hello all:

I have done so much research regarding wheels and tire combos for the w124 and am now more confused than ever. Some of you out there have this same combo and can really help me out please.

I have a set of 99 clk wheels 7jx16 ET 37, these are the forged lightweight polished wheels. I want to install the 225/50/16 tires without having to roll the fenders or use the AMG fender spacer kit.

Question, will it work?

The key here is the wheel size, since these are only 7in wide rims, they should not have the same rubbing issues associated with more commonly available 7.5 in rims with 225s due to the 1/4 in smaller width on each side. IS this enough to allow the use of 225 tires?


Here's some more info used in the calculation: OE wheels 6.5Jx15 ET 49 New wheels 7jx16 ET 37, since I am adding 0.5 inches to the width, my offset should be adjusted ET49-12.7= 36.3mm, so ET 37 is as near perfect as you can get for this width increase. The Tire diameters are near identical between a 195/65/15 OE to the 225/50/16 the width difference is 1.1 inches wider or roughly half and inch per side of the wheel. In doing the ol' tape measure thing this looks like it will fit without rubbing??

Also suspension is in good order, stock ride height is achieved 15 and 1/8 in front from wheel centerline to wheel arch top in the front and 15.5 inches in the rear.
TIA

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Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

225's tend to cause rubbing .... run a 215 tire width on your W124

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Please, call me to place orders or for more info
use my name for on-line orders

Luke I have seen in my research that some members had run 225, and at one point you recommended them, I know that lately as you also mentioned above you have been more conservative and tended to favor the 205 or 215 set-up due to rubbing.

I know the 215's to be slightly taller, will that be an issue other than speedo error? Also for the few 225's out there that have made it onto the early w124's do you know what wheel offset and size was used to make this work?

One last thought, could they fit with the amg spacer but not rolling the fender lip?

Thanks,
Bill

__________________
Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

Well the tires are on 225/50/16, on the CLK rims mentioned in earlier posts. This size and combo seems to work well, the only potential for rubbing, not that it has been fealt yet but from looking at the set-up; at complete steering lock either side while hard cornering so that the outside corner is dropped to its lowest, seems that rubbing may be an issue, luckily if you try to take a turn this sharp under extreme load, tire rubbing is the least of your worries.

So it seems that in addition to the wheel width, offset and tire combo, the biggest issue to deal with is ride height with respect to avoiding the rubbing. As mentioned in an earlier post my w124 rides at factory height, not lowered thus allowing the fitment of this tire size without the AMG fender spacer kit or rolling the fender lip. From my research it seems that the older w124's did not suffer from the weight gain issue of the later w124's and as such have a slightly taller stance, allowing the fittment of other tire sizes. Additionally without the extra lower body cladding, the older w124's also do not seem prone to rubbing in this area.

If you car is a later w124 with the added weight, body cladding and possibly a sport or lowered or tired suspension, you MAY still have issues fitting this size tire, but the earlier cars seem more adaptable.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some shots of the new set-up.

Thanks to all for their help and this forum for it's great advice and information

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

those look great!

(think these are the ones dieselhead was recommending for my
wagon)

Yes! those are them!
subject of a previous discussion: Just bought '99 CLK wheels for my 124, tires/lugs?

I highly recommend the 2000 CLK wheels, they are a forged alloy wheel (not cast) and are really easily cleaned, no paint to scratch but you have to watch who does the tire work on them, as a tire shop can scratch the coating, I believe it is a clear Anodized finish, anyhow they should use modern equipment and TAKE OFF all weights (if someone happens to have these wheels w/ rim weights, whch they should NOT!) before using a tire machine to demount the tire. These wheels should only use stick-on weights for balancing. Inside balance as well as outside balance, a Hunter what is is 6900 balancer? I prefer America's Tires if I am away from the Auto Tuner shops that normally I would employ for tire work near home. And tell your tire shops to use a torque wrench set to 90 ft lbs, not an air tool, another pet peeve I have is tire shops that destroy things

An important tip re: lug bolts.

The lug bolts specified for the special ET37 alloy CLK wheels are shorter than regular wheels. Lug bolts that go with steel wheels (MB spare optional wheels, not alloy wheels) are about 25mm/1 in long. You have to use them on the CLK wheels shown otherwise you will be in a world of hurt if you drive with long bolts that hit the calipers on the rear, I saw a car from a tire shop that was sent over to have repaired because of that, it is a terrible thing if someone changes tires and uses the wrong bolts so if at all possible get a similar fifth wheel for your spare and that way you won't have a spare that uses a long bolt making it possible to get crossed up an use the incorrect bolts and do serious damage.

You never know who could be changing your tires, for example if your friend/wife/sig other or even a AAA service truck had to change a tire they don't know about these things and left to chance things like that can happen.

Love those CLK wheels!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

The lugs needed for these wheels specifically are: 12mm x 1.50 thread 27mm shaft length, with cap covers 25mm w/o cap covers, this is important to note because later MBs also use a 14mm bolt of the same length and you need to stay with the 12mm OE size.

Also These Wheels are 1998 and I have seen 1999 CLK wheels, all the CLK lightweight wheels of this style are Forged, it will be stamped into the tire valley of the wheel easy to see if no tires on. Worth noting, the OE bottlecap 15 in wheels weighed in at 16 lbs, these CLK weigh 14 lbs. not a huge gain, but much stronger and a bit lighter.

__________________
Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)