I have a 2014 SLK 200 AMG Sport with the standard 18" wheels and 245/35 tyres on the rear and 225/40 Tyres on the fronts. The car gets driven on the rural Devon/Cornwall roads which are seriously potholed and rough and I'm going through tyres, particularly fronts at some rate and often long before the tread is low.
Was thinking of swapping the wheels for 17" or even 16" with a deeper profile to try and deal with the constant banging down the potholes a little better.
I thought your roads pretty good during this years tour.
Much better than our rural roads locally.
And @DaveR. made sure we experienced the back roads.
I totally know what you’re saying.
Luckily around my way the roads are pretty good but I have ridden a motorcycle through the Devon and Cornwall countryside and some of the roads are that bad I was down to 15-20mph and scared of falling off.
I am going the other way and upgrading from 17” to 18” but with the extra side wall on the 17” the ride is softer on the odd ‘rough’ road that I have come across.
17” should fit as some 172s came with them but you will have to check 16” will fit over the brake callipers and if they do fit, with the ‘muscular look’ of the R172, they may look a bit small and tucked under the arches (E Type Jag comes to mind).
Good luck and keep us informed of what you go for.
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