m3_eater

I'm thinking of throwing a stickier tire on the rear since my PS2s are wearing thin. I'm not concerned with speedometer accuracy. Does anyone know how big we can go on the stock 17" AMG rims? How about 275/35?

uownme

Im guessing 255's are pushing, 275 no way.

Carl AMG

I run 255/40-17's on the rear with no problem. I run 235/45-17 up front.

m3_eater

I should've mentioned that I've already been running 255/40 on the rear (my current almost worn-out set). I'm just wondering how much wider I can go!

Bif powell

These are on stock 17" rims? Are you running 235s up front like Carl then? Also, Carl, this is on the stock rim as well?

Notice any funkiness on corners or anything? No rubbing issues at all?

Thanks!

m3_eater

Yep! I have 255/40 on the rear and 235/40 on the front. Stock rims. No issues whatsoever. There is PLENTY of clearance. I'm about to put Renntech springs on the car, and even with the inch or so of drop, I'm expecting no trouble with these tires. That's why I'm wondering how wide of a tire the rear rim will accomodate.

Bif powell

Do you have pictures please?

Thanks!

Eurocharged Rick

i would not go wider than the 255 you are running...mainly because of the wheel width, not the clearance issues...you will reach a point where you will not gain anything by going wider

Zeppelin

265/40/17 rear on stock wheel, 245/40/17 front on stock rear wheels

Bif powell

Would love to see pics.

Thanks!

m3_eater

Zeppelin: Wow, now THAT might be a good idea. What is your handling like?

Bif: sorry, the only pics of my car that I currently have are those from when I first bought it - and they do not clearly show tire to fender gap. I plan to take more when I get the Renntech springs on, but by then it'll be a different tire size too.

Bif powell

Wouldn't some of these changes throw off the ESP or ABS, or something, if the tires start effecting speed differences between the back and the front?

Apologies if that's a completely pedestrian questions, but seem like you would want to avoid speed-calculation differences between back/front?

m3_eater

Sounds like a perfectly valid question to me. I'm sure that the threshold is significantly higher to trigger ESP involvement though, so the worst you can do is cause it to kick in sooner by a likely imperceptible amount. Any benefits from more rubber on the road are going to be far more noticeable. I have never felt the car with stock size on it, though - so I do not have a frame of reference for comparison.

Zeppelin

ESP is not affected at all. If anything it kicks in later since the larger rear tire is turning slower than the front.

Strait line traction is probably better, but I can't say for sure. Cornering seems a little less stable and is most likely due too the taller sidewall on the tire.

I will most likey go back to a 245 tire on the rear on my next set just so I can rotate all 4. I really don't see that big of a difference with the 265.

FairfaxC32

I highly recommend Continental ContiExtremeContact tires; I've put them on my last three cars, including a pair for the rear stock rims on my C32 that I just bought earlier this week. Size is the same as what you already are running, 255/40-17. Instead of trying to get more traction by going wider, just get better rubber; the wider the tire is, the worse the traction will be in snow.