WHPH28

I havent taken the biturbo badge off yet since I ordered new v12 badges...so no flaming LOL!

DaveW68

Now I know what my car will look like when I get my new wheels on in a week.

WHPH28

1bad540

They look very nice on the car. I was considering those too, especially for the price. Im holding off for a 21' or a 22" tho. Just waiting on the right wheels.

jiceoo

+1

BenzV12

Don't forget to swap the mirrors as well as some other facelift items

WHPH28

Thanks gents.

Mike5215

Okay, please take this in the spirit it was intended, and understand that I'm an obsessive wheel snob. This comment is meant more for folks who may be considering this wheel/tire package. It's a good looking car obviously and I'm really splitting hairs here.

So the wheels on the car look a little too "chunky" to me. Especially the fronts, which also look very flat and one-dimensional. One cause is the design of the front wheel itself, which has an almost perfectly flat face. Taller sidewalls also create the illusion of a smaller rim.

It also looks a tad undersized with the step-down in the barrel so close to the face. Normally the bright edge of the lip would offset that, but in this case the lip is too thin to pull it off. The rears with their concavity do look better.

The tire's aspect ratio looks a bit high (too much sidewall) and the design of the tire itself with the blocky shoulders serving to enhance the effect. Lastly, on a car without the AMG body kit a big wheel/tire combo tends to emphasize the shortness of the front clip.

I think you asked in another thread about getting an S65. Since it looks like that's the way you're heading as far as appearance mods on the S600 anyway I'd say go for it.

DaveW68

Yes....splitting hairs. If you looked at the stock wheels that came on the car, you'd likely be saying that the wheels and tires chosen are a HUGE improvement over stock. Perhaps a full silver finish on the inside of the wheels instead of gunmetal finish would have made them "pop" more. But not everybody wants the wheels to be the first thing people notice when they see their car. Bright and shiny wheels elicit attention to the wheels....a duller finish elicits attention to the car. Agreed that an AMG body kit would do wonders for the look of the car.

Mike5215

It's not an issue of the wheels not being prominent enough. They're a replica of a stock S65 wheel more or less and they integrate well into the car's overall design. It's that these wheels with the gunmetal barrel and step down combined with a tire that's got a little too much sidewall gives proportions are less than ideal.

I believe they sell a diamond cut version (black inside spokes) that might be a better choice, and a tire with a lower aspect ratio would also make a big difference. Not sure what size these are, but to my eye the sidewalls should stop where the tread block on these begins.

I think once a non-AMG car starts to deviate into AMG territory aesthetically you really do need to do the body kit or you're never fully satisfied. Had the exact same issue with my prior S430 and pieced together a full AMG body kit on Ebay and had my local shop shoot and install. The car came out great, although it was probably $2500 I had no hope of getting back. If I had it to do over I'd get the S63 conversion kit they sell on the forum.

WHPH28

I have been debating on the body kit if I keep the car..I am actually starting to like the car with out the facelift.

Also, so today I put the car in sport mode and drove it like I stole it...but safely. This car is freaking powerful. I have been sort of taking baby steps with the power but today I unleashed it.

It's such a quiet and refined power. I cant believe how fast this thing goes.

Mike5215

The wider stance from that lower offset definitely makes the car corner better. More scalpel and less butter-knife. What are those tire sizes?

WHPH28

One thing I must say is that everywhere I go people think this car is a new car and I keep hearing that "I don't see the s600 anywhere"...which i guess the car is a rare car to see in the MD/DC area even though you see plenty of exotics and amgs.

I know I have never seen one but only 550's. It's nice to have so much technology in a car that is 8 years old. I really must thank the original owner as she babied the car and kept it in excellent condition.

I do need to do something about the front. I got 2 small rockchips - there was not one on the car when i bought it so I am thinking about doing that clear bra or clear wrap or something to keep the front end looking brand new.

DaveW68

I'm pretty sure he said he went with a taller tire all around so he wouldn't be sacrificing comfort. IIRC, 285 or 295 on the rear at 35 or 40. Not sure about the fronts. I ordered mine with 255/35/ZR20's and 275/35/ZR20's, which I believe is the proper staggered size on 20's. Fronts are 8.5" with 35 offset and rears are 10" with 38 offset. Hoping it sits very nicely.

WHPH28

I did 255/40 in the front and now I have 275/35 in the rear...I was getting a little rubbing with the 285/35's if I went over a large dip so now I have 2 brand new 285's...oh well.

Mike5215

Yeah, that would do it. You end up with proportions that look like the 19" wheel/tire combo in terms of wheel size vs sidewall height. The good news is those Toyo tires are going to get eaten up pretty quickly especially on the rear of a 600. Heavy car + lots of torque + gummy compound.

In terms of comfort, the design and construction of the sidewall itself has a lot to do with it. The only tires I've found with the exact right amount of "give" is the Michelin Pilot Sport 3. That tire in a 20 will ride smoother than pretty much anything else in a 19". I think you'll be happy with the look of the OEM staggered tire sizes.

xabo

Beautiful car........will be looking forward you in the area.

DaveW68

Your front tires are sitting exactly 1 inch taller than stock. The speedo is read off of the front axle on our cars. So this means that when your speedo is reading 60 mph, you are actually doing 62.2 mph. When your speedo reads 80, you are actually going 83. You best be careful around speed guns.

ducatista4life

I do love the new rims! Are your handles black? Mine are definitely chrome and I was thinking of getting them wrapped or even swapped out as it just seems too gaudy! Just wait till you do something with the exhaust, the sound is beautiful! I did a muffler delete and despite the slight droning sound while running around, when I give it gas it sounds like an animal!

WHPH28

Thanks. Are you going to the Euro Philly Cheesesteak Run?

From what I found out most of the euro clubs are in the northern va area. I may come down to the Bethesda area tomorrow depending on the weather.

WHPH28

No, they are chrome...I don't like chrome at all really but I don't mind it on this car. That is part of the reason I chose these wheels instead of silver so it flows a little better.