Hey fellas. I have an 89 300E that is lowered using eibach springs and bilstein sport shocks. I plan to run 17x7.5 rims at all four corners but i have some reservations about what size tires I should go with. I currently have 215/60/15 on the car. I'd like to run with 225/45/17 as they would look pretty agressive, but I dont want them to stick out or rub under heavy loads. people have suggested that i go with 215/50/17, but I would like the shorter sidewalls and wider track of the previosly mention tires. any input?

I doubt anyone will have info on this other than Luke with all of the modifications to your car.

Sorry.

Daniel

I have a 300E as well and I run on 225-40-18 Pirelli's. Used to have 235s on it but I did have some rubbing problem over big dips on the highway. The fenders are rolled but some rubbing was still present at the rear so I went down a size. However because the fender roll was done by the previous owner I can't really tell you if the 225s will rub or not on factory fenders. Sorry, you have to try one on and see. Also take into consideration the camber change at the rear end. Lowering the car increased the negative camber which will result in premature tirewear on the inside of those rear tires,since there is no adjustment for the rear camber on the 300E. Of course the severity will depend on how much you actually lowered the car. There is a company in the US. who sells camber kits for the 300E for about $300.00.
If you need the name and address I can dig it out.
Of course your gas milage will increase and performance decrease because of the increased rolling resistance of the wider tires.

Good luck.


Alex

195/65/15 - 25.0
215/60/15 - 25.2
215/45/17 - 24.6
215/50/17 - 25.5
225/45/17 - 25.0

The reason why people will suggest not using 225/45/17 is because it might cause occasional rubbing. Usually rolling the fenders will solve this. However with the car lowered its a tight squeeze again. I know others have done it with no problems if the fender job is done right. If you do not plan on rolling the fenders, then you have 2 choices:

215/50/17 is the first, but it is almost a 1/2" taller and still might cause rubbing because of the added height.

215/45/17 is smaller and closer of a match then the 215/50/17, but it can't hanlde the load as well due to the smaller size.

Solution:
Get the fenders rolled and try the 225/45/17. I think you should be able to get away with them. Lots of places offer trial tires for 30 days. I know NTB does. Thats how I found out that the 205/60/15 will not rub, because nobody really recommended them saying they might rub. I took the 30day trial, and they do. I had NTB buy them from TireRack, so I even got the best prices.

Good 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)

With your car being lowered the 225/45-17 will rub. The 215/45-17 would be the correct size for your application. The 225 although, they look aggressive they will stick out of the fenders and cause you problems.
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)

thanks for the low down. dont want to sound like a moron but who is NTB and how can i contact them?

I recommend contacting TireRack first and having them ship the tires to retailer that will install them for you. I just missed one important aspect, and that is Luke gets paid of comission, and the later process of buying it through another retailer cuts down on his share. So Do what you can to give Luke your business. By the way NTB stands for National Tire and Battery and are now owned by Sears. We have them all over the place in the NorthEast.

Good 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)

hi...i am going to run 17x8.5 with offset 35 on my 1989 300e...i do plan to get my fenders rolled and am wondering what size tire will be the best..i also have a set of eibachs that will go in soon...im the only driver and i rarely have anymore than one extra person in the car...what size tire will work best? 225's or 235's? i dont mind if they stick out of the side of the car, as long as they dont look like those ridiculous cars with half the tire/wheel sticking out...thanks....

ben

Very few 215/45/17 will fit a 17x8.5 (Dunlop SP Sport 9000 will I believe) and would suggest 225/45/17. However, make sure you get those fenders rolled pretty 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)

Will 17x8 roll on the 300e without fender rolling?