I am looking into getting some new wheels for my '86 420SEL. The original 15 inchers are getting well worn. Tire rack quoted me $915 for ATP repica 16" 8 hole (like the wheels off of the 92-94? S class) with 225/55/16 Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce tires. Is 225 too wide or will it help the handling of the car? I am not too concerned about ride quality, but I would be willing to step down to a 215 or 205 if you think that it would make a big difference. I'd like to hear any input you have on my situation or any other alternatives you have seen that would work. I would also love to hear better tires than the Pirellis. Thanks for your help.

Nick

Nick,
You have many options in 225/55/16. I don't think 225/55/16 will be too wide either. If your looking for good all-season, all-purpose, but still top-notch tire try the Michelin Pilot XGT V4. For somethinmg more sporty on a budget try the Yokohama AVS Sport or Firestone SZ50. No compromise handling...Michelin MXX3. I'd skip the Pirelli's they quoted.

Hope this helps...Lee

Pirelli tires are usually louder than others, and they tend to wear more quickly, too. As Lee suggested, skip the Pirelli.

My '92 400SE came with Pirelli P600 when new, and they stick to the road alot better than the Energy Saving from Michellin I have now. But guess what, they wore out in the first 10,000 KM

Nick
225 is not too wide. I have two sets of 16 x 8 on my W126 with 225/50. If you want you can even go 225 on the front and 245 on the rear. As for tires, I have used Michelin Pilot XGT Z4, Dunlop 9000, and Yokohama AVS Sport. I also had the Michelin XGT V on 15" wheels also. The AVS Sport is by far the best. The XGT Z4 has the best ride but the noisiest. Michelin has the best quality control (not the best) tires in the world but their driving characteristic may not suit everyone. The XGT V was undrivable on a couple of Mercedes that I used on. The Pirelli P6's OE on my 300E was/is the best tire to vehicle match that I have ever experienced on a Mercedes. So don't short change Pirelli. But if you want performace, stay away from four seasons tires. Good luck.

nick, I have a 1987 420 sel, with 225 55 r16 bridgstone potenza super soft tires, they work great unless you lower the car. If you do, then each time you hit a bump the tire will wear fast. Now, could you tell me what kind of rim do you use and where I could get them, because mine are custom made and the inside chrome keeps peeling off causing the tire to loose a lot of air. Thank you.

Even though this is an EIGHT year old thread, I just bought a set of ASA replica 8 hole W140 style 16" painted wheels for my W126 a few weeks ago, and the offset is perfect for them, no spacers needed, nothing, just bolt them onto the car.

Perfect with new 225x50x16" Yokohama Avids, can ran great all the way up to 140 mph, no problems of any kind whatsoever.

Just set it up with Tire Rack and a co operating local Tire dealer in your town, that works with Tire Rack, and you'll be happy with it.

Great value, too. I highly recommend it.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

You have those on the car now, Jim? Put a picture or two on here. Let's see what they look like.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Thank you, yes, they are on the car. It is a great look, having the updated W140 S class style wheels on the car. I bought a set of Mercedes Benz OEM W220 S class center caps with a chromed star and circle to complete the look. Somehow it works.


It is what Mercedes Benz might have put on the car if it was produced in the late 90's. Looks much better than when you saw the car in SF a couple of months ago.

As for the picture, I will need to buy a digital camera (I don't have one yet) and then try to figure out how to post one up here.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

No camera on your phone? Jim! You've got to get with it, man!

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

You are right. Meantime, Charlie took this in Los Angeles at MR MB when I was there for the GTG.

Here is what they look like on my car.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Great looking. are the wheels 8 by 16?? What was the offset??

Wow, those look great!

__________________
-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes