J Mesa

I picked up some 8.5" x 18 front, 9" x 18 rear Benz rims and have a bit of a problem. Rear fit fine. The fronts just slightly touch the upper part of the strut though. No other contact while I turn the wheel from lock to lock. The rub is so mild that I can still spin the wheels with my hand (don't worry, I won't drive it like this).

Anyway, the tires that came on these wheels (265\35 18 rear, 245\40 18 front) were just a bonus, as all I wanted were the rims. Seeing that the tires are new and the rears fit I figured I would use them. Looks like I may need to buy some new tires anyway. So, what size should I go with on these rims? If I get new fronts I might also go ahead and get rears. If so, what size should I go with in the rear? maybe the same? Any suggestions?

J Mesa

BTW - I found a site that lets you plug in your tire numbers and get all sorts of figures. Up front it looks like 235\40 18" tires would be a little over 1/4th of an inch less in diameter. The tire would also go from being 9.65" wide to 9.25". Seems like that should be more than enough room for me.

Here is the site:
http://mcgrefer.com/sizeinfo/

mhad2480

It's all a matter of preference, if you like the way the current tires fit the rims, then get the same size. There seems to be a lot of people on this section of the forum that like their tires stretched to fit the rim and leave the lip exposed. I am running a 235 on a 8.5" front rim with a little meatier rear tire, but that's just my preference. If you post some pics of the current wheel/tire combo it would make easier for people to give you better input. As for the rubbing issue, is the tire rubbing or the rim? If it's the tire, you might get it to clear with a little stretch on a narrower tire or look into getting spacers if it doesn't stick out past the fender already, again pics would help.

Edit: didn't see your 2nd post, I guess it's the tire that's rubbing.

jimmythegreek

if the tires are in good shape just install a 3mm spacer. its the offset thats the problem not the wheels, the size is OK

jkyriakou

This is std spec rims on the Australian c coupes

Front std spec are 235 however. Possibly to overcome this problem

J Mesa

Going 235\40 up from salved the problem (265\35 out back was never an issue). I think it looks pretty good, even at stock hight. I'm sure some would prefer it a few inches lower but being at stock C300 Lux hight these work. Using the tire calc, this wheels and tire combo is only about half an inche larger in diam than the stock 225\45s.

What do you guys think?

sjbtax

Nice!

How has it affected the ride quality?

J Mesa

As would be expected with a lower profile tire, there is a tad more tire noise/bump on textured roads and expansions. Aside from that the ride is still great. Certainly a dif. feel then with the stock wheels but not bad, just dif. There is just more rubber under the car, and it feels like it. The wheel\tire weight and diameter\circumference dif. is so small that acceleration and breaking are not affected. The speedometer appears to have remained accurate as well.

Tracking on the highway is still true but I will be getting a 4 wheel alignment just to be sure.

Txwildman

Nice