Larger Tire Size on 300TD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

busman1965 · #1 11-22-2010, 10:11 PM

I am new to the Forum, but I did post looking for a door trim piece, which Hogweed kindly helped me with.

I just picked up this really nice 83 300td wagon, 110,000 miles, one owner, original paint, and virtually no rust!! It was sitting for awhile, so I am sorting out some minor details, like the vacuum system and windows lifts. Got it for a whooping $900, so I quess I qualify for the "cheap wagon club".

Just fixed the SLS system, had to make a new linkage to the control valve, and it came right up. Paint buffed up to a new shine, amazing for a 27 year old paintjob!

I have had a bunch of Mercedes diesels over the years, from a '58 180D on up to a 82 240D, so I am very familiar with them. This is my first one in about 10 years, as I was off on a VW kick for awile, but it is time to come home again!

I figure about a month more tinkering and it will be finished and ready to drive.

My big question is, I want to put the biggest tires I can on this wagon.
What is the largest tires that put on the stock 14" Bundt rims? Since I will be using the wagon on dirt roads as well as paved, I wanted the largest tires I can to give max clearance, without changing rims.

Anyone running bigger tires on a wagon?

MTUpower · #2 11-22-2010, 10:17 PM

I don't know about larger tires, but you look like you're in FL. Nice cheap wagon!!!

vstech · #3 11-22-2010, 10:34 PM

ha! my wyfe drives the identical car.
you've got crossbars, nice. no third row... oh well. chad has added the headrests and third row, he's posted pics and info if you want it.
many have changed the rear diff to a 2.47, so upping the diameter by 30% should not be an issue, perhaps 215's keep the profile at 75 and you should fit them on the rim. know that your speedometer will be off by the % you increase the diameter. finding a gasser speedo could correct it.
I have a front skid plate on mine, I plan on copying it and building some for sale, so if you are gonna hit pot holes, PM me to protect your pan.
also, you could rig a cable to pull the SLS to lift your tail prior to hitting deep trails.

Stevo · #4 11-22-2010, 10:46 PM

I have 195/75s on my 85 Euro TD and the spedo is right on now.

#5 11-23-2010, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

I have 195/75s on my 85 Euro TD and the spedo is right on now.

In about 850,000 miles of 123's I found that 195/75's or 205/70's were the only choices that worked out well.

Stretch · #6 11-23-2010, 04:42 AM

I was informed by several tyre shops over here that 75s were van tyres and therefore would not give a comfortable ride (too rigid / strong). They said not to go bigger than 70s as a general rule. I'm not sure whether that is the case where you are though. It is a shame I didn't find out which load rating is the watershed for the car / van divide - that would be of more use to you. Perhaps someone else can help?

busman1965 · #7 11-23-2010, 07:23 AM

Thats all good info, thanks. I was thinking of 205's or 215's in a 75, that would be about the right look I am after. I don't want to be a 4wd mudder, just wanted a little beefier tire for the times I have to go off the pavement.

Since I am in Florida, we don't have hills, so I am not worried about the change in final drive ratio, as its all flat here. As far as the speedo, I am not too concerned, as long as I know the error, I can calculate it on the fly (also I use a GPS in all my cars).

I have been having a blast getting this old wagon back in shape. I pulled the seatcovers last night, and found the original MB Tex seats to be in perfect shape! I bought it assuming they were shot, so that was a real treat.

The only thing I have found wrong, so far, is the Vacuum pump ( no suprise), and the broken SLS valve linkage (made a new one out of scrap parts). The rest is just cleaning up years of use and minor cosmetic issues. Fortunatly it was garage kept most of its life, so all the rubber is still excellent. I wish it had the 3rd row seats, but in reality I would never use it, so it is no big deal. The roof rack was much more important, as that will be used daily, hauling fishing rods and gear for the boats.

The ex owner had been told that there was a rod knock in the engine (by his mechanic) which is why I got it so cheap. Turned out to be bad air filter mounts, which were banging up a storm and sounded like a bad rod bearing.

Its funny, I worked for a small foreign car dealer in the early 80's, that sold MB's, so I remember cleaning and doing prep work on these old diesels, when they were new. I have always had a thing for the early TD wagons, as they were the coolest wagon made since the 1950's.

As they years have gone by, I have noticed that most of these wagons end up as "Boat Cars" for the owners and captains of large yachts. In this area of south Florida, it is not uncommon to see TD's parked in the driveway of huge estates, still being used to haul groceries, take gear to the yacht, or haul tack to the horse stable. Many large estates in Palm Beach have one, rubbing elbows with their Rovers, Porsches and Bentlys.
Kind of a white-collar pickup truck.

Since I do alot of driving, as a boat captian (chasing down parts for a pair of 40 year old V-12 Detroit Diesels, and airport runs to get the owner's family), I decided to satisfy my lust for a TD, after 30 years of waiting.

This is a great forum, and I have found tons of helpful information about various issues I have come across. I know these old cars pretty well, but some of the stuff I did not have to deal with, as most of these cars were 5 years old or less, the last time I worked on them regularly.

I will post some more pictures as the work progresses.

kerry · #8 11-23-2010, 08:46 AM

Forget the TD, there are lots of pictures of those on here, we want pictures of those Detroit V-12's and the boat they're in.

Stevo · #9 11-23-2010, 12:34 PM

good luck with your new ride. I dont have the third seat either but thats ok we really dont need it.

I wish I had taken more pics of engines before I retired from running boats but my interest was more toward the wheel house. some engineers considered the "Jimmys" (71 and 149 series) more of a "disposable"engine but from the operator point of view they were great engines with minimal breakdowns. One tug I ran for four years had twin V16 cylinder, 149s rated at 1600 HP each. Actually OVER rated, as in a friendly bow to bow push with a 2000 HP single screw navy tug we were pushed backwards in short order. We could still get the work done faster with the "handier' twin screw boat tho

JimmyL · #10 11-23-2010, 05:07 PM

I've got 205/75/14 on my 85 wagon. I am very pleased with them, and I like the way they fill up the wheel well better. My speedo is now 5.5% off, but I always look at the GPS anyway.
Not only are 75's van tires but also trailer tires.
It isn't like I expect or care whether my wagon "handles". Come on, it's a wagon......

JB3 · #11 11-23-2010, 08:52 PM

heres a pic of the 205/75 R14s compared to stock tire size. I also really like how the larger tires fill the wheel well.

vstech · #12 11-23-2010, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

heres a pic of the 205/75 R14s compared to stock tire size. I also really like how the larger tires fill the wheel well.

too bad you didn't show the larger tire in the same wheelwell the front has a much larger opening than the rear.

JimmyL · #13 11-24-2010, 12:02 AM

Here is a visual of the 205/75/14
Nothing fancy.....

ashedd · #14 11-24-2010, 12:36 AM

My 205 70 14"s hit the drivers fender at some point and bend the lip down a bit

. Older Lincoln Town Cars(like 1986) would do the same up front with 225 75 15"s on there. So I assume it's just because of the larger tires.
Is it NOT suppose to do that on mt TD?

JB3 · #15 11-24-2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

too bad you didn't show the larger tire in the same wheelwell the front has a much larger opening than the rear.

yup. Only had cash for two new tires, and they went on the rear at the time. Still, the two pics do serve to show a comparison how big the tire is on the bundt. Fortunately, JimmyL had a good pic of a wagon with the bigger tires