205/65 on w124

[ambush276]

Will this fit without rubbing on a w124? With stock suspension?

Oem 15" wheels.

[Duke2.6]

That's the size used on the 126. It's a bit taller with lower revs per mile. I installed 205/60s on my 201 using 124 wheels which a half-inch wider with the same offset, and the 205/60s are the same revs/mile as the OE 185/65s so speedometer calibration was not effected.

I did have a slight amount of interference at the front of the front fender where it meets the bumper, so I dressed it with a file and finished with some primer and touchup paint. No one could ever tell.

205/60s on OE wheels should be okay, but will cause your speedo to read a bit high because they are fewer revs per mile than the 195/65s that were OE on 124s. 215/60s will be about the right revs/mile, but you might run into some slight interference problems like I did.

Tire sales Web sites and tire manufacturer sites have detailed tire dimension, revs/mile, and load data. Using the difference between 195/65 and 215/60 you can make some measurements, and make sure you check the fronts at full left and right lock.

Duke

[ambush276]

im fine with the spedo being off slightly.

I can see online that 205/65 adds about 0.5" in diameter. I am wondering if that will fit on a stock 124. There are very few tires available in the 60 aspect ratio, so i'm sticking to 65. (at 15" rims).

[ponstar]

Go with series 60 with the 205 width. The 205/65 makes your W124 looks like running on doughnuts. Will feel sluggish too, if it's a 4 cylinder.

[back-seat-driver]

Yes. I used that size almost exclusively on my W124s before switching to the equivalent 16 inch size 215/55R16.

I feel that it fills the wheelwell better than the standard size.

[Duke2.6]

The 205/60 is has a smaller OD than the OE 195/65, so how can it fill the wheel well better?

Duke

[t walgamuth]

The extra weight will negatively impact ride and handling.

[Zulfiqar]

Ive found that installing wider tires usually induces "tracking" issues and taller tires cause more wobble.

on my old W124 - I used the factory 195/65/15 size which was perfect, after a good alignment, it a was very enjoyable to drive which I think is mostly because I refreshed its entire undercarriage rubber parts, but when it had 205 tires. It drove spooky even with new suspension bits.

[ambush276]

right now the car has 225/50/17 from the guy i bought it from. There is still a decent amount of tread on the tires so i'm not changing anything right now. There is no rubbing, i took it to a mechanic just to make sure as i'm not sure how it's not.. but.. so far it's not.


I have a set of OEM 15" rims in my garage as well.


I'm liking the ride of the 17"s but i think 225 is too wide for this car. I might go down to 215/50 on the next set of tires... or maybe put the stock rims on...

does anyone know if the tire rating should be t, h , or v ?

Thanks.

[back-seat-driver]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The extra weight will negatively impact ride and handling.

This is (mostly) not true. Most people would be unableto tell the difference in how the extra weight of the tire affects the suspension in most of its standard operation. Most people can't even tell if they have a flat tire.

[back-seat-driver]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

Ive found that installing wider tires usually induces "tracking" issues and taller tires cause more wobble.

on my old W124 - I used the factory 195/65/15 size which was perfect, after a good alignment, it a was very enjoyable to drive which I think is mostly because I refreshed its entire undercarriage rubber parts, but when it had 205 tires. It drove spooky even with new suspension bits.

In cars with very precise steering systems, and especially in cars without power steering, possibly. In my vintage BMW 2002 you can definitely tell the doifference in steering feel going from the original 165R13 tires to the more common 185/70R13s. But that's a steering with good ... fidelity.

In my W124s I noticed no difference going from 195/65R15 to 205/65R15. Then to 215/55R16. I did notice an improvement in ride quality going from cheap 225/50R16s to 215/55R15s on one of them.

But honestly, it depends a lot more on what tires you're going to or from. Ibought cheap Kumhos 215/55R16 for my sedan because i'm going to get rid of it, then decided I wanted to keep the wheels so I swapped them with the OE wheels from my wagon, with Michelins. My wagon rides worse now, but I ascribe it to the cheap Kumho tires than the size. I had no problems with the Michelins when they were on the sedan in the same size.

Does the sedan ride better now? Well, yes, but it always had better suspension so not a fair comparison. It always rode better.

[back-seat-driver]

Originally Posted by ambush276

right now the car has 225/50/17 from the guy i bought it from. There is still a decent amount of tread on the tires so i'm not changing anything right now. There is no rubbing, i took it to a mechanic just to make sure as i'm not sure how it's not.. but.. so far it's not.


I have a set of OEM 15" rims in my garage as well.


I'm liking the ride of the 17"s but i think 225 is too wide for this car. I might go down to 215/50 on the next set of tires... or maybe put the stock rims on...

does anyone know if the tire rating should be t, h , or v ?

Thanks.

The OE speed rating until 1992 in the US was V. Then it was H beginning in 1993, as the HFM cars had a top speed governor; 130mph.
Make sure you get tires with the correct load rating. If the tire size starts with a P195/65R15 for example (or any different size,) it might have a lower load rating.

[nulu]

Im running 245 45 17 on a 94 wagon amg rims . slight rubbing over big dips , drives good in the curves , rock steady

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by back-seat-driver

This is (mostly) not true. Most people would be unableto tell the difference in how the extra weight of the tire affects the suspension in most of its standard operation. Most people can't even tell if they have a flat tire.

So if most people can't feel it I must be lying?

[ambush276]

is a 4" sidewall enough?

Am i going to feel the difference between a 4, 4.2, 4.4" sidewall?

Currently i have a 4.4 and it feels fine.. but i don't think i would want something harsher.