2006 C230 Sport Fitment Question
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 4
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From: Miami, FL
2006 C230 Sport
2006 C230 Sport Fitment Question
I have a stock 2006 C230 that I am looking to put aftermarket wheels on. Original wheels are the OEM staggered 17"x7.5"/8.5" ET34/37 and I'm looking to move to 18"x8.5"/9.5" ET42/45 F1R F102s and I just want to get an idea of whether it will be necessary to start hunting for appropriate spacers or if the clearance would still allow it to work. The hard part is that I am ordering the wheels (and new tires to go along) online and can't physically verify until they arrive if I do order them.
Thank you in advance for any assistance provided.
Thank you in advance for any assistance provided.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 571
Likes: 92
From: New England! :-)
2005 C230K Sport Coupe
You'll likely get the best info by doing a search, https://www.google.com/search?q=C230+18%22 , and seeing what a number of other people have done in the past.
NOTE: Tire sizes are like dress sizes.
In other words, in reality, they don't mean a damn thing. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get ricer 305/45/18 tires that are thinner than 245/45/18 tires.
Like dress sizes. and Dickies and their cover-all sizes, manufactures, can change what a size means at any time they feel like it.
For example, for another car, for Blizzak snow tires, about 7 years ago, they went ~0.1" wider for their updated 245/45/17 tires (same series). Well..., on their snow tires, some of us didn't have a snails breath worth of clearance to begin with. :-O
Imho, I got sick of changing 4 tires just so that I could drive the car, maybe, once a month.
So, now my other car sits all winter, protected from the snow and road salt. :-)
For various reasons, rims sizes do run true, and vary very little.
However, again, tire sizes are mostly BS. That's why Tire Rack lists the specs for various tire sizes and tires.
That's also why it's "required" that all four tires get changed at the same time if a car has traction control. In reality, it's really only required for 4-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles.
Good Luck!
NOTE: Tire sizes are like dress sizes.
In other words, in reality, they don't mean a damn thing. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get ricer 305/45/18 tires that are thinner than 245/45/18 tires.
Like dress sizes. and Dickies and their cover-all sizes, manufactures, can change what a size means at any time they feel like it.
For example, for another car, for Blizzak snow tires, about 7 years ago, they went ~0.1" wider for their updated 245/45/17 tires (same series). Well..., on their snow tires, some of us didn't have a snails breath worth of clearance to begin with. :-O
Imho, I got sick of changing 4 tires just so that I could drive the car, maybe, once a month.
So, now my other car sits all winter, protected from the snow and road salt. :-)
For various reasons, rims sizes do run true, and vary very little.
However, again, tire sizes are mostly BS. That's why Tire Rack lists the specs for various tire sizes and tires.
That's also why it's "required" that all four tires get changed at the same time if a car has traction control. In reality, it's really only required for 4-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles.
Good Luck!
Last edited by RedGray; Jun 2, 2020 at 08:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
2006 C230 Sport
You'll likely get the best info by doing a search, https://www.google.com/search?q=C230+18%22 , and seeing what a number of other people have done in the past.
NOTE: Tire sizes are like dress sizes.
In other words, in reality, they don't mean a damn thing. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get ricer 305/45/18 tires that are thinner than 245/45/18 tires.
Like dress sizes. and Dickies and their cover-all sizes, manufactures, can change what a size means at any time they feel like it.
For example, for another car, for Blizzak snow tires, about 7 years ago, they went ~0.1" wider for their updated 245/45/17 tires (same series). Well..., on their snow tires, some of us didn't have a snails breath worth of clearance to begin with. :-O
Imho, I got sick of changing 4 tires just so that I could drive the car, maybe, once a month.
So, now my other car sits all winter, protected from the snow and road salt. :-)
For various reasons, rims sizes do run true, and vary very little.
However, again, tire sizes are mostly BS. That's why Tire Rack lists the specs for various tire sizes and tires.
That's also why it's "required" that all four tires get changed at the same time if a car has traction control. In reality, it's really only required for 4-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles.
Good Luck!
NOTE: Tire sizes are like dress sizes.
In other words, in reality, they don't mean a damn thing. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get ricer 305/45/18 tires that are thinner than 245/45/18 tires.
Like dress sizes. and Dickies and their cover-all sizes, manufactures, can change what a size means at any time they feel like it.
For example, for another car, for Blizzak snow tires, about 7 years ago, they went ~0.1" wider for their updated 245/45/17 tires (same series). Well..., on their snow tires, some of us didn't have a snails breath worth of clearance to begin with. :-O
Imho, I got sick of changing 4 tires just so that I could drive the car, maybe, once a month.
So, now my other car sits all winter, protected from the snow and road salt. :-)
For various reasons, rims sizes do run true, and vary very little.
However, again, tire sizes are mostly BS. That's why Tire Rack lists the specs for various tire sizes and tires.
That's also why it's "required" that all four tires get changed at the same time if a car has traction control. In reality, it's really only required for 4-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles.
Good Luck!
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 571
Likes: 92
From: New England! :-)
2005 C230K Sport Coupe
I'm glad you found a set up that you like. 
I agree that dealing with spacers can be a pain. For my other car, I had to by a range, and see which spacer width worked the best.
For reference, reply #5 on the thread below has some info with 18" wheels:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ch-offset.html
Btw, also, be careful when reading threads and info.
The Coupe(there are not that many) and the Sedan have different fenders and clearances.
Some people run more camber (tilt inwards towards the engine), to be able to run wider tires.
Performance tires are often wider (per a specific tire size), than a touring/etc tire.
Good Luck!
I agree that dealing with spacers can be a pain. For my other car, I had to by a range, and see which spacer width worked the best.
For reference, reply #5 on the thread below has some info with 18" wheels:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ch-offset.html
Btw, also, be careful when reading threads and info.
The Coupe(there are not that many) and the Sedan have different fenders and clearances.
Some people run more camber (tilt inwards towards the engine), to be able to run wider tires.
Performance tires are often wider (per a specific tire size), than a touring/etc tire.
Good Luck!
Last edited by RedGray; Jun 5, 2020 at 11:52 PM.
