Hi all,

I recently purchased a 83 300D turbo as a daily driver for my fiancee.. its still in the prep stage.. Anyway, after getting the A/C done and a couple of other things, I was considering replacing the gaudy wheels and tires on it..

It has 16 inch wheels with Yokohama 225/50R16 91V tires.. I think they're about $150 each!



I have a 86 300SDL with Goodyear tripletreds on it and the ride is great. The 300d ride isn't so good.

How do I tell if its the wheels/tires or the shocks?

My local benz boneyard will sell me good condition stock 14 inchers for $40 each if I give him these 16 inchers too.

Any thoughts?

Thanks ya'll.

LB

If you don't like the ride, sell these wheels and tires and get a set of 14" Bundts with Michelin tires. That should be enough cushion for you. Your local junkyard is trying to screw you. Heck, I'll swap you a good set of Bundts with off-brand new tires even.

Jay

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1984 300D turbodiesel
1983 300TD

Agreed. The ride is negatively impacted by the low profile tires. The weight of the tire wheel combo is a very big factor too. Heavy wheels make a car ride roughly. Tired shocks will too.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I would guess that more distance between the road and the rim would result in a softer ride.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Also, lower profile tires have a similar effect to increasing spring rates. I had 205/65R15s on my 300D and have them on the 300Sd. Decent compromise.

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
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Do I miss being a service advisor ???

Ride quality improved dramatically on my 240D when I got rid of the 195/60 14's it came with and went to 195/70 14's.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

That probably had as much to do with new fresh tires vs old dried out hard ones as the difference in sidewall height.

tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have a set of 14'' bundts with brand new tires I'll trade you.
Acutally if anyone wants them make me an offer. Wheels are ugly
tires are new on two but cheap. Two have marginal tires.

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

Sorry bud,

I was able to get some 6.5x14 bundts and put some michelins on it yesterday.. ride quality is much better.

I have 225/60 15 Yokohamas on both my 300CD and 300SD - they improved the handling, but did not affect the ride quality. I don't think the profile of the tires was the source of your ride quality issues - it was probably the condition of the tires you took off.

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Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

In this case it would have been IMHO a combination of the three things... condition of the tires, weight of the overall wheel tire package and difference in sidewall height.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have those on Max, my 300TD, but don't know what brand they are. Theu were already on it when I bought it. The ride is a little rough, but it sits low and manuvers very well. It's a blast to drive and feels much faster than it is because of its low stance.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles