will a 50 series on 17in rims fit a 124? i'm told 215 45s are the max that i can fit on my 124 without rolling fenders...

i don't plan on lowering my car, in fact i think my spring pads are maxed out... can i fit 50s then? i'm after the extra comfort 50s offer

It depends on the off-set of your wheels. 215 will fit on stock off-sets, 225 is iffy - especially in 50 series. In 45 or 40 you may have better luck since the tire will be shorter and therefore farther away from the wheel arch.

If you have any off-set other than stock, the above does not apply. You can, however, add or subtract the off-set deviation to the tread width deviation from stock (195mm) to determine your answer. Stock overall (unloaded) diameter is 25" for comparison.

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2003 AMG S55
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/3414/...5813f01a_s.jpg

I wonder about this too,

FYI,

I believe the European spec E420/400Es come with 16" wheels with 215/55/16 tires.

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

i think i have stock offsets, how about 215 50s?

If you still have stock offsets (41mm), then the only two possible interferences are height or outside (fender) rubbing. Your stock tire was 195 65R15. Total height was 15 + (2)(195*.65)/25.4 = 25
Total height with your new tire will be 16 + (2)(225*.50)/25.4 = 24.9. No height rubbing - actually 0.1 inches shorter.

Your width is 225 - 195 = 30mm wider. 30mm/25.4 = 1 1/8 inch wider overall, or just over 5/8 inch further out than your current tire. This should not couse rubbing - it is up to you whether you will like the look of the tire sticking out that much more.

All of these calculations are based on your statement that the offset is the same as stock. If offset is not equivalent, all bets are off.

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2003 AMG S55
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/3414/...5813f01a_s.jpg

so that's how its computed...

thanks for responding dude!

I thought I might as well get in on this too. I have 1995 E320 with 16" x 7.5" ET37 AMG wheels. I currently have 205/55/16 tires, but I want to try 225/50/16. I have read that the 215/55/16 rubs the lower plastic cladding because it is 0.5 inches taller. I use the Tirerack specifications to determine that the 225/50/16 is just about the same overall diameter as stock 195/65/15 and my current 205/55/16 set-up. I am just not sure if I will experience rubbing with the added width of the 225/50/16 mounted on my AMGs with 37mm offset.

From reading on the forums, it sounds like the 225/50/16 would definitely fit if I had a higher offset. Some guys have written that they don’t have rubbing even though they have 225s mounted with 35mm offsets on 7.5 inch wheels. On the other hand, some guys report that they do get rubbing with 225s and ET35. Most comments are about 17" wheels, but they are lower profile 45s, so the overall diameter is the same and the rim width is the same.

I should add that my car is just slightly lowered with Eibach springs and Bilstein heavy duty shocks. I think that although my car is slightly lower, the stiffer suspension might help prevent the car from bouncing down on the tires.

What do you guys think?
Will the 225/50/16 tires rub when mounted on 16" x 7.5" ET37 wheels?

__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320.

I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend.
You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better.



Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/

There is still some data missing: what was the stock off-set, and what are the stock and current ride heights? Without this information all you will get is anecdotes and opinions.

Measure ride height from the ground to the highest point of the wheel arch curve. Subtract this height from stock to find out how much space you've lost for tire diameter.

The 225 50 will be .03 inches shorter (the same overall diameter for our puposes), but will stick out toward the street 10mm (3/8 inch) further and in toward the suspension 10mm further.

Without this data, there is one experimental way to make the decision, but it is still a guess without the calculations. The closest pinch point will be to the cladding behind the front tire, about 3/4 of the way up. Since the overall diameter is still the same, the only change will be the distance out toward the street. In compression, does the tire stick out far enough to hit this point? If not (most likely), will the extra 10mm cause it to be able to hit (probably).

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2003 AMG S55
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/3414/...5813f01a_s.jpg

Short of trying a set of tires, I think it will be hard to figure it out. It will be close. I was just looking for reassurance.

I don’t think it will pinch low on the plastic cladding like the taller 215/55/16 does, but I think there is a chance that it will hit higher on the fender when the wheel is turned during cornering. I just can’t quite figure it out for sure, even though I have been measuring and measuring and measuring.

My car is 1 inch lower at all 4 corners. Depending on the wheel, it is 25.25 inches to 25.5 inches at the fender lip.

I don’t remember the stock offset, although I can just check my stock “Special Edition” wheels that are stacked in my garage to find out. I think they might have been ET44 and they are 15 inches x 6.5 inches.

Below is a view of the front of my car that shows how far the tires are tucked under my front fenders and a side view that will give you an idea about the drop.

__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320.

I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend.
You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better.



Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/

There is one other way to get an approximation. Since we know the net effect will be to move the face of the tire outward by 10mm, you could put a 10mm spacer behind the wheel and do a visual check. Unless it is an actual wheel spacer, don't drive on it. But you could shim the wheel out by 10mm any number of ways - just to get a visual or static set of measurements. Just don't drive on it unless you actually have wheel spacers designed for road use. If your concern is rubbing under hard cornering, you still won't know for sure, but you will have a chance to take some measurements to at least develop an informed opinion.

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2003 AMG S55
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/3414/...5813f01a_s.jpg

Now that sounds like a good idea. I have read about guys buying and using spacers, so maybe I could buy a set and actually try it out. I wonder how much real spacers cost. If it is less than a set of tires, it might be worth spending the money to find out.

__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320.

I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend.
You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better.



Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/

I could not find 10mm, but I found 5mm, 15mm, and others. It looks like they are about $50.00 each, so it might be doable. I suppose I should buy at least 2, so that either side of the front or rear will be the same when I take a test drive. Then again I still might just give the 225/50/16 a try the next time I buy some tires.

When I get close to that day, I think I will create my own post and see how much feedback I can get from others.

Thanks for the suggestion czwbkx.

__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320.

I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend.
You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better.



Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/