"ALL 17"+ wheels are bent" - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Peyton300TD · #1 10-06-2006, 05:34 PM

i recently put 17" wheels on my 1995 wagon with 225/45/17 tires. and i LOVE them. the car handles soo much better.

BUT... today i went to get the wheels balanced (again) and the owner of the shop who has been in the biz 20 years says ALL wheels 17" and up are bent. because it doesn't take much to bend them. there is little tire between the wheel and the road. just a little pothole is all it takes.

well it turns out mine are not bent, thankfully.. but have you guys heard that? it sounds a little overboard to me.

e

Dubyagee · #2 10-06-2006, 05:43 PM

17" -> 24" wheels are easier to bend but that statement is a lie. If you put rubber bands on any wheel the risk of damage rises. His statement is probably based on wheels brought to him with issues during his 20 years.

rudolfgreen · #3 10-06-2006, 06:53 PM

larger diameter wheels, with shorter sidewalls, are for performance, not looks.
they hold road surfaces tightly, and need to be driven as designed.

traditional wheel/tire combinations are engineered to handle the variety of road conditions that occur,
and are far more adequate for everyday driving.

it comes down to the operator; they need to match their wheel/tire combos to their driving habits.

lkchris · #4 10-11-2006, 05:59 PM

Here is the statement printed by Mercedes in a 2007 E-class brochure on the E63 page:

Quote:

Lower aspect ratio tires and accompanying wheels provide substantially increased treadwear, increased tire noise and reduced ride comfort. Serious wheel and tire damage may occur if the vehicle is operated on rough or damaged road surfaces or upon encountering road debris or obstacles. These tires are not designed for use on snow and ice. Winter tires mounted on appropriately sized and approved wheels are recommended for driving in these conditions.

Yes, I know all the guys whose egos can't survive without big wheels will call this lawyerese.

As will most tire sellers.

diametricalbenz · #5 10-11-2006, 06:20 PM

Peyton300TD, I was going to ask where you live but then you live in MDR....and you know how LA drivers drive. Escalades on 24" wheels going 90mph repetitively over potholes will eventually cause some sort of damage.

t walgamuth · #6 10-12-2006, 07:35 AM

i saw a mid eighties chebby sedan the other day with these wheels that must have been mid twenties in diameter with the little rubber band tires on them. the wheels were gold color and the car had what looked to be a couple of feet of ground clearance.

i had to laugh out loud... it looked like it was ready to go out in the fields and spray fertilizer.

i am pretty sure this thought was not what the owner had in mind.

but hey!, you know it is indiana here.

tom w