I want to put some 18 in rims on my E420, but I don't know how wide I can go. With 18's I'll have to do some fender curling but I am ready to do that. What are the bigest rims I can get that wont rub (even with the fenders curled)17 and 18's. What would be the correct tire size to put on the 17 & 18's to keep the factory diamater (I dont realy want any speedo problems).

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1999 ML320
1995 E320
1994 E420 lowered 1.5 in
1980 300D

All of the 18" wheels we carry would give your car a wide track look and possibly rub when the car is fully loaded. A fender roll would be a must !!! The wheels would be 18x8.
The tire size would be a 225/40-18 I would recommend that you go with 17's not 18's
Thanks, Luke
800-428-8355 ext. 362




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Luke Pavlick
Performance Specialist (ASE Certified Master Tech)
The Tire Rack
(click banner at top of the page
to visit Tire Rack)

What would be the tire size you recomend for the 17 in rims??
Would 215/45 R17 be good?

225/45/17 would be an optimal fit. If you wanted to stagger it, then 225/45/17 (on 7.5") front would work, and 245/40/17 (on 8.5") back would work. I don't recommend staggering it though. Waste of money.

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1997 Mercedes-Benz E420
Michelin Pilot XGT Z4
P225/55ZR16

1997 Mercedes-Benz C280
Michelin Pilot SX-GT
205/60VR15

1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E
Michelin Pilot HX MXV3-A
195/65HR15

And come to think of it, I don't think an 8.5" rim will fit on a W124.

Do you guys know any one who has put 18 in rims on a 124?
Did they have problems?
I want to put some 18 in Monoblocks on my car.

They really don't have that many problems. I know someone who put them on an 400E, and then ha major fender flare work done to make it look like the 500Es. It costed him close to $4k, but he was able to fit 17x8.5 up front and 18x9 in the rear (AMG Monoblocks). He was pushing 285/30/18 in the rear and 245/40/17 up front. The 17"/18" combo made the car look like it was wearing bigger tires in the back and gave the car a very mean appearance. However, he had alot of suspension work, and I am sure the wheels and tires would rub with full weight in the car.

If you got the money and now how, I would go that route, but it would be expensive. Normally, I would recommend 17" but If you want 18" go for it. I wouldn't push past the 18x8 AMG monoblocks and would stick to 225/40/18 unless If you get enough fender clearance that you could put 245/35/18 under the rear (I doubt It). So 225/40/18 for 18"

For the 17x7.5", go 225/45/17 all the way around, and like above go wide if you can in the rar, though doubt it will fit (245/40/17).

God Luck.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

I hate to have a dissenting comment from fellow MercedesShop.com'ers but, the 225's will be a wide track look and stick out side of the fenders and rub if the car is fully loaded.
For 17" wheels I would suggest the 215/50-17 tire size.
Thanks, Luke


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Luke Pavlick
Performance Specialist (ASE Certified Master Tech)
The Tire Rack
(click banner at top of the page
to visit Tire Rack)

Hey Luke, just wondering, I always thought that the 215/50/17 would rub due to the added height. Maybe I am wrong, oh well.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

Subman,

I also own a 94 E420 and have done a lot of research on wheel widths and offsets. I would be careful of the offset of the wheels. Accourding to a 1997 AMG catalog the best fit is with a 46mm offset for a 7.5 inch wheel. I also see that your car has been lowered. I would also be sure that the AMG wheels will work with your suspension, if it is not AMG. I am out of town for a few days, but if you would like, I can look at the 18 inch diameters, and the 8 and 8.5 inch widths for AMG offsets.

Brad

And all the tires in the 215/50/17 size are not that good.

Hey Luke, what if the fenders are rolled? Then the 225/40/18 should fit on 18x8 shouldn't they?

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

I have an 300E (w124)running on 18x8.5 Brabus Monoblock IVs with 35 offset. Tire size is 225-40-18. The fenders had been rolled because of some rubbing problems. With this setup I am clear, however I previously had 235 wide tires on and it caused some minor rubbing at the rear over big dips on the highway. Hope this helps.

Alex

Hi!

I have been browsing a lot of german catalogs with rims and tires. According to these catalogs they sell these different combinations:

8x17-ET30 with 225/45Z17, 235/40Z17
8x17-ET35 with 225/45Z17 (T-Modell=215/50Z17 nur)
7,5x17-ET38 with 225/45Z17

Mostly all rims use 215/45Z17 -> 225/45Z17 tires and for the rear you could use 215/45Z17 -> 245/40Z17. I don't have the specs on the orginal rims but if we use AMGs best fit; 7.5" gives ET46 = 8" gives ET40, 8.5" gives ET33. Or am I totally lost with my calculations?

BTW You can check if the tires changes your odometer at this page (Sorry, page in swedish, hopefully You can understand it anyway): http://www.nordicaudi.com/na/faq/falg-dack/000416_berakning/main.htm

/Patrik from Stockholm, SWEDEN . I found out today that I also had an orginal alarm. Long story...

__________________
Patrik Sjoblom....1993 MB 320 CE......Bought Jan 2001. Only 16.8 mpg
Stockholm.........Silvermetallic....DEFA immobilizer/alarm + Original larm
SWEDEN............17x7.5 ET35 wheels with 215/45-17 Kumho 712 ECSTA .

I am a big fan of Pilot Sport A/S having gotten 35k of even, quiet, high performance out of these on a 202.

I recently purchased AMG monoblocks from a 210, 17x7.5 non-staggered, and knowing 215 is the widest I could go with most tires, I checked on the Potenza RE960 - they have a 215/50/17. Section width 8.7', and the section width on a 225/45/17 PS A/S is only 8.8." I always noticed these tires tend to "crown-in" as opposed to the Potenzas (and other tires) with perfectly-vertical sidewalls. I don't think I would have a rubbing problem, HOWEVER......

Pilot Sport A/S also comes in 205/50/17, exact same diameter, narrow enough (with certainty) to fit on a 124. So, I think that is what I am going with. Stay tuned.

__________________
former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL