[W126 Coupe] 19" wheels on SEC and rear HD shocks

[Sam Sisic]

Terry,
First, your rear 265/40/18 overall diameter is too much... It is at
26.35". It should be around 25.5" to 25.75"... I, as most on the group,
have found that 275/35/18's are perfect for the rear providing the wheel
offset is correct, around ET25 to ET30 with a 9" to 9.5" wide wheel, 10"
maximum!
The fronts are perfect at 245/40/18 with an 8" to 8.5" wide wheel and
offset at ET 25 to 
ET 30.


Igor,
I would NOT recommend 19" wheels for the SEC... 18" is the absolute
maximum in my opinion, although the 17" is ideal wheel to sidewall
ratio. Not too many wheel choices in the 17" though.
The 255's and 285's are too wide... If you must have the 19" wheels, go
with 245/35/19 fronts and 275/30/19 rears. Hope the roads are smooth as
glass where you live...
The H&R springs with Bilstein HD shocks in front and fresh accumulators
in rear is a great set up with 3nib rubber shims in front and 2 nib
shims in rear... Again, stay away from 19" wheels if you can.

Best regards,

Sam
88 560SEC US
Chicago

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:58:21 -0500
From: "Terry Ratliff" <Terry at ibmc.com>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 19" wheels on SEC and rear HD shocks
To: "'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists'" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <04d501c735b2$77db9ac0$680fa8c0 at DellE1705>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Igor - I have 18" Rondell wheels with the following tires: Front Tires:
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 245/40/18, Rear Tires:  Michelin Pilot ZR
265/40/18
and HR Sports springs all around. Over medium bumps the tires rub the
wheel
wells. - Anybody with a suggested cure for the rubbing? Besides changing
the
tires and wheels. - Terry http://560SEC.org <http://560sec.org/> 

 

 

  _____  

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Igor Capeta
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 1:11 PM
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: [W126 Coupe] 19" wheels on SEC and rear HD shocks

 

Hi all,

 

this is my first post although I've been a regular visitor to the site
for a
few years now. I own an euro spec 1990 560 SEC with 105tkm, first paint
and
everything original. I am about to go through a process of restoration
and
upgrading its suspension, brakes, wheels and than engine and
transmission.

 

I've come across a following set of wheels that I like:

 

8.5 x 19" ET 25 

9.5 x 19" ET 28 

 

and was wondering if anybody could share their experience with fitting
19"
wheels on a SEC. When dressed with 255/35 and 285/30 tires, their radius
is
almost the same as on stock 215/65 R15 on FA and even a few mm smaller
on
RA. So my guess is they should fit providing the offset is right. I
would
like to achieve the same look Satish, Jack Middlebrook achieved with the
offset and align the wheel as much as possible with the wheel arches.

 

Another issue which interests me is experience with RA HD shocks on cars
with self leveling. I would be grateful if somebody could inform me
about
their experience with such combination on lowered cars (plan to go with
H&R's). 

 

Also, the sway bars. I read a post by Stu dated Dec 2001 when idea of
setting up BergWerks was shared, and there he said that one of the first
things which were developed was larger diameter sway bars. Has anybody
installed them and are they still available for purchase? 

 

I would appreciate any opinion I can get.

 

Best regards to everybody,

 

Igor Capeta