ericg320

Well after deciding on 19x8.5 all around I've gotten plenty of feed back that makes me rethink my decision. Everyone is saying that on Houston roads that I'll bend one every week and that they won't fit with out rolling the fenders; while all the tire companies say I can throw them on no problem. Someone here doesn't know what they're talking about. I've noticed that everyone with 19's says go for it and everyone with 18's or smaller says,"bad ride, bend every week, won't fit". Are they 19 inch jealous or correct? Lets see some pics and some facts to back up your decisions.

C 320-Sport

I got 19X8.5s in the front and 19X9.5s in the back and I have no problems, just need to be careful when I see potholes in the ground. Heres a pic of my C with 19s.

Fuzzo

i love 5 spoke rims..you just can't go wrong with em....

sweet looking ride....

Buellwinkle

Heck, I'm afraid to go with 17" let alone 19". I went from 16" to 17" on my last car and the ride got jittery and uncomfortable. It did improve the appearance a lot though.

E_Corleone

ok the reality is that any pothole that would bend a 19" rim and pop the tire would 9 times out of 10 do the exact same thing to a 18" rim. they both have very low profile tires. if you are really that worried the smartest thing to do is dont get either. buy a set of nice 17" rims with a higher profile tire and forget about it. IMO it wont be a problem to get 18's or 19's as long your careful with potholes and curbs, which you should be anyway with any kinda nice rims. i live in central ohio and there are potholes everywhere and i havent hit one or bent a rim and ive been driving mine for six months, so whoever told you they bend every week is FOS.

and who told you you had to roll the fenders??? that is complete bull***t. i have 19's on a c320 and i didnt do anything like that. my ride is also lowered an inch and a half with no rubbing or problems whatsoever. just have someone install your mods who knows their s**t.

here is a close up of my rim

brabus c

i have 18's on my car and i sometimes want 19's just because i think 19's match the wheel well better and is a perfect size for the c class. imo i think that there is not that much of a difference between 18's and 19's other then price. ride quality would probably be a little rougher and you might be a little slower just cuz of the weight and the size of the rim. but i dont think its that bigg of a deal or difference. be for me i love the way things look rather then how much of a performance enhancer they are. so it depends on what you want .

Buellwinkle

I don't understand this fetish with big wheels but why stop at 19", why not 20"? If 18" is good and 19" is better then 20" must be great.

MR325iT

Agree - at some point these ever-increasing wheel sizes cease being functional and become entirely cosmetic. Given how expensive some 18 and 19" wheels are, some engine or suspension modifications (or better yet, driving school) would be a far better investment.

E_Corleone

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MR325iT


Agree - at some point these ever-increasing wheel sizes cease being functional and become entirely cosmetic. Given how expensive some 18 and 19" wheels are, some engine or suspension modifications (or better yet, driving school) would be a far better investment. [/QUOTE

are you serious??? of course large wheels are for looks and have little function other than setting your car apart from the rest of the stock drivers out there. i agree if someone is going to drop four or five grand on wheels, they should also perform other mods to their ride, but as for other mods being a better investment, you are totally wrong. nice name brand rims, not knock offs, that are well taken care of have a high resale value. also, im only 21 and if i decide to buy a nicer benz in the future (which im sure i will) i can easily put the rims on it. plus rims will most definatly get you the most looks out on the road as well as ooohs and aaahs from all the ladies when they see you're pushing something hot. although engine mods are nice, they are not noticable from the ourtside. besides, i'm not trying to set any land speed records anyway. if i really get board with my ride, ill drop in the kleeman compressor next spring, but as for now, i think i'll just enjoy rollin' my "useless" big, chrome blades.

HigHal320

to E_Corleone -

I'm also thinking of getting 19s but worry if I lower it with H&R will it easily rub when going over big bumps? The place where I park has 6 off those huge but short bumps where your car bounce when passing through slow.
Thanks in advance =)

E_Corleone

i have the 19x8.5's lowered with H&R setup and there is no rub at all. i also drive over two speed bumps daily with no problems at all. i just roll over them carefully and its fine. ill take a better pic of my back wheels at a few different angles when i get my car back on tuesday (if the bodyshop gets their s**t together). that should give you better idea. you'll see that there is plenty of room left, but still has that aggressive look and slightly hides the top of the tire. if you use the right low profile tire, 235x35x19, and have someone who knows what their doing lower it right it should be fine.

HigHal320

Thankyou E_Corleone

W0n6_3d4n

Well i have 19 x 8 and 19 x 9 using 235/35 and 265/ 30 (lowered 30mm), and i have no problem at all when hit a pothole (just hit one yestrday), those people who has rubbing problem (including me) were chossing the wrong offset, they wanted a wide look, but went too far. But hey, i drive everyday to uni and still happy about it. one more thing though, fill your tyre with nitrogen so you get a softer ride.

MR325iT

Thanks. In 5 or 6 years of posting to various car forums, yours is by far the funniest post I've ever read (you not that you were trying to be funny). Let's just leave it at this: apparently your priorities are image, "ladies", and "ooohs and aaahs". Though I'd agree that new wheels have a positive visual impact, they are probably the lowest value for dollar upgrade you can perform in terms of performance (and in some cases can actually reduce performance due to increases in unsprung weight). And good luck with the resale value - in my experience with aftermarket wheels, a good return on your investment is the exception, not the rule.

Here's hoping you never get "board" (sic) with your ride, 21.

Jorel C320

20 is great, but i dont think they can fit

ericg320

Thanks for all the info guys I think I'll go with 19's. All the real big rim haters didn't show up on this thread. But as for MR32??, your right. Of course we ride in benz's and want fat wheels for image. Why else would we drop $40,000 to a $150,000 for a car? And you are totally misinformed on your comment about wheels be the lowest value for dollar. Its most asuredly the #1. You can throw a pair of chrome 19's on any benz and change in to a head turner. In many cases rims make the car. Does this mean that you don't wash your car because you don't care about "ladies" and "ooohhs and aahhs". Don't be such an idiot. Everyone wants people to look at and like their vehicle. It's the same thing as wearing a nice suit. Its an extention of you. So don't be so ****. And if you been on car forums for years and find this to be the by far the funniest(not purposely) that you ever read then you have lost your mind and I call your bluff because I've raed hundreds of stupid post that made me cry they were so absurd and this isn't even in the same ballpark. This is just some back and forth conversation about the pros and cons of larger wheels. So quit haten!!

hokusbenz

whats with the nitrogen thing? does this really work?

Buellwinkle

I just don't think you are trying hard enough!

MR325iT

Eric- It's not a hater thing, and nowhere in my post did I say I hated 18s, 19s, or even 20s. My point (which you said you agree with) is that for the most part they are strictly cosmetic. If it makes you happy, go for it - its your money. For me, once you quit reaping a performance benefit from a particular upgrade, its a waste of time and money. It's just a car, so if I disagree w/you (or anyone else on the board) on this don't take it personally. Enjoy your 19s.

BruNo

Wheels make the car.

Jorel C320

True....my arms we're sore that day. Ill try again.

Jorel C320

Its alot better than those stock flowery rims huh. :p ...i really need to get rims!!

ericg320

Its all good.

JeT

W0n6_3d4n,

I sent you a PM asking about your Eibach Springs...check your user cp.

W0n6_3d4n

hokusbenz:

filling your tyre with nitrogen will make your tyre last longer because it's more stable than oxygen therefore less affected by the temperature change, you'll only need to check for the pressure once in 3 months. they claim softer ride and i can feel it too, less harsh. cost $30 $Aus$ for 4 tyres and they will recheck and fill your tyre up again for free lifetime!!