16" Wheel - dumb question -560 SL

[cal27sailor]

Okay, this is probably a dumb question but here goes....

The previous owner changed my '87 560 SL from the standard 15" wheels with 205/55 VR 15 tires to 16" wheels with 225/55 VR 16 tires. I like the look with the bigger wheels and tires, and I just put new tires on the car. But now the spare will not fit in the trunk well. The previous owner was still carrying the old 15" spare. I want to carry the larger size but hate to give up much more of my meager trunk space.

Any ideas?

Is there a tire size that I could place on the 16" rim that would be close to the other tires, be safe and be satisfactory for use as a spare?

Thanks....Tony

[GermanMarque]

Originally Posted by cal27sailor

Okay, this is probably a dumb question but here goes....

The previous owner changed my '87 560 SL from the standard 15" wheels with 205/55 VR 15 tires to 16" wheels with 225/55 VR 16 tires. I like the look with the bigger wheels and tires, and I just put new tires on the car. But now the spare will not fit in the trunk well. The previous owner was still carrying the old 15" spare. I want to carry the larger size but hate to give up much more of my meager trunk space.

Any ideas?

Is there a tire size that I could place on the 16" rim that would be close to the other tires, be safe and be satisfactory for use as a spare?

Thanks....Tony

If its just a tight fit, can you deflate the tyre to squeeze in? A tyre pump would then be necessary. 2. A proprietory can of "Finileak" type tyre foam/sealant and don't carry a spare. The 15" rim/tyre combo is still safe as a temporary fix, any smaller sidewall on a 16? rim will only be a compromise and still only serve as a temp replacement. You just have to be careful fitting different diameter wheels on the rear as a spare, as diffs especially LSD's hate smaller rims/tyres combo's over 80km/hr (48MPH). May help.

280SL

[t walgamuth]

the above post is right on. if stuck using a smaller spare, best to switch it to the front if driving far.

otherwise if using the wrong size spare anyway i would prob just stick with the 15" and throw the big one in on a trip out of town.

btw, that oversize tire wheel combo will have your speedo saying you are going slower than you are.

tom w

[mussberger]

You can go to the tire rack website and look up the outside diameter of the tire that you have and at the same time look for a 16" tire with a diameter that might fit. Heck my 05' 987s porsche didn't even come with a spare just a can of fix a flat and a toll free number

[Louis M]

Ya same here, i have 16" with real nice rims but i keep my old brand new 15" where it is but can't forget to bring the original studs in case i do have a flat .I had it up to 220 clicks and with the 16" tires i wonder how fast i was going?. Louis

[Lee Blaik]

I think the 560SL look best with 250/65/15 over factory original chromed dish style rims. Any alteration would be sacrilegious.
Than again it's me.
Cheers...Lee