W123 Steel/aluminum wheels for hubcaps. Are there different sizes???? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #1 06-11-2009, 05:19 PM

The tires on the Bundts of Smash just have waaaaay too much wobble to be safe. Just had one last week where the inner walls separated, causing quite the bubble. Now I'm getting the same shimmy.
So, I think for now I will move over the tires/wheels that are on the white wagon since I have silver hubbies for Smash.
I will need to find steel/aluminum wheels for the white wagon at that point.
So, besides some of the wheels being steel and some being aluminum, are there differences in width of those wheels?????
The Dallas PNP didn't have any the other day. I don't know if FW has a car that has them, but thought I'd better ask the above question prior to my wheel hunt.
Thanks.......

UriahT · #2 06-11-2009, 05:39 PM

I believe they're identical in dimension.
I've swapped tires from the steelies to the aluminum.
Just look for a 1983 240D. Huge difference in the weight and handling over the steelies.

winmutt · #3 06-11-2009, 05:57 PM

There is all kinds of variations but state side its likely they are all 14" x 5.5

Rashakor · #4 06-11-2009, 09:40 PM

State side you had all the steelies that are 14" and have kind of crude brakets that actually scratch the metal.
All the aluminum are also 14" but the holding brakets are differents (in the USA only the the 1983 240D had these).
My wagon has 15" steelies, but that is a euro. As Winmutt said i never saw a USA-spex with 15".

t walgamuth · #5 06-11-2009, 10:10 PM

The little aluminum wheels that take hubcaps are five and a half wide. The steelies are I believe six inches. The clips are different for the hubcaps on the steel wheels from the aluminum wheels. The rim on the aluminum is probably a bit thicker for strength. The aluminum wheels are about ten pounds each. Six inch bundts are about 14# each. The six and a half bundts are about 19# each.

The 123 rides and steers very nicely with the five an a halfs. About the only disadvantage is if you slide and hit a curb in the winter the aluminum wheels bend a lot easier.

79Mercy · #6 06-11-2009, 10:18 PM

Yes there are different sizes. 240D's got 14x5.5"

All other models got 14x6" steel wheels. They're are also some uber rare 15x6" steel wheels out there somewhere.

Jimmy, did you get my PM?

DieselUte · #7 08-16-2021, 07:51 PM

I wanted to contribute and also mention a caveat in this post. I ordered some standard W123 hubcaps for my 83 240D with steelies. I then ordered the clips with plastic to protect the aluminum rims. When I went to put the clips with the plastic on the hubcap they did not fit. I know they are typically hard to put on but it wasn't that. I was able to take the original clips that the hubcaps came with on and off. When I look closely the clips with the plastic are a little bit longer. That has me thinking that not all W123 pagoda style hubcaps are the same, that there might have been a subtle design change in the later years (82-84?) or possibly for the steelies only. Hope this helps and that my information is correct.