Autocrossing the 280e euro - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 08-07-2008, 06:42 AM

Anybody know if there are any 9" x15" wheels available with Mercedes bolt patterns out there?

That is the minimum recommended for the wide tires.

Tom W

tankdriver · #17 08-07-2008, 05:21 PM

What's the hp/tq on your car? I really think those tires are going to be too wide. Even if you can fit them in the wheel well, the amount of rubber contacting the ground could slow you down. Not to mention the increase in unsprung weight.

t walgamuth · #18 08-07-2008, 06:45 PM

about 190/190 and about 3100# in weight. The unsprung weight won't be much different on the front since I'm running fairly heavy 30mm spacers there.

I am sliding around on the track so I am losing ground to cars that slide less. I don't see how bigger tires can slow me down. They don't have that much rolling resistance. Heck, a mini has bigger tires than I do.

I can cut my fenders for clearance if I need to in my class.

Tom W

t walgamuth · #19 08-07-2008, 06:45 PM

anybody know how wide the wheels are on a 129?

Tom W

Johnhef · #20 08-07-2008, 10:52 PM

which ones? I've got a few here I can check. post a pic

t walgamuth · #21 08-08-2008, 05:39 AM

I don't have any pics of one, sorry. Actually I thnk the 129 wheels are all 16".

Tom W

tankdriver · #22 08-08-2008, 05:53 PM

From what I found, 129 wheels are 16x8s. I suggest you run a few events on the 225s on the 6.5 wheels you have.
I think 16 is pushing it height wise, and you'll have to find a shorter tire which will be harder if you want to run slicks.

t walgamuth · #23 08-08-2008, 08:22 PM

there is a 275/35r15 availalbe which is almost identical to my tires od. takes a 9" rim though.

Tom W

t walgamuth · #24 08-17-2008, 07:06 PM

Today I went to INdy and autocrossed. My youngest lovely daughter (#4) went and ran too.

I discovered there is a company named Diamond which will make wheels for you for not too much to size etc.

Today that pesky white mustang that whupped me so soundly in Ft. Wayne showed up again and whupped me again. This time by four seconds (an eternety). My best time a low 58, his a 54 something.

I had the wider wheels and that seemed to help but I wished for more rubber and faster steering.

Several folks recommended a Miata for all around autocrossing goodness. They are fun to drive, very competetive and you can get ANYTHING you need in the way of parts to go faster.

I spotted a Lotus 7 clone that was very sharp (in McClaren orange) in line to run and whilst there was a lull while they fixed the timing lights I struck up a conversation with the affable gent driving. I noticed he had an accent so asked where he hailed from originally and he said England. I asked how he ended up here and he said he came to work as a mechanic on Graham Hill's Indy car in '66 and stayed. I asked what he was doing now and he said he had a shop that built replicas. I asked what kind and he said they just completed a replica of the car Hill won Indy with in '66. So we chatted a bit about that and about other things and his car,which was really sharp, and by and by they had the timing lights fixed and he went off to run.

I went back to what I had been doing and the fellow next to me eventually mentioned (forgot the first name) Mr. Scott of the Scott and Riley Indy car team....the man with the sharp seven replica!

I talked with Mr. Scott again later for a while and he was there with his teenage son who it seems had just learned to drive a stick and was running autocross with the very potent seven. They built the car together.

You never know who you will run into at an autocross in Indy.

Great stuff!

Tom W