Wheel/tire question
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Wheel/tire question
I'm looking for opinions on something that my service rep told me. ( I think I trust you guys more for an honest opinion )
After hitting a large piece of road trash, I had my car towed to Calstar Benz to have it fixed. Two wheels were bent, two tires blown, plus assorted damage to suspension parts. Service rep says that there have to be four good tires and four good wheels on it before they can begin proper diagnosis of suspension damage. Ok, I'll believe that.
Since I had to get at least two new wheels, I figured I might as well upgrade to 17 inchers. I called TireRack and ordered four 17x7.5 Superturismo GTs by O.Z. and four 225/45-17 Kumhos. TireRack promised me that they could be delivered on time - mounted, balanced, and ready to be bolted on.
Well, between TireRack and UPS they somehow didn't make it as promised ( FWIW, TireRack did offer to refund most of the shipping ) Only two of the four arrived. Sales rep says they can't fix it yet.
I told him to put the two good stock 16s -wth lots of tread left, BTW - on the front and the two new 17s on the rear. He said that his tech person told him that it won't work; they need all four to start repairs.
Am I missing something here? Or is it BS?
After hitting a large piece of road trash, I had my car towed to Calstar Benz to have it fixed. Two wheels were bent, two tires blown, plus assorted damage to suspension parts. Service rep says that there have to be four good tires and four good wheels on it before they can begin proper diagnosis of suspension damage. Ok, I'll believe that.
Since I had to get at least two new wheels, I figured I might as well upgrade to 17 inchers. I called TireRack and ordered four 17x7.5 Superturismo GTs by O.Z. and four 225/45-17 Kumhos. TireRack promised me that they could be delivered on time - mounted, balanced, and ready to be bolted on.
Well, between TireRack and UPS they somehow didn't make it as promised ( FWIW, TireRack did offer to refund most of the shipping ) Only two of the four arrived. Sales rep says they can't fix it yet.
I told him to put the two good stock 16s -wth lots of tread left, BTW - on the front and the two new 17s on the rear. He said that his tech person told him that it won't work; they need all four to start repairs.
Am I missing something here? Or is it BS?
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From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
They may NOT be able to align the wheels, all Mercedes wheels have holes that the alignment rig goes in. Check with TireRack on the Superturismo GTs by O.Z. to see if they have the alignment holes.
If not expect a major fuss by the dealer.
If not expect a major fuss by the dealer.
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
The larger tires in the rear may set off the ESP system when it sees the rears turning at a more leisurely pace than the fronts. Tell your service guy to actually explain this **** instead of telling it to you like you shouldn't question it, eh? 
If youre still looking for wheels, MBKlasse usually has a lot of rims for sale. THe C7 rims are still my favorite rim for the Coupe if youre going with 17's.
If youre still looking for wheels, MBKlasse usually has a lot of rims for sale. THe C7 rims are still my favorite rim for the Coupe if youre going with 17's.
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Originally Posted by breastroker
They may NOT be able to align the wheels, all Mercedes wheels have holes that the alignment rig goes in. Check with TireRack on the Superturismo GTs by O.Z. to see if they have the alignment holes...
Originally Posted by TNblkc230wz
You really should wait for the same wheels.
Originally Posted by Outland
The larger tires in the rear may set off the ESP system when it sees the rears turning at a more leisurely pace than the fronts...
There is no way that the ESP system can be looking for differences that small. A difference of 0.4% is within the limits of tread wear. It may even be less than the manufacturer's quality control tolerance. It is probably even smaller than the difference caused by a few pounds of air pressure. The ESP would be going off all the time if it were that sensitive.
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
MPG+ ROLFCOPTER
1) Where is the suspected suspension damage? Front, Rear, on one side?
2) Which 2 wheels were bent (see 1)? That could be where your stealer is coming from.
3) Ask him to explain the difference in regards to SS models: 24.7 (R = 245/40-17) & 25 (F = 225/45-17) when compared to std 16" = 24.9 (205/55-16). The figures were derived using std math and not taking tirespecs into account. Actually there is more to it as shown by this link. I don't have the english version for it.
HTH
2) Which 2 wheels were bent (see 1)? That could be where your stealer is coming from.
3) Ask him to explain the difference in regards to SS models: 24.7 (R = 245/40-17) & 25 (F = 225/45-17) when compared to std 16" = 24.9 (205/55-16). The figures were derived using std math and not taking tirespecs into account. Actually there is more to it as shown by this link. I don't have the english version for it.
HTH
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Originally Posted by amdeutsch
1) Where is the suspected suspension damage? Front, Rear, on one side?
2) Which 2 wheels were bent (see 1)? That could be where your stealer is coming from.
3) Ask him to explain the difference in regards to SS models: 24.7 (R = 245/40-17) & 25 (F = 225/45-17) when compared to std 16" = 24.9 (205/55-16). The figures were derived using std math and not taking tirespecs into account. Actually there is more to it as shown by this link. I don't have the english version for it.
HTH
2) Which 2 wheels were bent (see 1)? That could be where your stealer is coming from.
3) Ask him to explain the difference in regards to SS models: 24.7 (R = 245/40-17) & 25 (F = 225/45-17) when compared to std 16" = 24.9 (205/55-16). The figures were derived using std math and not taking tirespecs into account. Actually there is more to it as shown by this link. I don't have the english version for it.
HTH
1+2: It was all on the right side.
3: What is "SS" ?
But is there some other possibility aside from tire sizes?
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From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
Robert,
Let us know if the dealers technician has problems with alignment.
There have been several posts of dealers not being able to align using after market rims without the alignment holes. With your front end damage they have to go with full factory specs.
As soon as my rear tires are gone, I am going to the 255/40/17 tires. At 25.0 inches it is closer to the front 24.9 than the 245's at 24.7 inches. But at least half an inch more tread width than the 245s and over an inch more than the fronts which really makes the staggered wheels look better.
Let us know if the dealers technician has problems with alignment.
There have been several posts of dealers not being able to align using after market rims without the alignment holes. With your front end damage they have to go with full factory specs.
As soon as my rear tires are gone, I am going to the 255/40/17 tires. At 25.0 inches it is closer to the front 24.9 than the 245's at 24.7 inches. But at least half an inch more tread width than the 245s and over an inch more than the fronts which really makes the staggered wheels look better.
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Originally Posted by Robert Schrader
Danke, A.
1+2: It was all on the right side.
3: What is "SS" ?
But is there some other possibility aside from tire sizes?
1+2: It was all on the right side.
3: What is "SS" ?
But is there some other possibility aside from tire sizes?
SS = Sport Sedan
In MY05 they use the same tire setup as the C32.
@breastroker
You might want to click the link. Some of the numbers provided will surprise you. Especially since it goes more in depth than just a static diameter. That might help explain a little further the tire size choice made by MB.
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From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
SS is Sports Sedan, they came out about November December of 2003 as the 2004.5 model. Like the C32 AMG, the 2004.5 came out with the C7 rims in 7.5 width front for the 225/45/17 tires and 8.5 width for the 245/45/17 rear tires. Canada and Europe originally got the staggered C7 wheels, only the USA got the narrow ones. Mercedes monitors these forums, they saw that we wanted the staggered set up and delivered!
Then Mercedes switched to the "Mustang" 5 spoke wheels, also in the staggered configuration. I had the standard C7, the rear 8.5 rims were over $360 each. So I purchased a set of the "Mustang" 5 spoke wheels and had them polished so they look like chrome. They show off the AMG Brembo brakes better :p
Most dealers have these as take offs at decent prices, and there is always someone selling these, or C32 or C55 wheels and tires.
Then Mercedes switched to the "Mustang" 5 spoke wheels, also in the staggered configuration. I had the standard C7, the rear 8.5 rims were over $360 each. So I purchased a set of the "Mustang" 5 spoke wheels and had them polished so they look like chrome. They show off the AMG Brembo brakes better :p
Most dealers have these as take offs at decent prices, and there is always someone selling these, or C32 or C55 wheels and tires.
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From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
Here is a Coupe with the 255's on the rear with the 8.5 C7 rims. Mercedes wheels are forged and light. (But not the lightest)
In the Tirerack web site, just click on the specs for any tire, it will list every dimension of all sizes of the brand. As agressive as these 255's look, they are Michelin Pilot Sports. The Bridgestone Potenza PO-3 is almost an half inch wider tread.
In the Tirerack web site, just click on the specs for any tire, it will list every dimension of all sizes of the brand. As agressive as these 255's look, they are Michelin Pilot Sports. The Bridgestone Potenza PO-3 is almost an half inch wider tread.
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I got answer on it from the tech, c/o the service rep. Their alignment machine uses lasers from front to rear. It aligns by rims, not tires. If the rims are of a different sixe, the alignment is not correct. Since pitch ( an aeronautical term I borrowed ) affects camber and castor, the alignment would be off. It seems to make sense to me.
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That seems like BS to me considering your other posts in regards to service with your particular dealer. The machine is hooked up to the holes in the wheels (bolt pattern around the axle center point). That position is relative to a distance from a certain reference point. Therefore the actual size of the wheel should not come into place with the correct tire sizing which you have done.
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Originally Posted by TNblkc230wz
Outland explained it pretty good. Different size tires can confuse the ESP.
