Tire Size

[BrooklynMatt]

Good afternoon all. I need new tires for my 84 380sl. A PO changed from the original 14" rims and tires and I currently have 205/65/15s on it. I found someone locally selling a set of 15" rims with 215/65/15s at a great price. Can anyone tell me if these will fit?

Thanks,
Matt.

[deanyel]

Should be OK - 2.8% bigger than original. Present tires are .7% bigger than original. Common rule is to stay within 3%.

[JimFreeh]

Might want to verify the offset of the rim, that measurement will be the critical one.....

Jim

[abiby]

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Might want to verify the offset of the rim, that measurement will be the critical one.....

Jim

Yes, and if I were wagering, I'd wager the offset will be incorrect.

[BrooklynMatt]

Funny. I called the guy selling the rims and tires on CL. Turns out he bought them from someone on eBay for his own 560sl but they didn't fit. From his description it sounds like the offset was indeed not right. I believe they were from an E series.

Thanks for the help guys.

Matt.

[rowdie]

Standard wheel sizes for the 107. 14x6.5 ET30. 15x7 ET25. If you find 16x8 the ET needs to be 11.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by BrooklynMatt

Funny. I called the guy selling the rims and tires on CL. Turns out he bought them from someone on eBay for his own 560sl but they didn't fit. From his description it sounds like the offset was indeed not right. I believe they were from an E series.

Thanks for the help guys.

Matt.

Keep in mind that there are rims that won't fit the 560 but will fit your 380. The calipres are bigger on the 560.

However, if the offset isn't as Rowdie listed, forget it.

[jdhill]

Might be worth noting that a rim with 8J x 16 cast into it is actually 9" wide rim size being designated from the inside lip. An 8J x 16 ET 11 with 225/55 x 16 tires will not fit under a normal 107. Expensive lesson. Someone, I believe on this site, informed me those rims were an AMG rim (Rial) and they widened the wheel wells to make them fit.

[rowdie]

I don't know about a rial rim but the AMG 8J x 16 ET11 GEN1 road wheel made by ATS fits fine. They won't fit the 560SL due to the dual piston calipers on the front. AMG 8J x 16 ET11 Gen II road wheels made by Ronal fit the 560SL.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by jdhill

Might be worth noting that a rim with 8J x 16 cast into it is actually 9" wide rim size being designated from the inside lip. An 8J x 16 ET 11 with 225/55 x 16 tires will not fit under a normal 107. Expensive lesson. Someone, I believe on this site, informed me those rims were an AMG rim (Rial) and they widened the wheel wells to make them fit.

....but a 225/50 X 16 on a 8j X 16 et11 rim should.

[rowdie]

Originally Posted by abiby

....but a 225/50 X 16 on a 8j X 16 et11 rim should.

That is what my '84 500SL AMG is running. And the wheel wells have not been altered. And it is lowered.

[rowdie]

jdhill

You stated "Expensive Lesson" Did this happen to you or just something you heard? I find it hard to believe.

[jdhill]

Rowdy, boy do I wish it were hearsay. I still have about 6-700 lbs of body parts to reassemble, plan is to open the wheel wells because I love my rims.
We measured from the outer edge of the wheel well to the inner panel and both are the same, so I assume their is no body damage.

[rowdie]

I have no problem with 8 x16 ET11 with 225/50/16 even though the 84 500SL AMG is lowered. That is the proper size tire for the wheel.

8x16 are 9'' wide at the edges of the rim but 8" measured on the inside.

Are your wheels 3 piece BBS?

[jdhill]

As mentioned, the rims are one piece Rial honeycombs. To be absolutely accurate, the rims themselves would probably fit under. It is the tire sidewall bulge (9.75") that hits the body. I have 1.25" between the tires inner edge and the body so an ET of about 25 would be good. I put the front tires which are 7J X 16 ET 23 also with 225's on the rear and they are excellent, lots of clearance space, more than just the narrower rim. Photo shows the spacing I
have, you might want to compare it to yours.