Rims advice for W124 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hookedonbenz · #1 11-05-2004, 02:30 PM

I'm looking to do an upgrade with my rims. I'm struggling a little bit as to what will work with the w124. I hear that 16 x 7.5's offer the best combo for handling performance and ride quality. Will a 17 x 7.5 with 215/50/17 create a big difference in smoothness? Will the handling be any better? How well do they fit in the wheel wells?

Does anyone recommend or discourage staggered configurations for these models. I know it's a pain when it comes to not being able to rotate wheels. I see a lot of used staggered rims for sale, and I usually skip over them. Lastly, what is the widest rim that can still tuck into the wells without scraping, whether or not it's a lowered setup. Thanks.

HOB

Ashman · #2 11-08-2004, 03:08 AM

I have 17x7.5 offset 30 with 225/45/17 rubber.

Havent had ny problems with this setup.

Alon

ksing44 · #3 11-08-2004, 07:21 AM

Hey Alon,
It is hard to believe that you don’t have any problems with rubbing. Your offset must have the wheels sticking way out past the edge of the fenders. The OEM set-up was ET44 or ET42 and many guys go as low as ET35, but ET30 is definitely lower than most guys run on a W124. In addition, for most W124s, the 225s rub somewhere unless the offset is perfect.

I wanted to try 225/50/16 on my AMG wheels that are 16" x 7.5" ET37, but I am just too worried about rubbing the lower plastic cladding at the back of the front wheel wells. I have been running the recommended tire size of 205/55/16 and they fit fine with no rubbing. My friend tried 215/55/16 with 16 x 7.5 ET35 and the tires rubbed. The 215s were just slightly taller than OEM and they rubbed. The 215s fit OK, if you have 17" x 7.5" ET35 rims and run 215/45/17 tires. I was led to believe, after quite a bit of reading, that you could only fit the 225s if you have a PERFECT offset of ET42.

It seems that your tires must stick out past the edge of the fenders.

My 205/55/16 mounted on 16" x 7.5" ET37 AMGs.

Ashman · #4 11-08-2004, 03:45 PM

I have no rubbing problems. The wheels do not stick out, they are perfect.

I have only ever had a slight rub when I have rear paaengers which is rarely, and I hit a dip in the road. otherwise its all good.

I could even go with an 17x8 et 28, but then I would want to do some fender rolling and or other minor mods to ensure no rubbing.

I'm on my 2nd set of 225's as well, and my car is lowered.

I believe the coupe is slightly different in the rear fender wells than the sedans, and the front is probably the same.

I also have a fender spacing kit form amg for the front I may put in just because I have it.

When I got the wheels, I asked luke at tirerack, and he ensured me they would work fine, and they do. Can't argue with that. I've had them ont he car for 2-3 years now.

Alon

ksing44 · #5 11-08-2004, 04:22 PM

In the past, I am pretty sure I asked Luke too. As I remember, he was not willing to commit to 225s on a W124, because too many people were having issues with rubbing. I think there was a time when he did recommend that the 225s would fit. Maybe there is enough variability in the W124s to account for the different experiences described on these forums and maybe Luke has changed his recommendation to reflect feedback from the customers that had problems.

I just wasn’t willing to risk it with the Tirerack order I made today. I went with the recommended and already tested size of 205/55/16 on my 16” x 7.5” ET37 AMGs. If I had read this post sooner, I may have given in to the temptation to try the 225/50/16 tire size. Oh well, maybe next time I will try the fatter tires. I think I should ask Luke again, to see if he thinks the 225s would fit without rubbing. He is definitely the master of the tires.

suginami · #6 11-08-2004, 06:21 PM

Alon,

Do you have any side shot pics of your Carlsson wheels on your car?

Those Carlssons are my favorite wheel on a W124.

Ashman · #7 11-11-2004, 05:09 PM

3/4 shot

another 3/4 shot

rear down the side so you can see they dont stick out.

