you have experienced. It’s just you. Must be something you are doing wrong, etc, etc.
In the days before socials, this was pretty easy to pull off because there was no ‘community’.

But even now, unless you are the first owner and the car has an umblemished Mercedes service history, then I can’t see you having much luck with them.

I hope I’m just being a cynical pessimist in this case.

[Abbeyfeale]

swisstoni said:

Problems like this are usually dealt with in the way you have experienced. It’s just you. Must be something you are doing wrong, etc, etc.
In the days before socials, this was pretty easy to pull off because there was no ‘community’.

But even now, unless you are the first owner and the car has an umblemished Mercedes service history, then I can’t see you having much luck with them.

I hope I’m just being a cynical pessimist in this case.

Thanks for replying Toni, i would love to gather some other people that have had the same issue and response from Mercedes and then see where it leads

[swisstoni]

Abbeyfeale said:

swisstoni said:

Problems like this are usually dealt with in the way you have experienced. It’s just you. Must be something you are doing wrong, etc, etc.
In the days before socials, this was pretty easy to pull off because there was no ‘community’.

But even now, unless you are the first owner and the car has an umblemished Mercedes service history, then I can’t see you having much luck with them.

I hope I’m just being a cynical pessimist in this case.

Thanks for replying Toni, i would love to gather some other people that have had the same issue and response from Mercedes and then see where it leads

I would trawl the various Merc forums then, to see if you can find some reports of the same issue.

[Discombobulate]

Abbeyfeale said:

Hi everyone, this topic has possibly been discussed previously as I am starting to believe it is a bigger problem that Mercedes want us to believe, I purchased a E220 with 20'' rims and run flat tyres, 99% of my driving is Motorway, the first couple of months all was ok then it started, blow out after blow out on the motorway, all rims with several cracks, 5 new tyres, Mercedes told me it was my style of driving and i must have been banging in to curbs. I would like to take this further and take Mercedes on because from what i can see on social media there are lots of people with the same problem, just needs putting all together

I did 50,000 miles on a BMW 5 series with 19s and run flats. 4 bent wheels, one cracked wheel and three bulging side walls. No kerbing but I live in the sticks and lots of potholes that can be difficult to avoid.
20s and runflats is a combination asking for trouble.

[cduk]

I've had this in my Merc E53 with one cracked wheel so far. The RFT/20" wheel combo is clearly not fit for purpose. I don't think it's restricted to Merc either (as per the other post), I've had several buckled wheels on low profile-shod BMWs with run flats.

I'll be replacing with non-RFTs when they wear out sufficiently.

For those looking to get a car with large wheels and RFTs: Get the alloy wheel / tyre insurance!

[DamienCBR]

Sorry to say that 20" wheel are not suitable for our roads in the UK, particularly with run flats.
I have 20" wheel on my E220d estate night edition (probably the same wheel) and got rid of the run flats. I changed to PS4s all round in MO fitment and that has helped a lot. Just changed the fronts due to wear on the outside edge (probably a pot hole) after 30,000 miles, went for Goodyear Ass5 MO fitment this time and will change the rears soon.

I do a lot of motorway driving too.

Suggest changing to non-runflats and keeping a eye out for the pot hols.

D

[raspy]

DamienCBR said:

Sorry to say that 20" wheel are not suitable for our roads in the UK, particularly with run flats.
I have 20" wheel on my E220d estate night edition (probably the same wheel) and got rid of the run flats. I changed to PS4s all round in MO fitment and that has helped a lot. Just changed the fronts due to wear on the outside edge (probably a pot hole) after 30,000 miles, went for Goodyear Ass5 MO fitment this time and will change the rears soon.

I do a lot of motorway driving too.

Suggest changing to non-runflats and keeping a eye out for the pot hols.

D

20" wheels not suitable for UK roads? I've got 22" wheels on a BMW and they work very well for UK roads. In fact, I'm thinking of upgrading to 23" wheels now.

[DamienCBR]

raspy said:

20" wheels not suitable for UK roads? I've got 22" wheels on a BMW and they work very well for UK roads. In fact, I'm thinking of upgrading to 23" wheels now.

I'll rephrase it for you.
20" wheels with very low profile tyres are less than ideal.

You highlight you have a BMW with 22" wheel, guessing that is your iX40? If so you have 1.1" more side wall than i do or 34.4%, which is not insignificant.

This is based on the following
My 20" tyres 275/30R20 (rears)
Your 22" tyres 275/40R22

[raspy]

DamienCBR said:

I'll rephrase it for you.
20" wheels with very low profile tyres are less than ideal.

You highlight you have a BMW with 22" wheel, guessing that is your iX40? If so you have 1.1" more side wall than i do or 34.4%, which is not insignificant.

This is based on the following
My 20" tyres 275/30R20 (rears)
Your 22" tyres 275/40R22

Oh I see, I see your point, now that you clarified. 30s are indeed very low!