'03 SL wheels and tires for your '90-'02 SL

[BigGar]

Hello. I am a professional auto detailer in Southern California. I put a set of AMG SL55 wheels on a clients new '03 SL and now have the OEM wheels for sale. They have less than 500 miles on them. My local wheel and tire guy who fitted the SL55 wheels told me these will fit the previous generation SL's. He said the front wheels might rub a little. I know there is no problem size wise with the rears, and here is a picture of one of them mounted on the front. I drove this car for a few miles over some bumps and around corners and the only rubbing I could find was very light on the plastic inner fender when the wheels were severely turned like they would be in slow speed manuvers ie. parking the car. I could not actually hear the rubbing and it appeared that they barely touched. I just found this forum and please shoot me an e-mail if there is any interest. I guess my pic isn't gonna work, but e-mail me and I would be happy to send you pics of the individual wheels and tires, as well as a photo of one of them mounted to the front of a white '92 SL500. Thanks. I can be reached at biggar@***.net or (760) 497-1015

To remove this ad, register today or login if you already are registered!

[BigGar]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!!!!

O.K., I still have these wheels and tires under a big blanket in my garage. I guess they may not actually work on the older SLs as these wheels are made for 14mm lug bolts and the older SLs use 12mm. It might not be safe long term, but I am not an expert either way. They seemed to drive fine when I did test them out on a '92.
That said, the new SLs have been around long enough that maybe someone needs a fresh set of wheels and tires! If anyone, especially in SoCal, even Vegas, or Phoenix is interested, I may even be able to deliver them. I imagine shipping would be a couple hundred dollars to other parts of the United States. I am open to any and all offers, even rude, lowball offers will be given serious consideration. You can bolt these new wheels and tires on your car for less money than a set of tires.
What say you


Gar

[BigGar]

After looking at this thread:

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=101738

Does that mean that the wheels I have will also work for those applications?


Gar

biggar@***.net

[JayCLK430]

No, your tires are too tall. It *may* work for CLS500 and S-Class applications.

[BigGar]

Thanks Jay. I'll do a bit more research and see what else these wheels and tires might work on. I do know for sure that they will fit a new SL




Gar

[BigGar]

A shameless thread topper from your's truly.



Gar

[super_SL500]

let me know if you still have them for sale.....

[BigGar]

They are still available. Stacked up in my garage as I type. I sent a couple of people e-mails this week but no response as yet.
Cheap! I'll let 'em go cheap!!




Gar
biggar@***.net

[MARK CUMMINS]

any pics?

[BigGar]

Yes. I'm back. I have the wheels that won't go away. Still safely ensconced in my garage. Neatly stacked out of the sun.
Someone please buy these for much less than the cost of a set of tires for your SL.
Someone in Southern California please. I can't imagine shipping these all over the continent, although I'm sure it can be done for a price.

I need $500 samoleans to keep me from looking at them in the corner for yet another year. Not a penny less mind you.

E-mail for more pics if you like, or call for lively conversation



Gar

biggar@***.net

(760) 497-1015

Here's a pic of the same type of wheels for reference

[BigGar]

Anyone. . .

I did check on shipping today, and should be able to get them from SoCal to anywhere else in the country for under $150. I'd still rather sell them locally, but Greyhound will ship to Bus station to bus station quite reasonably.

Why buy a set of tires for your beat up and curb rashed rims when you can just bolt these babys on?



Gar

biggar@***.net

[AMG_55]

if its been that long your tires are "hard". the rubber is done, finito, no good.

sorry, but i have to let prospective buyers know that rubber that is this old is very unsafe, its hardened and there is no grip, its like having plastic tires or some ****, wont grip, at all, trust me. sorry man

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=172000

[BigGar]

So you're saying that anyone out there with an SL that they bought new in '03 and still are running the original tires is driving unsafely? These came off a brand new 2003 SL. They are 4 years old. They have been stored indoors and under a cover. I am sure the rubber is fine. I would be willing to bet you could go to a local tire store and if you were to check the date code on the side of some of the "brand new" tires that they have in stock, you would find some tires nearly that old. If these had come of a mid 90's SL I might be inclined to agree with you, but as it is, they are barely 4 years old and I have no doubt that they are perfectly safe. I do appreciate you looking out for the membership and have no problem with you raising a question like that.




Gar

biggar@***.net

(760) 497-1015

[AMG_55]

Originally Posted by BigGar

So you're saying that anyone out there with an SL that they bought new in '03 and still are running the original tires is driving unsafely? These came off a brand new 2003 SL. They are 4 years old. They have been stored indoors and under a cover. I am sure the rubber is fine. I would be willing to bet you could go to a local tire store and if you were to check the date code on the side of some of the "brand new" tires that they have in stock, you would find some tires nearly that old. If these had come of a mid 90's SL I might be inclined to agree with you, but as it is, they are barely 4 years old and I have no doubt that they are perfectly safe. I do appreciate you looking out for the membership and have no problem with you raising a question like that.



Gar

biggar@***.net

(760) 497-1015

tires that old that are used will more than likely not turn hard, yours have been stored

[BigGar]

Originally Posted by AMG_55

tires that old that are used will more than likely not turn hard, yours have been stored

Please elaborate. I can't see how carefully stored tires would deteriorate or harden any more than a set that rolls down the road every day.



Gar

[AMG_55]

im not a tire professional
im telling you this from experience.

tires that roll heat up, tires that are stored stay cold and "freeze"

[BigGar]

I've been working with exotic cars for over 20 years and your logic escapes me. I do agree that tires eventually get old and hard, but it doesn't matter if they're on the road or on a shelf, and it's not going to happen in 4 years.
I put a thread up in the tire section and lets see what others have to say about it. I drive many exotic and sports cars that have had tires 10+ years old on them without any drama. I've also pulled extremely old tires out of storage, weird metric sizes from the late 80's and early 90's that were OEM fitments for BMW M6's and such, had them installed, and driven the cars with no problems at all. I've done many trackdays at Willow Springs on my motorcycle running race take-offs that are a few years old. Low 1:30's on a fat *** Hayabusa with no slipping and sliding. Palomar many times as well.
Your single experience with a slippery tire does not exactly set a precedent.
We did put some nearly 50 year old Pirellis on a 1952 Ferrari 340mm for Pebble Beach one year. They were some beautiful and absolutley correct old tires, but I wouldn't want to go very far on 'em


Gar