jdube46

Hi,
New to the W210 world. Just picked up a 97 E420 and looking to run H&R Sport springs with Bilstein shocks with a set of 18" Staggered Carlsson 1/6 (not sure of the offset). Did a lot of research but cant seem to get a solid answer to my question. I want to run more beefier tire to get better ride quality. Can I run the following?

Front: 235/45/18
Rear: 255/45/18

Thanks!

illest

depends on the offset and width of the wheels

I run a 245/40/18 in the front with a 33 offset. In the rear you can fit bigger than a 255 if the wheel is wide enough.

jdube46

They are 18x8 and 18x9..i beleive offset is 35 all around. Thanks.

illest

The offset should work fine. I run 245/40/18s all around with my offsets are 33 and 26 in the rear (I am using spacers 5mm front 12mm rear).
For tire size your sidewall height seem a little big and might throw off your speedometer.

jdube46

Thanks for the pic. I took a look and the offset is 40 in the front and 35 in the rear. Just trying to get as meaty as I can. Thanks

illest

to run a 40 in the front you will need a spacer.

raymond g-

this is the infamous nut your tire risk scrubbing based on that offset and width
http://oi9.tinypic.com/4p2cnd5.jpg

jdube46

So i should drop it down to
235/40/18 in the front?

Thanks

OJ's DNA

Choose whatever tire and wheel size you want, but just know that it will not change your ride very much if at all. Once you lower and put 18's on her it is what it is, ride quality is sacrificed. Good luck

illest

235s will fit better in the front

FireMechanic

I run a staggered 18" setup and have 235/40's up front and 275/35's out back with no issues

Tall Giraffe

What spacers did you use/buy? Were they hubcentric? Did you have any trouble fitting the front spacers flush to the hub due to the beveled collar at the base?

kajtek1

I remember one member from Australia reporting that he runs 300 mm on the rear, but you have to do your homework and chose the right offset and also compare rpm of replacement tires comparing to original
When you go different than original rpm, your speedo and odometer will show differently.
When you put different rpm on different axles at about 5% difference the traction and ESP will start to flash.

illest

@Tall Giraffe for the rear I got some hubcentric spacers from ebay, I had used them on my e320 before. For the front I got some generic 5mm spacers, as far as I know 5mm spacers can't be hubcentric and there is still plenty of hub left exposed to align the wheel. The spacers I run on the rear dont fit on the front hubs.

renault12ts

No...you can't run 235/40 at the front with 255/45 at the back. The different diameters of the front and rear tyres will render some things, suchas cruise control inoperable.

You can however run 235/50s at the front with 255/45s at the back.

Do a little googling about aspect ratio of tyres.

FireMechanic

Yeah I lost cruise control running 235's up front and the 275's in the back. Fronts are 40 series and rears are 35 series. I don't mind it. It doesn't affect anything else though

Tall Giraffe

Thanks. This makes sense because I have some spacers that are 7mm that are hubcentric that does not fit up front but does in the rear. The collar at the bottom of the front hub prevents a flush fit.

Do you experience any difficulties like vibrations from the front for not being hubcentric?

Tall Giraffe

Here is a shot of mine and the sinister bolt. This is with 245/35/19.

Still with adding a 7mm spacer I am still confused as to how it will not rub if I lower it 40 mm. Currently I am ET 32.

my question is when the car lowers, will the wheel butterfly outwards slightly?

FlatlineEF9

You will be good. If its not touching/rubbing now you wont have an issue.

illest

I have not had any vibration issues with the 5mm spacers but I would not run anything bigger without it being hubcentric. I am running 245/40/18 in the front and it rubs that bolt a little bit.

Tall Giraffe

@illest - I have read the same about running larger than 5mm to use hubcentric to avoid any vibrations but it seems like catch 22 that some hubcentrics do not clear the hub collar at the base. Seems like a guessing game.

I found this post from sometime back about running 245 with 8.5 wheels

Interesting that you have 8 inch wheel that rub with an ET33 when stock is ET31. I wonder if 2mm make that great of a difference?

I was wanting to get to ET25 to ensure no rub. a 5mm puts me at ET 27...

FlatlineEF9

I ran et35 front and rear on my car with a 245 on 18s and it didnt rub...even with a 2 inch drop. It was a credit card width away from the bolt though.

Tall Giraffe

Crazy because before I went to 19s I had 18X8.5 with 245/40/18 Potenza S-04 and literally wore a grove in the tire. I have read that tire has a wide shoulder however.

kajtek1

Bare in mind that even different tires can have same nominal sizes, they WILL differ in crown width and rpm.
I had 2 different tires for my ML55 in the past and with the same size - one would rub, the other would not.
Measured crowns and the difference was over 10mm.