manny_fresh

Just got 18x8 rims for my 2002 c320 (w203) now i am debating on several different tire/suspension options i wanna hear y'alls input

Tire option are 225/35/18 or 225/40/18

Suspension options are h&r lowering springs but i dont know how the final stance of the car looks like another option is the tein s tech lowering springs i know these offer a more aggressive drop but i do hear they are a little looser though i have thought about the option of the teins with upgraded shocks

let me know guys

Silver C

I'd rather go with a 40 and eibach pro kit springs.. 35 will make your rims look larger, but less comfortable..

phister

H&R will give you about the same stance as the teins for your model, but H&R stiffer than OEM and will help your cars handling alot more. Teins is more for comfort and looks. I'd recommend getting H&R springs with Koni struts. The koni struts will actually make them sit even a bit lower than if you put the springs just on the OEM struts since its designed for lowered cars. If you dont want that route opt for coilovers.

as for tires I'd go with 235/40/18 or 225/40/18.

Silver C

I'm still on a debate whether I should lower my car with an eibahch pro kit or raise my tires to a 225/40/19 from a 35..

phister

or you can get 235/35 and itd be almost the same. Remember the series of the tires is the the percentage or aspect raito of sidewall from the rim to the tread. So if you get 225/40, your sidewall will be 40% of 225. Believe the difference is about 7-8 mm between a 225/40 and a 235/35

Silver C

Phi, I'm nor sure I get the calculation, but the 225/40 will end up being thicker than the 235/35 no? And which would provide better comfort?

phister

yeah the 225/40 will be about 7mm thicker, but also depends on how much psi you have in your tires. You should have around 32-36 psi in the tires, if you have it kind of high let some air around and see if it'll help with the comfort, it'll allow more tire on the road to absorb more the bumps and dips. Just a thought before you go and buy new tires.

Silver C

Yeah, I have 36 psi at the moment.. Letting out some more air will probably kill my rims in my road condition.. Will opt for the 225/40 instead I think..

manny_fresh

235/40/18 im worried to do because when i checked on tirerack dot com it said fender rolling may be required with them

but the only thing holding me back from buying the teins is the possibility of rubbing (let me know if i should have any problem with 225/40 with tein drop) and the fact people had told me i would lose comfort but if they dont rub and if you say they are more comfortable then that gives me all the more reason to buy them let me know what you have to say about these problems i am concerned with

phister

you wont need to fender roll with the +35 offset. I had 18x8.5 +25 with 225/40 with no rub in front. Plus you're only getting 18x8 so you wont have any issue. I had 255/35 on 18x9.5 +30 offset in rears and I barely rubbed. I'm on tein coilovers and I'm droppled all the way in the front and have about 0.5" left on the rears. If I can do it surely you can.

Silver C

Yeah, no need to worry about the 40.. No fender rolling needed at all.

manny_fresh

i want to go with the smallest tread wall size while keeping some comfort and not looking to take killer corners around the track so the setup im thinking is 225/40/18 all around with tein lowering springs for now and potentially struts/shocks down the road if not a coilover kit

just to confirm this setup will be the tein lowering springs with 225/40/18 please let me know if i should have any problems with this set up

thanks again everyone for all the input

manny_fresh

and also a note i am gettin the msw type 12 18x8 rims because im not sure of the offset etc with these rims you guys may have a better idea

phister

I'd still opt for the H&R springs over teins IMO.

manny_fresh

only problem is the price seeing as i dont want to mount my wheels until i have lowered the car just my own OCD kicking in and also down the road if i do get irritated by the softness of the ride i will buy shocks struts or switch to coilovers as noted before