[Travis]

Hello,

I have been struggling with how bad the ride quality is in my CLA her in Pennsylvania. I bought the car because I love the look of my 2014 CLA! I think it may be the best styled Mercedes, however the ride over bumps is horrible, and embarrassing to passengers. The vehicle has the sport package and run flat tires. I’m wondering if anyone had any luck with different tires to soften the harsh ride? If anyone lives in PA where roads are horrible that be even more helpful! Any help will be appreciated! I want to keep the car but if I can’t get it to drive a bit softer I may need to trade it.

 

[Geo K]

Tire pressures are labeled on your door pillar and gas filler hatch. Which are you using and what are the actual readings?

 

[jmc]

In addition to pressures as Geo noted changing to standard tires will smooth out the ride somewhat
The suspension will still be firm (as designed) but the ride will be less harsh

 

[Travis]

Thanks for your feedback! I was wonder if I could ask some follow up questions ?
1. Did you switch out the tires to a standard tire on your CLA?
2. What tire did you purchase?
3. on a scale on 1-10 how much did you feel it improved?

I will need to travel for work now, and I just want to get some of the harshness out of it! I feel every little bump through the car. I’m ok with it being a bit stiff, but I want to soften the bumps a bit.

 

[Travis]

Thanks for your feedback! I was wondering if I could ask some follow up questions ?
1. Did you switch out the tires to a standard tire on your CLA?
2. What tire did you purchase?
3. on a scale on 1-10 how much do you feel it improved?

I will need to travel for work now, and I just want to get some of the harshness out of it! I feel every little bump through the car. I’m ok with it being a bit stiff, but I want to soften the bumps a bit.

 

[Aguila-Uno]

Like others have said, changing tire pressures helps quite a bit. Takes the edge off. I go with the pressures on the gas cap (which are lower) rather than the ones on the door jamb.

I have been using run flats (Pirelli P Zero Nero in the past and now Bridgestone Driveguards). I hate them and I am done with run flats. I just threw a donut in my trunk and have ordered conventional tires (Continental ContiProContact). Will be getting them installed in the next few days so I will report back and let you know if it helps improve the ride.

 

[Aguila-Uno]

One more thing. You could try to get smaller size rims say 17” with a bigger sidewall profile which would give you a bit more cushion. I haven’t gone down that route due to the $$$ behind getting 4 new wheels

 

[Travis]

Thanks for the feedback! I would like to avoid changing the wheels too! I like them! I am excited to hear how changing the tires helps you. What state do you live in? We have the worse roads here in pa .

 

[jmc]

My oem rfts were the bridgestones harsh scale 9
New tires conti extremecontactsport harsh scale 7
Nominal cold pressures 36f 32r

 

[Aguila-Uno]

Thanks for the feedback! I would like to avoid changing the wheels too! I like them! I am excited to hear how changing the tires helps you. What state do you live in? We have the worse roads here in pa .

I live in NC. Roads are ok for the most part. I do drive often to Ohio where it is way more bumpy. I have lost a few fillings driving on those roads

 

[tom32256]

We put Goodyear ComforTread tires on our 2016 CLA to improve the ride. Definitely smoother.

 

[RSM]

Yes definitely lose the runflats and either pick up an inflation kit or a donut. I went Michelin’s and it helped. Rim size will also make a difference but the change is pricey.

 

[Dibbo]

OEM Dunlop run flats were pretty brutal - 9 - however they handled changes in direction exceptionally well.

Second set I put on Continental Contisport 5 - dropped it a little to 7, but that came with a lot more wallow on sharp direction changes, like the car turned 0.2sec after you wanted it too . . . not being a hard walled run flat and all. Wear rate was extremely high too, so they worked hard to hold on. These took it too far the wrong way for me.

3rd set put on 6 months ago went to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 - still a 7 or even up a notch to 8, but massive improvement over the Conti's in terms of response (plus I can already see wear is excellent in comparison). Same grip in the dry, Conti's probably a tad better cornering in the wet, but you have to be really pushing hard to notice and I lost confidence in Conti after 8/ 10th's to be honest.

Not a tyre bash, but the Michelins are better suited than the Conti's for me if I was going off the OEM run flats. Similar harshness, but the handling and response is much closer to the fun flats.

Change back to a 17R/65 profile and drop to 32 pressures and you'll be right, but defeats the CLA attitude . . . or buy a C class for the commutes?

