Winter steelies that I can use on both a 210 and 123. Any thoughts? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ChrisArnt · #1 01-04-2014, 12:01 PM

I have a 96 210 diesel. I will get another 123 hopeful a stick turbo wagon.
I want to get some hard core snow tires on black steel rims and be able to run them on either car.
Anyone know is this is just a straight forward swap? The 123 tires are thinner and the 210 are wider.
I actually want the tires to be a little oversized to get little more rugged raised appearance but nothing too crazy.

tjts1 · #2 01-04-2014, 12:13 PM

snow tires should be narrower than stock if you want them to be effective.

ChrisArnt · #3 01-04-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

snow tires should be narrower than stock if you want them to be effective.

SO actually the narrower w123 tires would not be a detractor to the 210.
Thanks.
Bolt patern is the same. What about offset? I heard the diesels have bigger brakes calipers would this be an issue.

I guess I should just try to put a 123 bundt rim on my 210. That would answer it quickly.
I just scrapped a full set of bundts. Doi!!

DieselPaul · #4 01-04-2014, 01:38 PM

Maybe some 15" steelies from a vw passat? They would be 5x112 and probably a fairly neutral offset.

sixto · #5 01-04-2014, 02:27 PM

Mercedes Diesels don't have bigger brakes. In 124s and 210s, V8s have bigger brakes.

123s have less offset, about 20mm over a 6" width. 210s have a deeper offset, about 40mm over a 6" width. You might find a 15" steelie that fits a 210 but all US 210s were delivered with 16" or larger wheels.

My guess is Passat wheels, like Jetta wheels, have 40-50mm offset. VWs and Audis have a smaller hub diameter. I don't know if boring the hub weakens the wheel which you don't want on a hub centered wheel.

Sixto
87 300D

DieselPaul · #6 01-04-2014, 02:54 PM

I will have to see what the offset is on the 15" 124 steelies I have out of curiosity.

I've never seen passat steelies on a Mercedes it was just an idea for a cheap and prevalent 15" steelie.

Jeremy5848 · #7 01-04-2014, 03:21 PM

Why the emphasis on steel wheels? I have my snow tires on aluminum rims, am I risking my life or something?

Zacharias · #8 01-04-2014, 05:51 PM

I am currently running 15" steelies from a w124 with the snow tires on my 1980 300td with no problems.

As far as I recall, where offset is concerned, w124 wheels should work with w210s as a direct swap.

JB3 · #9 01-04-2014, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Why the emphasis on steel wheels? I have my snow tires on aluminum rims, am I risking my life or something?

Really just a preference thing based on possible emergeny situations. I run steels in winter because they are bashable. You slide into an obstruction and hit the wheel hard enough to damage the wheel and or blow the tire, you can usually bang the lip back out on a steel rim and recover the wheel, whereas a cast wheel can crack instead of bending.

Jeremy5848 · #10 01-04-2014, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

I am currently running 15" steelies from a w124 with the snow tires on my 1980 300td with no problems.

As far as I recall, where offset is concerned, w124 wheels should work with w210s as a direct swap.

Agreed, I changed my 124 to 16" 210 wheels so the snows can go on either car. Not so sure whether that would work between a 123 and a 210, 123 came standard with 14' wheels and 15" was an option. I don't remember the 123 offset.

vstech · #11 01-04-2014, 10:10 PM

to use the offset of a 124/210 fit a 123... you need to have the wheel at LEAST 17" diameter... so if you can find a steel wheel the correct bolt pattern, with the correct offset of a 124/210 that is 17" diameter or larger, it will fit a 123.

Zacharias · #12 01-05-2014, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

to use the offset of a 124/210 fit a 123... you need to have the wheel at LEAST 17" diameter... so if you can find a steel wheel the correct bolt pattern, with the correct offset of a 124/210 that is 17" diameter or larger, it will fit a 123.

I used to think that as well, but I can assure you the 15" w124 steelies are sitting on my TD in the driveway right now and are fine.

Also lots of folks are running w124/ w210 15" and 16" alloys now on w123s.

To the person who asked about running snows on aluminum/alloy wheels: there is no safety running snows on those wheels, per se, the issues are (1) if you are taking them on and off the wheels every winter, you are spending extra money to do it, over a few years you will amortize the cost of a used set of wheels and (2) the chances of damaging a wheel from curbing during the winter is way more than during the summer. Better to ruin a steelie than an alloy.

sixto · #13 01-05-2014, 12:32 AM

I can get a set of 15" or 16" alloys for $100-150 with a little patience. I don't know where to get a set of steelies for that price. Likewise, I can more easily find an alloy than a steelie should I damage one.

Sixto
87 300D

vstech · #14 01-05-2014, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

I used to think that as well, but I can assure you the 15" w124 steelies are sitting on my TD in the driveway right now and are fine.

Also lots of folks are running w124/ w210 15" and 16" alloys now on w123s.

To the person who asked about running snows on aluminum/alloy wheels: there is no safety running snows on those wheels, per se, the issues are (1) if you are taking them on and off the wheels every winter, you are spending extra money to do it, over a few years you will amortize the cost of a used set of wheels and (2) the chances of damaging a wheel from curbing during the winter is way more than during the summer. Better to ruin a steelie than an alloy.

this is good to know. I assume the hubcaps will not fit while mounted on the W123... I guess the steel is thin enough to clear the tie rod mount on the 123... but I thought it would hit the rubber... interesting.
I also wonder if the C class wheel would fit? all c class cars come with a steel spare, and matching lugs... maybe hunt one down and try it?

Zacharias · #15 01-05-2014, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

this is good to know. I assume the hubcaps will not fit while mounted on the W123... I guess the steel is thin enough to clear the tie rod mount on the 123... but I thought it would hit the rubber... interesting.
I also wonder if the C class wheel would fit? all c class cars come with a steel spare, and matching lugs... maybe hunt one down and try it?

That is a good idea, I will see if I can sometime. There should be lots of C-class rims around. That being said, we have virtually no Mercedes in pick and pulls here, so it's a hugely hit and miss deal.

I seem to remember seeing pics on one of the Facebook groups of a guy with C-class alloys on his w123, which surprised me.

I did not really believe the w124 rims would work until I tried them in my driveway.

I purchased the steelies and tires from a friend who used to work for an Audi dealer, who 'rescued' them from a w124 taken on trade... no hubcaps with. Our cars look so bad around here all winter, from salt/slush/roadspray, that lots of people just run the steelies bare anyway, doesn't make the cars look any worse.