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  #1  
Old 10-17-2014, 11:00 PM
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How would these tires be on my 85 300D?

Looking at a set of snow tires. They are Michelin Alpin and are 205 55 R16 91H.
They are off a C-Class (don't know what year).

Diameter is close to the stock 195 70 R14s.

Anyone see any reason these would not work on an 85 300D? Different studs perhaps?

Perhaps they would also fit my 98 W210?

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Old 10-17-2014, 11:48 PM
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The wheels are the issue. C,E, and 201 wheels have too short an offset to fit a w123...
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  #3  
Old 10-18-2014, 02:29 AM
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W208 CLK forged aluminum wheels work on w123's. Depending on which tierods you have, you may need to run a 8mm spacer up front.

I run 205 55 R16 michelin all seasons, and my speedo is dead on.
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  #4  
Old 10-18-2014, 10:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vstech View Post
The wheels are the issue. C,E, and 201 wheels have too short an offset to fit a w123...
Did a search and came up with this link:

Mercedes-Benz Fitting Chart and Wheel Fitment Guide | Alloy Wheels Direct

Many variations (it is a euro link). Looks like most likely offset on the C-Class is 37mm. And W123 is 30mm? Another link says C-Class is 38mm (7x16 ET38 )

Rims are aftermarket steelies, so could be anything. I will ask seller to look for stampings.

Checked Tirerack and they offer 23mm offset rims for 85 300D with 16" tires.
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Old 10-18-2014, 01:09 PM
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A couple of members of Facebook groups I belong to have C Class alloy wheels on their w123s. They will probably look a bit narrower in stance on your car.

I have w124 steelies for the snows on my '80 300td. But I agree with VStech, it isn't a guaranteed proposition, some people have run into problems so be prepared to buy spacers as a possibility, as Mike mentioned.

The big issue here isn't diameter, because these are snow tires, it's the width of the tire. The theory with snow tires is that (to maximize grip) you run either your original width or one size minus. By my take, these tires are a +2 fitment, roughly two sizes wider on the pavement. In snow and ice conditions, a wider tire tends to become a ski.

What you want to do is find a fitment chart for the actual tires on those rims and look up the actual width of the tire (tire sizes actually vary significantly from model to model in the same size designation). Any reputable tire company publishes that info.

If you don't rely on the car to use in heavy snow conditions then it won't be a huge concern. But you will be losing some of the benefit of running four snow tires.
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Last edited by Zacharias; 10-18-2014 at 04:01 PM.
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Old 10-18-2014, 05:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zacharias View Post
A couple of members of Facebook groups I belong to have C Class alloy wheels on their w123s. They will probably look a bit narrower in stance on your car.
Ran several options through rim calculator. seems that Tire rack are about right that offset should be about 20mm when using 205/55R16 tires. With the stock C-Class rims with 37mm offset, the rims/tires will be about 13mm closer to suspension. May work, but I can see why spacers may be needed.

Seeing we need just one extra car with snow capable tires, I could use those same tires and rims on our E320. It uses 215/55R16 on rims with 41mm offset. On this car, the tires would be narrower than stock and would sit further away from suspension.

On either car, we would just use these around town and only for Nov-Jan. We have never had snow tires on either car before, but tread on AW tires on both are about 50% worn.

If conditions are really bad and we have to travel, we have the GLK with AWD. Tires are new, and although not snow tires are effective in snow.
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  #7  
Old 10-18-2014, 07:10 PM
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The plus sizing needs some clarification. There is a simple solution to your tire issue so read to the end.

In the 90's there was a push to go to larger _diameter_ wheels through plus sizing but retaining tire OD. This was done to reduce sidewall height for better handling. ( sometimes width was increased in the swap. )

For what you want to do, ( go +2 in wheel diameter and one size in width ) one size in width isn't much of an issue as snow tires tend to be on the narrow side of sizing. Going to a much shorter sidewall is an issue. Snow tires need sidewall compliance to go over rutted packed snow, a short sidewall won't do this very well.

Tires need to be narrow to increase force per unit area so they bite into snow rather than slide across. Adding weight to a car is the same as putting that same ( now narrower than stock ) tire on a heavier car.

Yes I know that quads have large puffy tires for flotation when they sink but they also have a high void to tread ratio so the lugs bite into the surface.

Now for the simple solution, go to Tire Rack ( a sponsor of the wheel tire forum on this site ) and order 4 Firestone Winterforce in 195 75 14 at $ 55 + shipping This will give you a bit taller sidewall for compliance and more ground clearance ( about 7/8") . The only issue is that the speedo will read slightly slow, (2.7% ? old 837 rev mile / new 814 rev mile and tire chain clearance might become an issue if you use them.

These tires are a great value and work excellent, I've speced them on the company cars along with spare wheels. The Ford Fusion went from 17" to 16" wheels and down a size or two in width. The Toyota van retained standard dia wheels and may have gone down a width. They are a bit squrimy at full tread but they will go anywhere.

The Winterforces also get the vote from a current employee who is a retired state cop / crash investigation officer, he uses nothing else.

If you are set on 195 70 14 , the are $ 57

Size _____ OD____rev per mile__Worn to 3/32 OD
195 70 14 24.9 __837___________ 24.3
195 75 14 25.6 __814____________25.0
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  #8  
Old 10-18-2014, 08:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97 SL320 View Post
For what you want to do,
I think you missed my first post. I was just asking if a specific set of used tires and rims that I can buy will fit my cars.
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  #9  
Old 10-18-2014, 08:46 PM
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Yes,I read your first post, offered reasons why using the 16" is a bad option and a solution.

While the 16" snow might be better than a 14" summer, I'm guessing that it will cost you more / offer poor performance in the lo0ng run when an appropriately sized Firestone Winterforce snow that works great is in the $ 55 range.
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Old 10-18-2014, 09:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97 SL320 View Post
Yes,I read your first post, offered reasons why using the 16" is a bad option and a solution.
I am not interested in buying new. In fact, I am not sure I need snows at all for the 300D and E320 (our daily drivers), considering the short period we are in Canada over winter and fact we do have one good winter vehicle (GLK).

Just thinking about it because there are many used tire/rim sets with low mileage available locally on kijiji . Usually at about 1/2 price or less for little used tires. The set I asked about are listed at C$200 including Michelin tires, steel rims and hubcaps (no extra charge for scuffs )

BTW, I realize TR is a great place to buy tires in USA. However, you can more than double that Tire Rack US$55/tire for landed cost in Canada. I have often checked TR before buying tires locally, but never found them to be competitive for us in Canada. Warranty fulfillment is another concern as is installation and lack of after sale service like tire rotation and inspection.

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