 

[Homelander]

Hello,

I have been struggling with how bad the ride quality is in my CLA her in Pennsylvania. I bought the car because I love the look of my 2014 CLA! I think it may be the best styled Mercedes, however the ride over bumps is horrible, and embarrassing to passengers. The vehicle has the sport package and run flat tires. I’m wondering if anyone had any luck with different tires to soften the harsh ride? If anyone lives in PA where roads are horrible that be even more helpful! Any help will be appreciated! I want to keep the car but if I can’t get it to drive a bit softer I may need to trade it.

Imo 2014 cla's are like that. I had the first cla when they came out and the ride wasnt that smooth. But you know... it is a sports coupe so i didnt expect it to ride like a luxury. Its a low end benz so you have to be reasonable ?. I lease a 2018 cla now and the ride is much more smooth. Maybe they were working out the kinks ... but i do recognize a big difference. Cant wait to see what 2020 or 2021 feels like. Im already im love with interior upgrade!

 

[412Yinzer]

Hello,

I have been struggling with how bad the ride quality is in my CLA her in Pennsylvania. I bought the car because I love the look of my 2014 CLA! I think it may be the best styled Mercedes, however the ride over bumps is horrible, and embarrassing to passengers. The vehicle has the sport package and run flat tires. I’m wondering if anyone had any luck with different tires to soften the harsh ride? If anyone lives in PA where roads are horrible that be even more helpful! Any help will be appreciated! I want to keep the car but if I can’t get it to drive a bit softer I may need to trade it.

Hi,
I bought my cla in 2014 its the edition 1. I was told when I bought it that the ride quality was poor. The newer Cla's seem to be much smoother with a quieter ride. It is embarrassing when you hit a bump and it sounds like your entire car is going to break. I've tried different model run flats (Michelin pilot sport) and it helped some but not much and they are pricey. I also have this annoying rattle sound that i cant find. It sounds like every screw needs to be tightened again.

 

[jmc]

In recent weeks compared my 14 with new conti extremecontactsport 235/40 tires to others

Rode in 2015genesisg70 2014madza3 2018mazda3 2020cla250 2017jagxe 2017audia4 2011e350 and 1995acuralegend
The legend was smoothest (as expected) even on 225/45-17s instead of 205/60-15s
All the others were same or worse than my 14
The genesis was surprisingly lumpy and jittery
Newer mazdas are a tad more quiet until the wind noise kicks in >50mph

Overall non rft tires (at 36/32psi) on a 14 even with sport suspension aint so bad comparatively

Gonna try some lexus sedans soon ...

 

[Aguila-Uno]

So I finally switched over to conventional tires after 70k miles with my run flats. All I can say is that I don’t know why I waited so long. Ride is better now for sure. I would say there is a 20% improvement. It takes the edge off when you hit the bumps and makes it smoother. By no means it will ride like an S Class. So you will still feel all the bumps but they are more muted so to speak. It works well for me. Like another poster said, that’s part of the CLA attitude. It is a sports coupe after all and I am ok with that. I can tell that they don’t handle as well in the curves as the run flats. I feel just a little bit more of body roll, but I am good with that. Most of my driving is commutes and traffic and only about 20% is spirited back roads sports style driving so these conventional tires work for me. I went with the Continental ContiPro Contact and happy with them. They are definitely way more quiet vs the run flats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jmc]

So I finally switched over to conventional tires after 70k miles with my run flats. All I can say is that I don’t know why I waited so long...

Yup ... muted road acoustics ... little more wallowing in corners
But still sticks very well

 

[DrOzCLA]

I swapped out my Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S set a month or so ago with Continental SportContact 6, and as above, a little more wallow in corners and at high speed, just as sticky as the Michelin's, but a bit of a step up in ride comfort and quietness. Only downside I have found is that the Michelin's held my tire sheen for much longer, I am guessing the Conti 'black chilli' compound either doesn't let it stick as well, or is darn good at absorbing it! So my tires are not as shiny on the side walls as before... first world problems.

 

[jmc]

@DrOzCLA
You know those fancy expensive animal hair brushes reserved for the boss’ (woman’s) suede shoes?
Steal it and use a very light dab of nonsolvent rubber conditioner (like the german rubber protectant) and brush it in
A little elbow grease (and antiscreams earplugs) may give the results you want
Leaves a nonsling semimatte finish