Can the 14" wheel/tire (84 500SEL) be converted to 15" wheel/tire( as on 87 560 SEL) setup?

If possible, what is involved?

Thanks
John

What your talking about is called plus sizing.
If you put on a larger wheel you will need a different tire size.
For exampled, If you have 195/75/14 tires on now,
you could use 195/70/15 on 15" wheels to have the same rolling diameter.
Also, 205/60/16 would work on 16" wheels.
Each wheel has a few different sizes.
1. The diameter.
2. number of holes for bolts and the spacing of the holes.
3. the size of the hole in the center of the wheel.
4. The width of the wheel where the tire mounts to it.
5. The "back-spacing" or the "offset". How far the wheel sticks out or in when mounted on the car.
All of these are important for the wheel to fit the car. Also, you need to get the right lug bolts for the wheel.
Is there a certain wheel you have in mind that you want?

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William Weatherby

No, just wanted to get rid of the 14" tire as they are hard to find. I thought I would have change the rotors/spindles etc:

God Bless
John

Get the newer style wheels for the w126 2nd gen. It should still fit in the 1st gen w126, I think.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

If you go to a larger diameter wheel, everything should be ok. If someone went to a smaller wheel, the brakes might be in the way.

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William Weatherby

Early W126 came with 14-in wheels and later ones came with 15-in wheels.

Use OE parts.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Do you car about ride? I ask because in order to maintain your speedo accuracy, if that's important, you need to mount a lower profile tire to get the same overall diameter. This usually results in a somewhat harsher ride. Less air cushion.

As mentioned, going up one size (plus) and using wheels from a slightly newer similar model have the least issues.

There is a link to a tire calculator at the top of the forum. Use it to compare the overall diameter of the new tire/wheel combo vs. the old. Try to stay within a few percent. < 1% is great.

Thanks for the info (everyone) but is the bolt pattern the same or must the spindle be altered/changed?

John

But is the speedo currently accurate? My totally stock W123 isn't. When my GPS indicates 65mph, my speedo displays approx 70mph. In my case, I would benefit from a smaller circumference.

Now the flip side argument is that with even the smallest increase in circumference, there will be a slight decrease in cruising rpm and thus lower fuel consumption.


I believe the ride is better with a taller side wall. For example, a wider tire of lower aspect ratio will have the same volume of air in the cross section.

The advice is still correct, ride does suffer with lower profile and stiffer sidewalls.


I am researching alternate wheel options for both our W123 and W126.

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83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

Mercedes bolt pattern has been the same for decades.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles