[W126 Coupe] 380 SEC 16 or 17 inch rims

[Bruce Mendel]

You can put spacers on any car, they just have to be made for the particular car you're putting them on so they fit properly.

But spacers and wheel diameter have nothing to do with each other. 16" or 17" or 18" will all fit fine, it's about width of tire in case you are lowered (rubbing on fender), and offset of wheel.

Offset of wheel (known as ET) determines how far in or out the wheel/tire combo sits. So a high offset number (ET45) will cause the wheel and tire to sit very far IN the wheelwells,, potentially causing clearance problems with hub, brake caliper, or shock tower, and making the car look ridiculous like it's riding on bicycle tires.

A low offset (ET25) will push the wheel/tire combo further OUT in the wheelwell, widening the stance and eliminating clearance problems. But every car has a different offset, so you have to aim for something close to original design. If you fall in love with an ET45 wheel on a car designed for ET35, that's when spacers some in. You get a 10mm spacer, and that will lower the ET45 wheel/tie combo back down to ET35 when it's mounted with the spacer. ET is really just a measurement in millimeters.

W126 cars are designed for low offset/ET wheels, so you need to stick with ET28 or below for best fit. Some say an ET in the 11 to 18 range is best. So if you find an ET25, and think it looks weird and want it further out, you can get a 5mm spacer and then you'll have an effective offset when mounted of ET20.

Again, though, 16" or 17" is just diameter, has nothing to do with spacers, which affect offset/ET.

Hope that helps.

Bruce
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Rodgers 
  To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 12:58 PM
  Subject: [W126 Coupe] 380 SEC 16 or 17 inch rims


  I want to change my rims, but don't want to add spacers.  I have 15 inch rims now can I put 17 inch on without spacers or should I stick to 16 inch?  The post I read today says can't put spacers on earlier SEC models.
  Bob Rodgers


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