As close to a side shot as I can get

Alon

ksing44 · #8 11-11-2004, 06:55 PM

Those are great pictures of your car. I have seen quite a few pictures in the past, but I think those have to be about the best I’ve seen. That is an absolutely beautiful coupe. As wonderful as it is, I probably shouldn’t say anything, but the only thing I don’t love about it, are the eyebrows. Everything else is perfect to me. It is much more COOL than my little car.

You are right about the wheels and tires not sticking out. They look PERFECT to me. They look like they are just about as close as you can get to the edge of the fender lips. I am just amazed that they don’t rub. Based all that I have read on these forums, I was absolutely convinced that you would have rubbing with that set-up. As they say, live and learn from Alon. I would love to have that same look for my wheels and tires. Maybe next time I will go ahead and try the 225s. I am having the 205/55/16s installed tomorrow and I will ask my awesome Porsche mechanic what he thinks about fitting the 225s.

I just had a thought. I wonder if 225/45/17 on an 8" wheel causes the tire to spread and thereby reduces the total diameter. I wonder if your wheels and tire set-up actually gives you just enough reduction in height to max out the width.

hookedonbenz · #9 11-12-2004, 12:07 AM

I see the rims that I want. They are 17x7.5 Offset 35MM mounted on 235/45 ZR 17's. These would be a perfect look for my ride. Now, I haven't dropped the suspension at all. If anything the old suspension sags a little from old age, but will this fit?? I don't drive with a lot of weight or passengers so. Can I get a assurance that this will work?? I see Ashman's ride is using 30mm offset, so the wheel sits closer inside the well. I'd assume that the 300ce has different wheel well space. Someone please tell me this will work...

ksing44 · #10 11-13-2004, 07:18 AM

17" x 7.5" ET35 is definitely one of the recommended sizes for the W124. Virtually all recommendations that I have read say not to go lower than ET35. I also read that ET42 allows you to fit the widest tires possible. As you must have read above, Alon is getting away with ET30, but that is not the norm. You will be fine with the 17" x 7.5" ET35.

The recommended tire size is 215/45/17, but some people get away with 225/45/17. There really aren’t great big differences in the dimensions of the 215/45/17 and the 225/45/17, based on the numbers at Tirerack, so maybe going for 225s is OK. Most people are not able to fit 235, without fender rolling or some other modifications to the fenders. I think you will get rubbing somewhere, if you use the 235/45/17 tires. If you think about it, you are asking a lot to use the 235. The OEM was 195, so it is 195 to 205 to 215, to 225, to 235. That is increasing by 4 sizes. Most people would tell you that it is OK to go up 2 sizes and maybe you could even do 3 sizes, but 4 sizes is asking too much.

I just chickened out and went with the 205/55/16. For a 16" wheel, the 215/55/16 is too tall, so it causes rubbing issues. I saw the rubbing on my friends’ coupe. He had 215/55/16 tires mounted on 16" x 7.5" ET35 rims. I would have to jump to the 225/50/16 to keep the same diameter and I was just afraid that the tires would rub on the lower plastic cladding behind the front wheels. Maybe next time I will try to follow Alon and give the 225 a try. I am definitely not planning to try 235.

Ashman · #11 11-15-2004, 04:01 PM

Actually the lower the offset the more they stick out. higher numbers mean they are inset more.

My wheels at 30 mm off set are 5mm out further than other wheels at 35 mm offset.

As for the 235's, you will have to doa fender roll for sure. then you will have to hammer out part of the inner fender well in towards the engine compartment. you will also have to cut the side panel on the front fender a little where it wrpas the fender. and you will have to bend out the fender lip 20 mm I believe for 235's.

Lots of work. and the rear requires similar fender roll/ lip bending, and even some modification to fit 235's. Thats how AMG did it. lots of little bits of modding on the fender's ont he inside and the lips to fit 235's.

I love the eyebrows myself on the car. they give it a mean look.

Alon