Fifth Ring

Last year, I bought a second set of AMG OEM wheels, mainly to serve as my winter wheels. But it occurred to me that I could de-stagger the wheels, using the wider (8-1/2") wheels on all four corners for Spring/Summer/Fall, and use the skinnies (7-1/2") during the Winter.

I now have 245s all around, and I'm glad I did it. The rear tires/wheels work well up front. No clearance issues at all, and if you hold a yardstick against the top and bottom of the tires, the tires are exactly even with the fenders. The only downside is that the fender gap looks a bit more extreme.

My wheels are all OEM, but I've painted the centers (Jaguar Gunmetal Blue) and polished the rims. Before I de-staggered, nobody seemed to notice the wheels. Since de-staggering I've gotten three compliments in two days, including two from complete strangers.

Other benefits: I can now rotate tires back-to-front, and get more wear out of them. Presumably, I'll have less understeer at the track.

Most importantly, the car definitely has a meaner stance. It now actually looks marginally better than a C230 Sport!

the101dragons

Pics please and are these the 17" or 18" your talking about.

Bif powell

Yeah, pics for sure - I've been thinking about this as well since someone here suggested it this summer.

Fifth Ring

These are the OEM 17" AMG wheels (made by Ronal).

I'll try to get pix, and then overcome my internet incompetence and get them posted.

AWDman

did same thing.

hoosier r6s in 245/40 are too wide, they interfere with strut.
section width is published as 10".
i'm ordering 245/40 yoke a048 which are 9.8" wide hopefully that will clear.
called H and R they don't make spacers for c32.

hot laps at lime rock this coming monday.

folks you can get a 100% accurate visual just rotate one side's rear to the opposite front.

as to meaner stance nothing beats the renntech springs. the car's appearance is transformed. i did not change the rear spring pads and have a slightly nose down attitude. very nice with the 19" bremmas. the 17" look way too small IMO.

Zeppelin

AWD,

Off the shelf 3mm or 1/8 inch spacers will allow you to clear the larger tire in the front. They do not need to be hub-centric since the wheel will still sit on the centering cone of the hub.

SolidGranite

I wonder how this would look/feel on a C55....?

AWDman

thanks zepplin. any suggestions as to where i can get the "off shelf" spacers? online retailer?

i shouldn't need longer lug bolts right? (only 3mm given up)...

Zeppelin

Definitely don't need longer wheel studs. I made my spacers out of a sheet of 1/8 inch aluminum using a jigsaw and drill. You can find generic spacers at some of the local autoparts stores I think. Just be careful with tire to fender clearance you will be getting real close with a 10 inch wide tire and a spacer. I am still limited to a 9.8 inch tire due too strut clearance (spacers are needed because of the washers I use on the lower two strut bolts for more negative camber tilt's the tire closer to the strut)

blando

Has anybody tried using the 18" C55 rear rims on all four corners? I'm considering that on my 32.

5150_C32

good luck finding 4 rear C55 wheels....hard enough just to find the staggered combo.

blando

I have found them. I have a staggered set on now that I got pretty cheap. Just look around. I've already got a line on the other two, just don't want to do it if it will be problematic.

5150_C32

where are you finding them, I have been looking and have come up with nothing.

I went with a replica 18" MB wheel and they have been nothing but trouble...I would love to get a set of oem C55 wheels.

PM me back if you have any suggestions or know of any for sale.

thanks

Bif powell

Not to thread-jack, but what did you do as far as front pads? I'm going with the RENNTech springs as well - do they come with a preferred pad or do you shop around for some?

Thanks!

AWDman

Bif as far as i know there are no front spring pads. the rear spring sit on a rubber pad that is available in 5,9,11,18mm heights. thus you can adjust the rear ride height by swopping in/out.

AWDman

Ok the yokes A048 in 245/40-17 are a go on the rear rims. they look pretty wide almost as the 255s. about 1 inch wider than the 235/45s i was running in the front. looking forward to tommorow at lime rock.

tire rack has the ASA st3 and st4 rims on closeout (or sale) the are avail in 18x8 with 32 et which should be a perfect fitment in destaggering to 245/35 tires.

.

rlee02135

i'd like to see some pics of these..they sound nice

BuckeyeBenz

what are the biggest rubbers u can fit on the rear stock C55 rims...i now have 255 was wondering if i can fit 265?!?!?!

carnutC55

Already tried this blando. The C55 18x8.5" wheel has a 34mm offset while the same wheel on the CLK55 has a 30mm offset. I tried putting one of my rear C55 wheels on the front of my CLK350, and it was scraping on the brake caliper. those extra 4mm of clearance are needed! BTW, I have the 13.6" rotor and 4-piston caliper that come with the clk350 sport appearance package, not the standard one piston caliper that comes on the regular non-sport clk350.

Fifth Ring

This is the wheel painted (this is a front, so the lip is not as prominent):



This is the wheel "in action." