mawingo

Hi All
We have just picked up gently used '12 C250 Sport. So far so good! Question:
The staggered tire setup (stock 17's). Is this more for looks or function? Can I replace with one size all around, or should I stick with the staggered? We had a previous vehicle that was staggered for looks, so we went one size all around with no problems for longer tire life. The rears are wearing far faster than the fronts.



Thanks!

TheRulesLawyer

IIRC the luxury models have the same size all around and I know the 4matics do for sure. There should be no issues fitting the same size all around.

djejglk

i'm not sure the exact width difference, 1/2 inch? maybe close to 1 inch?

many tires (with all 4 being the same) have tolerances that work with wheels of different widths

plenty of "tire fit" charts and calculators out there

just remember, you still can't rotate the tires just because all 4 tires are exactly the same, but you will probably end up saving money buying 4 of the same decent tires.

TheRulesLawyer

Good point. I'd not sure the wider wheels from the rear will fit in the front, and it would certainly limit the safe rotation pattern.

Sportstick

Much about the best solution depends on what you are trying to achieve. Are the original tires near the end of their useful life, or are they sufficiently poor performers that you want new tires now? From what I recall on the 1010tires.com calculator, you can use the same 225/45-17 tires on the 7.5" wheels in front and 8.5" wheels in the rear. Buying all four the same size will save you some $$ on the purchase price. But, the 8.5" wheels need to stay in the rear, so rotation costs will eat up the tire price savings.

If you feel like dressing the car up with some new wheels as well as tires, 17x8" works well on all four corners along with the 225/45-17. Great prices on high quality aftermarket wheels have pleased many forum members from this place:

http://www.powerwheelspro.com/shop/index.php?cPath=23

I am riding on 17x8" style 810

mawingo

^ What I'm trying to do is replace all 4 tires at once with the same tire, and then prolong all four tires by rotation. But it sounds like with the rim sizes being of different widths, I can't do that. Oh well! I may look into other rims anyhow.

centfl-c300spt

Why are you worried about it? It's cheaper to change 2 tires out at a time as with staggered fit. Of course it is cheaper in the long run to do 4 tires at a time and usually you get a discount or rebate, but so what.
The staggered fit is actually performance based, wider rears, bigger contact patch. The only way to rotate is side to side (ie, left front to right front, etc.) and only if they are omni-directional.

95_993

Running same size tires on staggered rims sizes to facilitate tire rotation is silly. You will required to dismount and remount the tires on the rims at least 4 or 5 times throughout the life of the tire. The cost alone from doing this will far surpass the saving your expecting in tire life.

mflores342

My 2014 C350 4Matic came in staggered from the factory. My winter tire setup will be square on 17's.

TheRulesLawyer

Right, but 350s are sport models by default aren't they? They are in the US

mflores342

Canada only gets sport models for the C-Class lineup for MY2014. Not sure about previous years.

mac911

Yeah the rims are different sizes so don't bother.

Furthermore, I actually like not having to rotate the tires. It gives you one less thing to do or have done. Sure the rear tires will wear more quickly, but that doesn't bother me, they get replaced a couple times before the front ones.