Joined
·
16 Posts
I have 245/45/20 tires on my new 300C. If I change to 245/50/20, same brand and model of tire, will I notice any difference in ride comfort?
Tire Sidewall Effect on Ride Comfort
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Joined
·
163 Posts
Unless the difference is extreme, I doubt you can actually tell. All else being equal, a taller sidewall should be more comfortable as it should have more "flex". A taller sidewall would also affect handling/cornering for the same reason. Trick is that "all else may not be equal", even within the same line of tires. They might compensate by making the sidewall a little stiffer...who knows? The "50" tire is almost an inch taller than the "45" so you'll travel a little faster than your speedo indicates (see Tire Size Calculator). IMHO, Continental makes the best riding/handling tires.
I ran 245/50/20 for a while to close the fender gap by 1/2" as well as add 1/2" more ground clearance. I could not feel any difference in ride comfort. Note: I had to grind off the front upper ball joint stud flush with the nut, as it rubbed on the tires.
Joined
·
16 Posts
Wow! That is very helpful, thanks!
Joined
·
4 Posts
My 2012 300C came with Michelin and was the noisiest car tire I have ever owned, I have always run Cooper CS5 tires and CS4 prior to that. The Coopers are extremely quiet, handle better with a smoother ride and have a lifetime warranty. The wife had made several 1500 mile round trips east coast heat and 2 tires had a slight bulge that felt like out of balance, the dealer took a look and replaced all 4, they were over half worn.
Joined
·
16 Posts
Which Michelin tire?
I recommend Michelin AS4 if you need all-season tires.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
