Before and after pics - rear tire:

Attached Thumbnails

         

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NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

Before and after pics - profiles and 3/4 views:

Attached Thumbnails

       

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

My dogs:

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

As you can see (hopefully) the wheels do protrude out farther than the originals. With the ET37 as apposed to the original ET44, I expected this. What does everyone think? If anyone wants to see details, I can send along full sized pics, just PM me your e-mail address.

Thanks,

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

Not bad at all, Rodd! I have seen similar wheels by Ronal on a modified 300E in Germany.

The fender gap is more visible, but that is what happens with stock ride height. The same happened to my wife's Audi with larger wheels. I call it the "cruising above any danger" look ;-)

-DM

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1995 E420 SE black/black
2004 Volvo V70R AWD

DM,

I don't understand about the fender gap, do you mean the space between the top of the tire and the fender lip? The overall diameter of the tire is almost exactly the same as my old ones, using the two tools provided in this thread:
Wheel - Tire Size Comparer

I went from 195/65r15 to 205/55r16.

Of course, the sidewall is thinner. Could this be optical illusion? It does look "different" in some way.

By the same reasoning of same overall tire diameter, the car's clearance over road kill should be the same as before. It's amazing what a large preceived difference a small actual difference can make.

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

That is the dogma about why you lower a car when you increase the size of your wheels. The narrower tire profile accents the “gap”. In general, the “best” appearance is when the gap is smaller than the profile of your tire. I bought into all of that, so I lowered my car when I went to 16” x 7.5” ET37 wheels, but it is a headache to deal with the lowering. It is also expensive and it does degrade the comfort of the ride. Don’t get me wrong, I love the better handling and the firm ride, but you do make some compromises to get the look and the handling.

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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/