[W126 Coupe] Wheel and tire size

[samsisic at comcast.net]

Russ,
The optimal TIRE size for a set of staggered 18" wheels is as follows:
FRONT: 245/40-18
REAR: 275/35-18
The optimal wheel is 5-112 bolt pattern, obviously. ;-)
Optimal wheel width & offset (ET) as follows:
FRONT: 8" to 8.5" w/ET31 & 30 respectively. (No Spacers Req.)
I would not recommend spacers for the front by any means.
REAR: 9" to 9.5" w/ET35 & 33 respectively. (12mm spacer recommended, 10mm will work too, H&R hub-centric or eq.)
If you find a 9" wheel with ET 23 or 9.5" wheel with ET 21, this is ideal as no spacers would be required for rear.
Any offset less than above will rub on the inner lip of the fender and any offset more than above will rub on inner wheel well surface.

I find the above to be an ideal set up for the SEC. This comes after much calculation and 4 different sets of wheel & tire combinations on my car in a three year period (no charge). ;-) I ended up with 18" x 8.5" ET30 on the FRONT and 18" x 9.5" ET33 w/12mm spacer on the REAR option with the tire sizes outlined above. It's as close to perfect we mortals can get!

***IMPORTANT: You must have the correct lug bolt length, especially for the REAR. Too long will interfere with the parking brake mechanism and too short will make the wheel fall off (NOT GOOD)!! You need min. 6 to 8 full turns on the lug bolts.
The length of the bolts will depend on the type of wheel you get as the seat of the bolt to the backside of the wheel hub thickness varies from wheel to wheel.

Enjoy,
Sam
Chicago
88 560 SEC US



> 

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> 

> Message: 4 

> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 12:31:51 -0700 

> From: "Mike R." 

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Wheel and tire size 

> To: , "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" 

> 

> Message-ID: <985FE92A94B1428A82C4B5F0CA8C62FD at MJRlaptop2> 

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> 

> I can help, kinda - my 18x8.5 rims have an offset of ET38, which required a 15mm 

> hubcentric spacer on the front and 20mm one on the back to push them out where I 

> wanted them. If I could have found ET23 and ET18 rims, I wouldn't have needed 

> the spacers. 

> 

> FYI, I have no problems using hubcentric spacers and long bolts on the SEL as 

> it's a cruising kind of car and not *too* often gets slid around. My 

> FrankenBenz, with the monster LS6 motor in it, will very likely not be safe with 

> spacers and long bolts so it will have to have proper offset rims and short 

> bolts. 

> 

> Idea: What if I get an ET38 set of rims for the FrankenBenz and have the 

> hubcentric spacers welded onto the rims?? That would eliminate one failure 

> point. A tig/mig guy should be able to put a clean bead around the spacer/rim 

> joint rather easily as long as the rim is aluminum. Thoughts?? 

> 

> Later, 

> Mike Ramay 

> 

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: Russ Farrar 

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com 

> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 12:09 PM 

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Wheel and tire size 

> 

> 

> I am ready to buy wheels and tires for my 560 SEC. I want to go with 

> staggered 18". What size tires and wheel offsets would be recommended? 

> 

> Thanks, 

> 

> Russ Farrar 

> 

> 

> 

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