Greetings to all,

I would appreciate any assistance you may be able to provide to better understand the definition of a wheel's offset and the ramifications of going with wheels with different offsets. Specifically, to what extent can one deviates from a stock offset and not have to use adaptors or spacers? I would like to upgrade my wheels from 15X7 E25 to 16 or 17X7.5 E35. What are the issues I need to keep in mind to ensure handling and braking will not be adversely impacted? What does hub centric mean? They tell me that if the wheel is hub centric then the increase in offset would be OK.

Regards,
Abe

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Here's an easy to understand description of offset:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Thanks for the web site URL you provided. Unfortunately this page does not say much about what have to be done to mount a wheel with different offset than your factory wheel. Specifically, I wish I could find out if I can use E35 on my car which has E25 factory wheels on it. If yes, is this a direct fir or I have to use spacers/adaptors. I have heard from many SL owners who have put on a different wheel on their car even bigger wheels. My confusion remains.

Regards,
Abe

There is a wheel offset calculator at this site:

http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html

For example, replacing the ET 25 7" wide rim you have with an ET 35 7.5" rim will result in a fit where the inside of the rim is 16mm (2/3") closer to the strut, and the outside edge of the wheel will be 4mm (1/6") less than it was before. (All things being equal. Changing the wheel diameter will make it fill the wheel well more, and the recessed effect of 4mm will not be noticable.)

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Abe,
Like John pointed out, the inside edge of the wheel will be 16 mm closer to the center of the car. Is there anything in the way that may cause interference? Also, the question is not just 'will it fit?'
Just because a wheel bolts up without rubbing, doesn't mean it will work well with the way the suspension was designed. Installing wheels with the wrong offset can make the car handle erratically.

One last thing...when fitting wider wheels you generally have to decrease the offset to move the wheel away from suspension components. The constraining factor is how close the outside wheel edge gets to the wheel well.

I think I'm confusing the issue...hopefully, someone else can clear this up for you...

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Guys,

Thanks a bunch for your comments and additional clarifications. I'll be honest with you. Visualizing all of the detailed information as how it impacts the position of the wheel relative to suspension and fender is not an easy task. However, I'm trying hard. I know more now about wheel offset, design, and specs than ever before. Frankly, I never imagined replacing a wheel will be so problematic. Unfortunately, there are so few selections of wheels with E25 offset for W107 body that I am being forced to look at wheels with other offsets. The other dilema I have is that there are so many nice wheels on the ebay that I wish I could own. However, I hate to bid on and purchase them to then find out they don't fit. One last question; if I buy, let's say a set of 16x7.5 E35 wheels, what size of tires should I put on them that will minimize/eliminate the difference in offset and don't mess up car's handling?

Regards,
Abe

P.S. I am so thankful for being a member of this web site/forum. I have been able to have great information at my finger tips and have the opportunity to know of great individuals.

here is a picture which will make it easier to understand Offset



Thanks, Luke

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

Thanks for additional information. I feel much better know about my knowledge level of wheels and related specs. Thanks to all of you for your patience. Luke, could you please direct me to any resource which may have an assortment of wheels that will fit 560SL?

Regards,
Abe