I have a 2002 c230 coupe. It has the factory stock 16" rims on it. I have not been happy with the look since I got the car last summer. I have been thinking of swapping them out. I finally found a look I like.

The wheels I like are the ones that are shown on the c230 sports coupe on mbusa.com.
Picture: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=7990448888

Here are my questions:

1. This is a 17-inch wheel. My car has 16 inchers on it now. How would this change affect the speedometer's accuracy? What would I have to do to adjust for correct speed-reading?

2. Does MB make the above rims in a 16-inch version so I don't have to buy new tires to go with the rims?

3. How many more mph do I gain by using 1-inch bigger tires?

4. If I have to go with 17 inchers as there are no 16 inchers in that rim style, what tires would recommend for all season driving. I live in Albany, NY where there can be and often are snowy winters. Today though it's 90F. I'd so much rather not deal with snow except maybe for a month at Christmas.

 

Those are the current stock "sport" rims. I believe Saprissa posted the names of the rims in another thread earlier this week or last week (can't remember - use the search for "stock rims" in the C Class forum)

If you get the OEM stock sport rims, they are a staggered setup. 17X7.5 and 17X8.5. They don't offer these in 16". You might as well go with an aftermarket 16" rim, however, if it were me, I would just stick with what you have now, save up and buy better rims later on.

If you don't have the ability or $ flow to save up enough for good replacements, it just wouldn't be worth it.

 

1. there is no need to "adjust" the speedo read out...these are not some Ford, Chevy where you change the size of the rims you will *** up the speedo. Just run the correct tire size.

2. yes they do have it in 16" in the same style. Search for the SLK rim.

3. Run the correct size if you don't want to have speedo error.

4. there are tons of tires that are all-season. you can search on tirerack.

p.s. there is a tire/wheel forum hosted by representative from tirerack.com he can answer your questions.

 

Frank, good call. Didn't even think about the SLK's.

 

And lets not forget that these rims are also sold by the stealers for $992 + tax. Now if you look at the OEM price claimed in the ad, $4625 with the tires, you just have to wonder what is being smoked. And last but not least the offset is also model specific. I don't believe that the front offset on a CLK is the same as on a C230.

 

Yah the Ebay add is really messed up. Fits All mercedes classes? Wouldn't that be convenient... The speedometer will be fine iwth bigger rims. If you want to adjust the look why would you wanna go the same size 16". Comfort difference between 16 n 17's is minimal. + I don't think those rims would look too good on a coupe. I'd check out tirerack, they have some good aftermarket rims that fit well with the car.

 

Thanks for the advice.

I took a look at Lorinser's site and they had rims that were similar. when I saw them on the car mockup thingy, they didn't impress me. I guess I'm just growing tired of having to put in so much work into cleaning break dust off my stock rims. I mean with all the small spaces. Besides that they don't impress me all that much.

someday I'll figure it all out.

 

if brake dust is a huge problem for you....

switch to ceramic brake pads or some non-MB less dust pads like Porterfields.
There have been tons of posts on good brake pads for our MB's over the past 2-3 years.

Also, use something like Meguiar's Wheel Detail, it cuts the work dramatically of cleaning caked on brake dust. If you use it once every 2 weeks like I do, all you have to do is rinse and dry your wheels, and the stuff just washes off by itself.

Not sure on which ones are 16" and which ones are 17"/18" but here is a link to pics of all the recent OEM MB wheels:

Mercedes-Benz OEM Wheel Names

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com