Three questions...
1)I have a 93 500E with Bridgestone SO2/AMG-SL package in 235/40/18. Is the tire too narrow? The wheel width looks 10in when I put a tape to it but my eyes tell me its only 8.5.
2)On the 500E the camber looks incorrect. What is the correct numbers?
3) I also have a 86 190E-16V with 120k miles that I am restoring. I will soon need new wheels/tires and am thinking about TSW Imola wheels or something from BBS. Any comments on wheel/tires (widths?)in the 16-18 inch range?

thanks in advance and great forum!

Bond

As for your 500E, The AMG SL 2-piece came in 2 sizes, 18x8.5 and 18x10. The 18x8.5 can be placed at all 4 corners or you can have 18x10 in the rear. The AMG monoblocks also have the 18x8 up front with the 18x9 option for the rear. I would not recommend the 18x10 SL 2-piece becuase I have heard they tend to stick out of the fenders by an 1" or so.
I recommend the monoblocks if you want AMG, and if you want something performance oriented like a 2-piece BBS RSII which are very light. Both give you the option of having larger wheels in the rear which is what I would go for because they offer more grip. The size I would go with are 245/40/18 up front and 275/35/18 in the rear if you go with larger wheels.

If you want the best bang for the buck as far as tires go, I would get the Dunlop SP Sport because they are Maximum Performance Tires are offer a very smooth ride with exceptional wet performance as well as dry. They are also a little cheaper then the others and offer better wear then the others in its class.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

To answer your question about the 16v, it depends. How much work does it need, and what kind of restoration are you going to do to it. If you plan on something like the EVO II 16v, then go at least 17x8 with 235/40/17 at all 4 corners. If you plan on restoring it to stock, then I wouldn't go much wider then 17x7.5 with 215/45/17 and if it is lowered, got 215/40/17.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

Hello Bondjamesbond:

On your choice of the best tire size for an 500E, it really depends whether you want to be shaken, not stirred .

An archive search will yield much info on tire and rim sizes for the 500E, but I've just installed 245/45-17 fronts on 8" rims and 275/40-17 rears on 9" rims. Thats about the biggest rubber you can fit. Also, the rolling radius is nearly stock (less than 1% diff)and the ride is also nearly stock (mostly because of 17" rims).

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Dean Albrecht
94 E500
99 ML320

Thanks guys.
On the 500E I already have the 235/40/18 on AMG/SLs and due to the cost of those I won't change any time soon. The tires are in great shape but the ride is a bit stiff for me. Fortunately I still have the stock wheels/tires if I decide to return to them. I was wondering if the tires were too narrow for the rim as I have seen mention of 265s. Since the wheels don't stick out of the wheelwell I must assume they aren't 10in unless the previous owner bought them with some weird offset. However the camber doesn't look quite right. Do you know the proper amount?
Also, I guess I was curious if anyone has put 18s on their 16-V but it sounds like the 17s are the preferred choice. I was hoping to use the AMGs on my 16-V so I could go with 17s on the 500E. When its time to purchase wheels/tires for the 16-V I will
be giving Luke a call (please support your fellow enthusiasts). I don't have plans for the EVO-II because I kind of like the stealth sedan look. Instead of RESTORING I should have said CONSTANT STATE OF REPAIR!

Thanks Charlie, Dean, Luke, Benzmac, and all
who make this forum the best source of Mercedes info on the net!

Bond
93 500E silver/blue (rocks)
86 190E-16V black/black
95 LR Range Rover (rolls)

Bond,

I have an 87 16V and I recently put new rims on. I chose 16X7.5 inch rims because I didn't want to make the ride too uncomfortable. I wouldn't go wider than 7.5. I'm running on 225/45VR16s. They fit perfectly without any rubbing. My friend has an AMG 190E with custom fenders that are wider than the 16Vs and his 16X8s rub in the front.

BTW, check out http://190revolution.homepage.com. There are a few 16Vs with 18" rims.

Hope this helps,

Daniel

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87 190E-16V Blk/Blk 5Spd.

If you want 18" wheels for the 190E, I would get the fenders rolled and you would be able to get by with 18x7.5 (preferably) or 18x8 (becomes even tighter) and wearing 225/35/18 (215/35/18 if you need to push it, however I would go with the 225 to protect the rims) and you should be fine.

Here is a pic (or 2) from Clinton's 190E. http://190revolution.homepage.com/readers/01.html



[This message has been edited by Chiragp (edited 05-11-2000).]

If you want a GREAT looking tight setup on your 16 valve WITHOUT fender rolling...
I am using 18"x 8" wheels with 35mm offset and 225/35 tires on my 16 valve along with H&R springs. NO modification and NO rubbing.
Looks and feels UNBELIEVABLE!