AskDrTodd

The tires seem big... 245 up front and a 38 offset I believe...

jimmythegreek

Doc whats the exact size and offsets of F and R on those. If theyre same all 4 size they will fit at 38mm. I ran 9.5 38mm in back w 255 no probs in 35/18s on my 2008 for a year im running 235/35/19 with 40mm up front on 8.5 now no prob, so those are prob 8.5 or even 8 up front. I ran 35mm 225/40/18 up front on the 2008 so u should be good to go but not by much

AskDrTodd

Jimmy- thanks man! Will a 35 offset work on an 18x8 with 225/40/18 up front and 18x8.5 with 255/35 in the rear?

jimmythegreek

It will fit, but wont look the same in sidewall size. The 225 is perfect for 8" wheel but a 255 is for a 9" wheel. You will have a fat rear and a straight front sidewall. a 245 is the right size, you usually go 3 sizes for an inch of rim. like my last 18s were 8.5 and 9.5 staggered, and 225F and 255R were evenly stretched slightly, i couldnt go 265 rear cause they rubbed so I downgraded fornts from 235 which I wanted to 225 so it would match. You probably can understand it that way. currently im 8.5 w a 235 front and 275 w a 10" rear for comparison. But essentially all that say 35mm offsets wont work on w204 havent tried it, they just repeat what others say on here. I tried it and ran with it 2 different sets for almost 3 years, you just gotta go 255 max w a 9.5 rear. if your rears are 9 or even less your good. I will tell you that they are aggressive looking and stick out, but thats the look you're probably going for. lemme know if you need more help or post links to rims your thinking of and Ill tell you which way Id go...........jimmy

AskDrTodd

Ideally these-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=270722225236

I like the 5-spoke, the price is right, and if the factory tires will fit them (I don't mind if the rears look a bit beefier) then I'd be a happy man.

jimmythegreek

I checked the link, the numbers work. Im basing this on the fact I ran 2 sets of 35mm offsets as I posted above. As long as you are aware they will sit flush to your fenders, they will clear. The one thing I will tell you is that I ran sumitomo tires on both sets and they didnt rub w a 9.5 rear and 255/35/18. I got a flat and was in a bind and couldnt find rear tires in that size other than Nexens. I said hell with it and threw 2 on cause teh other side was almost toast anyway. That brand in same size rubbed on a bad bottom out slightly on the inner fabric but left no marks or damage of any kind, you had to listen carefully to know it even happened. I later found out sumitomo and falken and others are a narrow brand tire, the way the treads are and such makes them slightly diff in size and contour. For instance the Nexens have more tread up to the edge of the sidewall, my current falkens do not. Anyway with a 8.5 rear you will not rub, even w 255, but will be a little fat but you said you are aware of that. You can also have wheels machined at any machine shop, I have a set of BRABUS wheels that cost 4k new that were 25mm offset. They are now close to a 40mm offset, it was 75 a wheel to machine at a local machine shop. But those wheels will fit and I do like them, I have a sweet spot for factory looking wheels, its a classier look

AskDrTodd

I don't mind if they sit flush with the fenders, as long as looking at it from the front or back doesn't look too strange. Do you have a picture from when you ran the 35 offset wheels? I assume it handles better from the wider stance...

AskDrTodd

I mean how much further would it stick out anyway, less than an inch right? 25mm is an inch and if the offset is off by 15mm then that's about half an inch, no?

jimmythegreek

No its not gonna stick out, those wheels are only a few MM larger than stock wheels I beleive. The offset is gonna push them out about a half inch, they will look better and it will corner better

AskDrTodd

Huh. Well then why does everyone say 35 offset wheels won't work? It seems like they'd work fine, they'll just stick out a bit more. I hate to be the test dummy here but my ordering finger is getting really itchy...

Matt_Eurojerks

Use this with your stock specs and then put in the new specs.
http://www.1010tires.com/wheeloffsetcalculator.asp

AskDrTodd

Thanks Matt, I calc'd going from a 50 offset to a 35 offset for an 8" wheel (says it sticks out 15mm more as I expected) and from a 54 offset on a 9" wheel to a 35 offset on a 8.5" wheel and it said 13mm more out. This is approximately half an inch on both front and rear, I still don't get why certain places say you can't run a 35 offset?

Matt_Eurojerks

I agree. Until I get the itch for new wheels I will just keep my mouth shut.

AskDrTodd

UGH. Now I have to be the test dummy. Jimmy, do you have a pic from when you ran the 35 offset wheels? I'd really love to get a ballpark for how far the front ones stick out...

Thanks again for the help guys!

supernsx

For the rear wheel, the 18" AMG OEM is running 8.5" with 54 offset and not 9". I think they will stick out quite a bit and not sure your car will look good. I just bought some E63 rep running 8.5" with 45 offset non-staggered and I am currently waiting for them to be installed after my wife's car is out of the body shop.

Matt_Eurojerks

I wouldn't go too low of an ET in the front. This pic is a ET 29 on a 9.5 front and ET of 30 and 11 inches in the back

AskDrTodd

Not sure I'm digging the sticking out look... That is a 9.5" up front tho, I'd have an 8" rim, and 8.5" in the back, with a higher offset than both of those and 225 front 255 rear...

AskDrTodd

I guess I could buy a single 15mm spacer and test fit it on the wheels right? That'd be pretty close to how it'd function, no?

Matt_Eurojerks

You would have to buy them in a pair but yes you could do that. I am just saying that I would be comfy running a lower then 50 offset on a 8.5 wheel in the back. Up front is a different story because the front fenders stick further out then the rear and I wouldn't want to have a reverse staggered looking setup.

Matt_Eurojerks

What did you end up deciding?