Wheel and tire purchase goof up on my part...need input
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 96
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C230k, W210
Wheel and tire purchase goof up on my part...need input
Car in question: 2003 c230 Coupe
Purchased a set of 2005 Sport wheels from a local pick a part with tires. 225-45-17 up front and 245-40-17 rears. Put them on the car, drove around...much better ride. A lot smoother than the 16s I had. One wheel/tire just looked off to me...now I see what the issue is. The 2 rear wheels are different widths. One is a 7.5 and one is a 8.5, so the oddity I saw was that one of the rear tires is a little more stretched. UGH!!!
Is this a big deal until I can source another 17x8.5 wheel? Of if I find a 7.5 first, is running the 2 different tire sizes on front and back a big deal sine they are no longer staggered?
Thanks for the input!
Purchased a set of 2005 Sport wheels from a local pick a part with tires. 225-45-17 up front and 245-40-17 rears. Put them on the car, drove around...much better ride. A lot smoother than the 16s I had. One wheel/tire just looked off to me...now I see what the issue is. The 2 rear wheels are different widths. One is a 7.5 and one is a 8.5, so the oddity I saw was that one of the rear tires is a little more stretched. UGH!!!
Is this a big deal until I can source another 17x8.5 wheel? Of if I find a 7.5 first, is running the 2 different tire sizes on front and back a big deal sine they are no longer staggered?
Thanks for the input!
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 152
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2011 C300 Sport 4matic, 2005 C240 4matic, 2003 C230K Sport, 1999 C230K Sport, 1969 220D (first car!)
Did you check the fronts to make sure one of the 225/45/17s isn’t installed on the missing 8.5?
It seems like an obvious mistake but you’d be surprised what happens in tire shops sometimes. I once had a brand name chain install tires with the rotation direction wrong.
i can’t tell you about the negative impact of running mixed width rims. It can’t be too bad though since many cars are only equipped with mini spares which would be a far greater difference. Are you talking days or months?
5
It seems like an obvious mistake but you’d be surprised what happens in tire shops sometimes. I once had a brand name chain install tires with the rotation direction wrong.
i can’t tell you about the negative impact of running mixed width rims. It can’t be too bad though since many cars are only equipped with mini spares which would be a far greater difference. Are you talking days or months?
5
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
I'm lost. So the tires are 225/45/17 in the front (both) and 245/40/17 in the rear (both), but 3 of the rims are 7.5" with 1 rim being 8.5" wide?
As long as that 8.5" is in the rear, it'll be fine other than the goofy look which only you'll know since nobody looks at both sides of the car simultaneously. You can keep that configuration as long as you want. No real safety issues unless you have a lead foot.
You can either locate another 7.5" wheel which will allow you to rotate all 4 wheels, or locate a 8.5" wheel for a staggered setup. If going the latter route I would recommend non directional tires so at least you can rotate along the same axles.
As long as that 8.5" is in the rear, it'll be fine other than the goofy look which only you'll know since nobody looks at both sides of the car simultaneously. You can keep that configuration as long as you want. No real safety issues unless you have a lead foot.
You can either locate another 7.5" wheel which will allow you to rotate all 4 wheels, or locate a 8.5" wheel for a staggered setup. If going the latter route I would recommend non directional tires so at least you can rotate along the same axles.
Last edited by slammer111; Nov 15, 2019 at 11:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 96
Likes: 12
C230k, W210
I'm lost. So the tires are 225/45/17 in the front (both) and 245/40/17 in the rear (both), but 3 of the rims are 7.5" with 1 rim being 8.5" wide?
As long as that 8.5" is in the rear, it'll be fine other than the goofy look which only you'll know since nobody looks at both sides of the car simultaneously. You can keep that configuration as long as you want. No real safety issues unless you have a lead foot.
You can either locate another 7.5" wheel which will allow you to rotate all 4 wheels, or locate a 8.5" wheel for a staggered setup. If going the latter route I would recommend non directional tires so at least you can rotate along the same axles.
As long as that 8.5" is in the rear, it'll be fine other than the goofy look which only you'll know since nobody looks at both sides of the car simultaneously. You can keep that configuration as long as you want. No real safety issues unless you have a lead foot.
You can either locate another 7.5" wheel which will allow you to rotate all 4 wheels, or locate a 8.5" wheel for a staggered setup. If going the latter route I would recommend non directional tires so at least you can rotate along the same axles.
