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  #1  
Old 12-29-2013, 07:55 PM
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13" tires? $$$$ ???? Bundts on a Fintail?

so my 1963 220S sedan is supposed to have 185/13 tires, or 185/80/13 tires. Obviously this has been a problem for people. Is there a cost-effective solution besides switching to 14" wheels?

On a related note, I have a set of Bundts with good tires on them that I could use temporarily until I resolve my wheel/tire situation. The problem is that Bundts take a different lug bolt than steel wheels, and the Fintail doesn't have lug bolts at all. It wants lug nuts. So I have no idea what sort of lug nut to use, and I suspect that the stud is going to be the wrong length...

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  #2  
Old 12-29-2013, 09:37 PM
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I had the same problem on my 64 190c. Everyone says Bundts will fit W110s, but only the later finnies with wheel bolts. I looked all over, could never find any longer studs to fit the MB hub, so I located a set of 14" steel rims & full wheel covers from a later W108 or W114 and rolled on.
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  #3  
Old 12-30-2013, 02:15 PM
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You can get 185/80 R13 WW tires from Maxxis tires. The tires are pretty decent riding and handling, although it seems like they are a little rough for the first mile or so. But that's on a car that is not a daily driver and sits for a couple of weeks at a time. This size tire fills the wheel wells nicely and is the closest diameter to the original bias ply tires. I got five tires for $499 with shipping a little over a year ago from Universal Vintage Tire. Here's Maxxis' web site. They have an alert about this size tire, which you can order direct from them. Maxxis Tires
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  #4  
Old 12-30-2013, 04:33 PM
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Many Honda models had wheels attached with a closed end, chromed nut that has a spherical seat to match that of the Bundts. M12x1.5 threads too. You will have to find longer studs, OR, tap your wheel hubs and axle flanges for bolts and go OEM.
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  #5  
Old 01-01-2014, 06:37 PM
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I found Hankooks for mine several years ago. Cringe, I know but they've done their job well enough.
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  #6  
Old 01-14-2014, 04:53 PM
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I know you said you wanted to avoid 14" rims, but the 14" steel rims used on early w108s ('66-'68 250-280 S, SE) will bolt right up and have the 3 nubs stamped into the centers to secure your small Fintail hubcaps. You'll still need to find some 14" trim-rings

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #7  
Old 01-14-2014, 05:31 PM
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I have 14" trim rings. I'm considering using epoxy to join 14" trim rings to 13" trim rings and still having the dog dish. It looks pretty good sitting on the counter, don't know how it would look on a car.
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  #8  
Old 01-14-2014, 11:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScooterABC View Post
I have 14" trim rings. I'm considering using epoxy to join 14" trim rings to 13" trim rings and still having the dog dish. It looks pretty good sitting on the counter, don't know how it would look on a car.
Sounds like way too much hassle. You can get '69 or later 14" full hubcaps from the W108, W114-115 or W123 that have the integral slotted 'trim-rings'. You might even get lucky and find them to match your Fintail color.
Otherwise I'd look for the smooth "14 trim-rings as used on the early Pagoda or early W108 with the small hubcaps. If it's too big a hassle or expense to find the OE Mercedes versions, you can get generic stainless knock-offs of those "14 trim-rings at some wheel & hubcap stores.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #9  
Old 01-14-2014, 11:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
Sounds like way too much hassle. You can get '69 or later 14" full hubcaps from the W108, W114-115 or W123 that have the integral slotted 'trim-rings'. You might even get lucky and find them to match your Fintail color.
Oh, but if I were to do that (the full wheel cover) I would use aluminum wheels... But I don't like the look of the full wheel cover on a Fintail...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
Otherwise I'd look for the smooth "14 trim-rings as used on the early Pagoda or early W108 with the small hubcaps. If it's too big a hassle or expense to find the OE Mercedes versions, you can get generic stainless knock-offs of those "14 trim-rings at some wheel & hubcap stores.
Well this is one of my options. The problem is I truly like the appearance of the 13" beauty ring - it is elegant, where as the 14" beauty ring is just a little touch... However I am conflicted between how much work I want to do and the desire to really reduce the weight of those wheels. If I do the most amount of work, which would be joining the 13" and 14" beauty rings, adding studs for the dog dish, and using aluminum wheels I could save 12 pounds per wheel...

It does sound like a pain. If my Fintail were later I would stick a set of Bundts on it that I have in the shed temporarily while I decide, but unfortunately my Fintail is early and doesn't take lug bolts. (it has studs). So using Bundts is out. Plus I don't like Bundts.
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  #10  
Old 01-15-2014, 02:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScooterABC View Post
Oh, but if I were to do that (the full wheel cover) I would use aluminum wheels... But I don't like the look of the full wheel cover on a Fintail...


Well this is one of my options. The problem is I truly like the appearance of the 13" beauty ring - it is elegant, where as the 14" beauty ring is just a little touch... However I am conflicted between how much work I want to do and the desire to really reduce the weight of those wheels. If I do the most amount of work, which would be joining the 13" and 14" beauty rings, adding studs for the dog dish, and using aluminum wheels I could save 12 pounds per wheel...

