Hi,
I have seen much discussion on which sizes will and will not fit on the venerable 124s. So I thought I would share my experiences.
I just bought Michelin Artic Alpins for my 16x7.5 rims (car is 95 E320T and rims are Mille Miglia 5 hole replicas from Tirerack of W210 E420 stock rims).
I compared them to the 205/55-16 Pilot XGTZ4s and they appear to be of similar witdths at the widest points of the tyre. However, the 205s have only 3-4mm of clearance between shock tower and tyre.
Have not mounted the Artics yet, but this will be really tight. Dont see how one could go to 225/50 unless the tyre is considerably smaller??
Any thoughts?
thanks
farrukh

A 225 tire is always wider as a 205 tire. The alloy rims one can buy for ones' car come with a certain width (for example 7,5J) and the tires that will fit these rims in a descend way are limited to a few different widths (for example 205, 215 or 225 on the 7,5J).

If one wants to mount wider tires underneath the car, one will need wider rims and these wider rims (for example 8,5J) come with a different offset (ET-size) as the smaller rims.
Wider rims come with a lower ET-size (bigger offset).
The distance/clearance between the inner side of the tire and shock will be nearly similar and the wider rims and tires will be offset to the outer side (and if the rims and tires get to wide (and the offset to big) you will have to role the fenders to prevent them from rubbing the tires.

The rims you have with your car have a certain ET-size and for these rims on that car is a recommended tire-size given (by the manufacturer/supplier). If you're going to mount wider tires as is recommended, it is very well possible that the inner-side of the tires will hit the shocks...
The width of tires you can mount, is related to the ET-size (offset)...

I think the proper ET-size for the W124 with 7,5J rims is 35 and the ET-size for MB W210 7,5J wheels is 37...mounting W210 rims underneath the W124 will provide a bigger (not much, just 2mm) offset and will give a liitle more clearance at the shock side (which is good).

And this is about as far as I can get with my knowledge of the english language. There are plenty members on this forum who know more about this topic as I do and they should be able to clear things up in a easier way...

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

Remember, tire size can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer; perhaps Michelins are on the large side? All I know is that I fit 225/50-16 Toyo Proxes FZ4s onto my 300TE no problem; they're mounted on the same rims, in ET37, that Farrukh runs. However, I further have heard that the japanese-manufactured tires run a bit small.

Good luck Farrukh!


One other thing; snow tires section width is usually on the small side; I run 225/55-16 winter tires on my 500E, and they are VERY narrow, more like a 205.

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Hi I have 2004 e320 with 225/55-16, could i use rear 215/55-16 snow tires as we dont have any other in stock in our area

thanks