Steve Maislin

So, somehow I thought I read that you could put an 18" wheel on a X166. Well, you can on the back, but not on the front. The calipers are a bit too big for the 18" wheel. So, I thought I would just let anyone know that this is the case. The wheels had a +40 mm offset, by the way. So, now I start the hunt for the 19" wheels and snow tires. It appears that I many have to wait until next year as they appear to be impossible to find.

blittle

Good luck..... I have 19's on my 2011 and have not been able to find winter tires in the size needed. Was planning on looking for a 18 package for the 2013 BUT.... guess not! I did see the following review on "tread depot" for for the Toyo Versado CUV all season tire in the size we need:

"Well, it's been a year 1.5 years since I purchased these tires. They are a very good tire. I delayed putting my Blizzaks on the car last winter and we ended up getting close to 70 inches of snow by the time I got around to switching them off. I really didn't need to afterall. They handled the worst Connecticut winter since 1978 with ease. I only changed them to the Blizzaks because I got tired of seeing $900 in snow tires sitting on my garage floor and the only reason I purchased them was due to the awful Toyo A20's that came OEM with the car and, at that time, there were very little other options. Tremendous tire, the Versado CUV. I will keep this tire on my Highlander for the life of the vehicle."

ace10

Nokian Hakka R's available in 275/55-19 & 275/50-20

tfinan

Tirerack shows 18" winter wheel/tires packages for 2013 GL350 (+42mm offset) but moves up to 19" for 2013 GL450.

Steve Maislin

Yes, I see that it says 18" for GL350 with a warning that you cannot downsize to 17" and when you look at the GL450 it says 19" and you cannot downsize to 18". So, I just went to the GL operation manual it confirms it. Clearly, the calipers on the GL350 must be smaller. This is where the mixup occurred.

Lesson learned: always check the manual and pay attention to details.

tfinan

Posts like these are very useful and helpful. I am sorry if this was an expensive /painful process for you.

Not knowing exactly how the caliper interfers, is this something that a hub adaptor or "spacer" could help with for your installation?

I have a 20" snow tire/rim/TPMS set(from my 2010) that I still need to get installed to my '13 GL350. I assume the prior TPMS sensors (post 2010) are still compatible.

For my 2010, I went with 20" setup primarily for lower cost. The earlier model 550 rims were readily available at a good price (<$500 wfor four with center caps). I bought the TPMS sensors through a website, they said OEM but clearly were not a Mercedes part (TPMSdirect.com) but they work fine. I went with 275/55/20 non-RFT Blizzzaks since they are about $185.

TOURIN

I have Blizzak P265/50 R20 106R tires on my wheels that came with my slightly used GL450. I'm hunting for new winter wheels so I can mount these winter tires up on their own wheels by next winter. I'll have the summer tires re-mounted on these factory wheels this coming spring at tire changeover. The Blizzaks are great studless winter tires btw!

JimBarnhart

Thanks for the info, I've been starting to think about winter wheels for my 2013 GL350. I will probably drive my all seasons yet this winter. I'll probably hit around 30,000 miles next fall, perhaps then I'll see what options I have available, maybe put on winter tires/wheels and then get new summer tires the following spring.

cyclrder

I am having a similar issue for snows.
with my X164 I used ML63 20 inch wheels with Dunlop Winter Sport D3... they were unstoppable. On the old car they needed spacers to look proper on that car as it had wheel arch extensions. (not needed for the ML or the GL450)

I tried them on my GL63.. the offset is perfect and they clear fine.. they just seem to "bright" as I am now use to the grey colored wheels that the car comes with.

they would be a perfect match for a gl450 or 550...

they have one last season of tread on them.. the TPMS will not work on the current system so you'd have to spend the money on new ones. (the dash light just stays on). I have them listed for $1800 but would blow them out for $1200 ... you just have to ride out to Long Island or possibly Brooklyn to pick them up.

https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...ires-tpms.html

PM for more pictures...

TOURIN

I replied to your tire and wheel link.... I am interested....

cyclrder

I'd rather not ship.

TOURIN

No problem....

GMoney66

I am not sure if this helps or if I am too late to be of assistance, but I mounted 18 inch rims on my new 2014 GL so that I could use Goodrich AT tires. The rims are Lorinser, which allowed me to use the center emblems. I needed the serious tires to navigate the sometimes axle deep snow and icy roads at my ski home in the mountains. 19 and 20 inch rims wouldn't work for these tires, which I swear by, and have used exclusively on my SUV's for over 15 years.

Steve Maislin

18" works on a 350, but not a 450 or 550.

GMoney66

No its a brand new GL450, still temp tags, the pics were taken this morning. Rims are Lorinser 18x9 R59's, and tires are Goodrich all terrain T/A 265/65R18E tires. I tries to get a good close up pic for you but it was -2 degrees this morning when I snapped the pic and didn't come out too good.

Steve Maislin

Did they change the calipers on the 2014 from the 2013? When I tried 18" wheels they did not fit over the front calipers and the specification proved that on 19" would fit. Very interesting.

GMoney66

they must have changed calipers since I had no issues what so ever. I do know that the guy that I use at the tire place that I have used for years, used to work for Mercedes here and he knew what rim size and tire size, as well as what rim companies specialized in Mercedes. The pics taken were of my home in the city, but used the new setup over the past Thanksgiving, in the deep snow at my mountain vacation home, and will be doing so again over Christmas so Ill take a couple more pics and let you know how it worked in severe conditions. Hope this helps you.

JimBarnhart

Nice set up, do you mind saying how much the set of wheels/tires/tpms cost?

cookstar

Imagine how soft the ride must be with 18's, I have 21's and the ride is as good or slightly better than my 08 GL320 with 18's.

Ntuck

GMoney -those AT look great on the GL! I had them on my Suburban and thought about getting them on the GL. I hate how they don't make for the 19's though. How are they effecting your gas mileage?

AJZ4

I just ordered the 20" Winter wheels for my 2014 GL350 from ebay for 787.55 for all 4. They have 5% off now. And they called me to confirm it fits my truck.

But Iam too late to order "Pirelli scorpion ice and snow" Tirerack or Discount tire say those are sold out for the season.

IF interested following is the link for wheels

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291039549758...A:3160&vxp=mtr

cookstar

thats a really good price!

GMoney66

Sorry for taking so long to get back. The Lorinser rims are chrome and pretty pricey $1,100.Each. All in with the tires as well as install it was a little over $6,500.

GMoney66

Thanks, I like the look as well , but still prefer a larger rim and low profile tire. I wish I could gave the traction and durability in a low profile tire. Just hours ago, I returned from a weekend trip to our vacation home, which required driving in a whiteout snowstorm, and ice rink conditions over the continental divide. As they worked for my previous SUV's, the tire setup handled flawlessly. I was also overwhelmed with just how well this car did in the daunting conditions! The snow plow had not made it out to my home before we left to go skiing yesterday morning, and after adjusting the settings, we had little to no problem negotiating 9 inches of new snow on our way to the ski mountain. I swear by this tire wheel set up, and run these tires on my Land Rover as well.