





W203/CL203 Aftermarket Wheel Thread - All you want to know
If I was going to order custom CCW 3-piece wheels for my 02 C230K Coupe, what would be the "perfect" wheel offset and width for 18" wheels that would not require spacers for my Coupe; mounting 225/40/18 (Front) and 255/35/18 (Rear) tires? Tire manufacturers seem to recommend 8" wheels for 225's and 9" wheels for 255 tires; however, I'm OK with *slightly* stretched tires on my wheels, just not crazy stretched that you can't even lay the wheel down on the garage floor without worrying about killing the rims because they are so exposed and susceptible to damage.
If I was going to order custom CCW 3-piece wheels for my 02 C230K Coupe, what would be the "perfect" wheel offset and width for 18" wheels that would not require spacers for my Coupe; mounting 225/40/18 (Front) and 255/35/18 (Rear) tires? Tire manufacturers seem to recommend 8" wheels for 225's and 9" wheels for 255 tires; however, I'm OK with *slightly* stretched tires on my wheels, just not crazy stretched that you can't even lay the wheel down on the garage floor without worrying about killing the rims because they are so exposed and susceptible to damage.
In your opinion, what offset would you order if you had AMG calipers (future mod plans) as recommended here on the forum, which I believe from my research for my Coupe is either C32 AMG front with stock rears OR CLK63 AMG front with CLK55 AMG rear? What specific offset would order specify if ordering custom 3-piece wheels?
CCW will want a specific offset; not a range. They will make the wheel anyway I want it offset-wise.
I had PM'd a wheel vendor on this forum and they had an 18x8.5 ET32 wheel for the front but said that I would need to run a 5mm spacer. So is that effectively the same as your 18x8.5 +38 recommendation?Thanks; I greatly appreciate your insight.
Also to clear you up offset works backwards. the higher the offset you more the wheel face sticks out and will have less lip, the closer to 0 offset the wheel face will stick further in and the more lip you have. So if the vender said they had 18x8.5 +32 with the 5mm spacers will make it +27 offset. The more spacers you have the lower your offset will get. If you're giving them the info with AMG calipers they're correct for them to clear but you wont need spacers for your current setup.
Last edited by phister; May 25, 2012 at 02:49 PM.

Wow, that is the first time I ever heard of a CCW Classic wheel not clearing a BBK, but I am new to the MB AMG scene. I have CCW Classics on my dedicated Porsche track car with Brembo GT racing calipers, but every application is different. I can appreciate wheel lip, but not if it means I would need to run spacers, but that is just me.
Now I have a better understanding; thank you very much for taking the time to explain; I greatly appreciate it.
Also to clear you up offset works backwards. the higher the offset you more the wheel face sticks out and will have less lip, the closer to 0 offset the wheel face will stick further in and the more lip you have. So if the vender said they had 18x8.5 +32 with the 5mm spacers will make it +27 offset. The more spacers you have the lower your offset will get. If you're giving them the info with AMG calipers they're correct for them to clear but you wont need spacers for your current setup.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
i am looking at these three wheels (the second 2 are same model different specs):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251076763667...84.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251068115715...84.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390427640829...84.m1423.l2649
edit:
when i search wheels on tirerack.com i keep seeing wheels that fit as 19x8 +35, 18x8 +35 or 18x18.5 +30.
none of the 8.5 inch wide wheels have a +35...
the wheels on ebay im leaning towards are 18x8.5 but with a +35 offset....so does that mean i wont fit without a 5 mm spacer?
Last edited by 2nice; Jun 11, 2012 at 08:38 AM.
edit:
when i search wheels on tirerack.com i keep seeing wheels that fit as 19x8 +35, 18x8 +35 or 18x18.5 +30.
none of the 8.5 inch wide wheels have a +35...
the wheels on ebay im leaning towards are 18x8.5 but with a +35 offset....so does that mean i wont fit without a 5 mm spacer?
So you're 18x8.5 +35 will fit fine.
the standard recommended tire is 225/40/18 from what I can gather. it looks as if i can run a 225/35/18 for a more low profile look if i'm understanding everything correctly. i have stock 4matic luxury suspension.
Also here are my previous setups so far, with tire specifics:
Mandrus Mannheim
18x8.5 et32 front 225 tire
18x9.5 et 35 rear 245 tire
OEM suspension (c55)



Rotiform NUE
18x8.5 et35 + 15 mm spacer, final et20, 225 tire
18x9.5 et35 + 12 mm spacer, final et23, 255 tire
Lowered on H&R coilovers, had some rubbing issues, no fender work.



323 Motorsports LM reps
(Current setup, soon to change though)
18x8.5 et 35 + 15 mm spacer, 225 tire
18x9.5 et 38 + 12 mm spacer, 255 tire
No rubbing unless full car, even then not that bad.


thanks for your comment. is that part about clearing the coilovers regarding stock suspension though? or if i lower the car? i dont plan on getting my car dropped.
ps. i think you should go with c63 wheels ;]
ok so im gonna order these rims 18x8.5 +35 hub bore=66.56 right now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251076763667...84.m1423.l2649
and if they dont fit on my car without spacers i will have your heads! :p
thanks for the help guys.
Last edited by 2nice; Jun 11, 2012 at 02:20 PM.
ok so im gonna order these rims 18x8.5 +35 hub bore=66.56 right now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251076763667...84.m1423.l2649
and if they dont fit on my car without spacers i will have your heads! :p
thanks for the help guys.
Last edited by Bill B C320; Jun 13, 2012 at 11:16 PM.