It does sound like a pain. If my Fintail were later I would stick a set of Bundts on it that I have in the shed temporarily while I decide, but unfortunately my Fintail is early and doesn't take lug bolts. (it has studs). So using Bundts is out. Plus I don't like Bundts.
Yes, the full hubcaps do look a bit odd on a Fintail. But not as out-of-place as the Bundts. A friend gave me an old set of the W108 "14 steel rims off his '68 280S parts-car to use on my '60 Fintail 220S, when I was having trouble finding decent "13 replacement tires. That's when I found out those rims would fit the small Fintail hubcaps. Unfortunately, only the Fintails used those slotted trim-rings. I never ran across a matching, slotted style trim-ring that would fit the "14 Mercedes rim. So I was going to go with the smooth style trim-rings similar to those used on the Pontons, Pagodas, and early W108s, but old age and severe rust finally retired my Fintail before I got the chance.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #11  
Old 01-15-2014, 11:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
Yes, the full hubcaps do look a bit odd on a Fintail. But not as out-of-place as the Bundts.
I agree. The Bundts would have been a temporary solution until better tire/wheel/hubcap solutions were found. But I can't use them anyway since I have lug nuts instead of lug bolts on my car...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
A friend gave me an old set of the W108 "14 steel rims off his '68 280S parts-car to use on my '60 Fintail 220S, when I was having trouble finding decent "13 replacement tires. That's when I found out those rims would fit the small Fintail hubcaps.
Yes, I'm considering that option. I can source the steel wheels with the hupcap ears without too much effort. That would require painting to match car though, which isn't a big deal, but still not the look I would prefer...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
Unfortunately, only the Fintails used those slotted trim-rings. I never ran across a matching, slotted style trim-ring that would fit the "14 Mercedes rim.
I'm fairly sure that the slotted trim rings for a 14" rim don't exist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
So I was going to go with the smooth style trim-rings similar to those used on the Pontons, Pagodas, and early W108s, but old age and severe rust finally retired my Fintail before I got the chance.
Sorry to hear that. Since getting the car on the road is taking more time, I may have to either clean up the crappy 13" wheels and tires I have and use them temporarily for short distances or go with steel wheels, or pay for 13" tires... Oh well.
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  #12  
Old 01-15-2014, 12:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScooterABC View Post
Well this is one of my options. The problem is I truly like the appearance of the 13" beauty ring - it is elegant, where as the 14" beauty ring is just a little touch... However I am conflicted between how much work I want to do and the desire to really reduce the weight of those wheels. If I do the most amount of work, which would be joining the 13" and 14" beauty rings, adding studs for the dog dish, and using aluminum wheels I could save 12 pounds per wheel...
Go for the 14" Alloy wheels, you know that's what you should do.
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  #13  
Old 01-15-2014, 01:02 PM
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Go for the 14" Alloy wheels, you know that's what you should do.
Probably that will be the solution at some point. I haven't driven the car more than about 2 feet (literally) at this point.
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  #14  
Old 01-26-2014, 07:24 PM
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another opinion......

I ALWAYS felt that the Bunt wheels looked EXCELLENT on the old fintail cars....IF, I had a set, when I had my 1961 22Sb, I would have installed them in a heartbeat!
Perhaps, as has been stated in times past.......A Mercedes Benz wheel/ rim upgrade, will work "correctly" up to the next series of body styles.......IE: fintail to 108/109 bunts and the 123 series, 114/ 126 series.
Some, "many" will disagree.
I still feel the same way with my wife's 126 300SD.....an upgrade to the second series 126 body WHEELS, is an upgrade both in style and in size.
BUNTS are PLENTIFUL.....especially at this point in time.
Think about it.
Best wishes always...
spo123

Last edited by spo123; 02-15-2014 at 07:51 AM.
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  #15  
Old 01-26-2014, 07:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spo123 View Post
I ALWAYS felt that the Bunt wheels looked EXCELLENT on the old fintail cars....IF, I had a set, when I had my 1961 22Sb, I would have installed them in a heartbeat!
Perhaps, as has been stated in times past.......A Mercedes Benz wheel/ rim upgrade, will work "correctly" up to the next series of body styles.......IE: fintail to 108/109 bunts and the 123 series, 114/ 126 series.
Some, "many" will disagree.
I still feel the same way with my wife's 126 300SD.....and upgrade to the second series 126 body WHEELS, is an upgrade both in style and in size.
BUNTS are PLENTIFUL.....especially at this point in time.
Think about it.
Best wishes always...
spo123
I'm not a fan of Bundts, particularly chrome Bundts. I removed them from my 85 300TD in favor of aluminum wheels with hubcaps.

I don't think you can "always" take a wheel and put it on the next older series... at some point I believe the offset changes. Post-Bundt they are all just a blur of wheels to me and aesthetics are more of a design issue rather than one being later than the other. The exception being that I think huge wheels with ultra-low profile tires look silly on ANYTHING.

But no Bundts for my Fintail - it doesn't take lug bolts so I can't put Bundts on it anyway, which I would otherwise do (since I have a set in the shed with good tred) until I found a better solution...

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