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2003 c230 coupe
is there a specific special dimensions to the rims that I must get?
looking to stay about stock size i think ( 205 55 R16)
would this fit? -
RIM SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 16" x 7", 5 Lug, 120mm Bolt Pattern, 47mm Offset
The Best of Mercedes & AMG

ET 30 as an example is the positive offset in mm - i.e. The lower the number the further the wheel sticks out. Offset = distance fron clamping face of the wheel to the center line of the rim.
I currently have negative camber in the rear. i just put a little less than 10k miles on the Conti DW, and because of price, I can't afford to change tires every couple months. Now, with that said, I am really leaning towards getting the ghostrider rear camber kit. However, i don't know if correcting camber and dialing back to OEM settings will help much other than knowing i'll have more of an even tread wear across the tire. Or does the camber kit help my rears last longer? Secondly, i feel since im on a staggered setup, tread wears faster anyway, so again, would a camber kit help?
Any other advantages other than even treadwear if i get the rear camber kit?

While I'm at stock ride height I have to doubt that camber is the tire killer. My wear is straight across and I've had cars that ran up to 4 deg negative that never had inside edge wear issues.

Then prob gona do it right...get the DWS, order the camber kit, get it back to factory settings, and get an alignment.
Too bad my falken fk452's came already for my fronts...if i had known this info, i wouldn't have ordered them since they're directional tires...
I saw that the last post on this thread was from a year ago and that by now there may have been changes in tires offered or just the performance of the tires as perceived from a year ago so here's my question/dilemma:
Go with:
Continentals
ContiPro Contacts 225/45 R17 91H DGE B (60k mi warranty) FRONT
ContiPro Contacts 245/40 R17 91H MBZ BS (60k mi warranty) REAR
or
Pirelli (OEM)
Pzero Nero 225/45 R17 91H XL MBZ (45k mi warranty) FRONT
Pzero Nero 245/40 R17 91H XL MBZ (45k mi warranty) REAR
I plan to rotate them side to side with every oil change (between 6k-8k miles). On of the things I'm wondering about is with the aggressive wear on the rear would making a choice based on 45k mi vs. 60k mi warranty even matter? Even with rotation? If NOT, then I'd go with the cheaper of the two. But if it DOES matter then I'd have to go with the ones that claim to last 15k more miles. Pirelli is the OEM supplier and they have a sale right now so choosing Pirelli could save me OVER $200 for the set so If the rears will last let's say 25k miles which means that 45k vs. 60k does NOT matter then Id' go with them.
I also see that a lot of people on here mention Conti DWS, is this due to the fact that the ProContacts were not available a year ago? Or are they just better than the ProContacts?
The techinician at the tire place I was at this weekend (getting a nail in a tire fixed) mentioned that lately BOTH manufacturers had made some progress in the European car-tire arena to address the aggressive tire wear and have started using a combination of harder rubber compounds on the inside of the tire (to help with the camber wear) while using softer rubber on the outside to help things even out (traction, even wear, etc.).
Thoughts please! and thanks-a-million guys!
A tire with a 65k warranty is generally not one I'd probably buy, nor is it one that I'd want to keep that long. Remember that just because it's safe to drive to 65k doesn't mean that you will want to keep it to that ripe old age.
If you're set on either set, and Tirerack's ratings are about the same (check into that), then go with the cheaper. I wouldn't use a longer warranty as much of a carrot to get me to buy the Pirellis if I were you.
Given the first part of your first post, if you're going to change anyway as you make mods, even more reason to not really care about the tires and go with something even cheaper if you can get it. Otherwise, you're throwing money away. Though if you're looking at a 65k tire and saying that you're not going to mod the car until after, are you really going to keep the car stock for 6-9 years? That would be torture.

Any tire that will do 65K is going to have rock hard compounding & compromised roadholding.

A tire with a 65k warranty is generally not one I'd probably buy, nor is it one that I'd want to keep that long. Remember that just because it's safe to drive to 65k doesn't mean that you will want to keep it to that ripe old age.
If you're set on either set, and Tirerack's ratings are about the same (check into that), then go with the cheaper. I wouldn't use a longer warranty as much of a carrot to get me to buy the Pirellis if I were you.
Given the first part of your first post, if you're going to change anyway as you make mods, even more reason to not really care about the tires and go with something even cheaper if you can get it. Otherwise, you're throwing money away. Though if you're looking at a 65k tire and saying that you're not going to mod the car until after, are you really going to keep the car stock for 6-9 years? That would be torture.
I am aware that 65k miles on any tires on these cars is as much of a fantasy as a unicorn but this is why I was basically asking for a "conversion factor" of sorts by asking if 65k miles meant more like 25k miles. I'm trying to get a realistic idea of actual versus brochure lifetime for these tires.
Of course I plan on getting wheels but my priority now is to bring the car up to speed. Judging from the condition of the interior and some of the outside, the previous owner had little to no pride of ownership so I'm sure that the car is behind on required maintenance. Because of this I want to focus on making sure things are well with the car before I start throwing wheels, front lips, spoilers, etc.. This is why I don't mind taking my time with the stock wheels on plus right now my wife and I are splitting the car use 50/50 because she totaled her commuter back in june(which is why I bought this car) and she LOVES to curb-rash wheels (she's even done it on her trail bike). So until she gets herself a new commuter then I really don't want her messing up my nice wheels.
As far as 6-9 years... Well, just to give you an idea I bought the car on June 20th and it had 108k miles, tonight it has 118,522 so it would take a little over 6 months to run through these tires at this pace until she gets herself a new car( we commute 120 a day just for work, and then even more on off days as we like to take trips). Tires that came on the car when I got it in June are almost bald already...lol
Thanks for the responses guys!
Glynn, I see your point about the road noise issue. It is something to think about.







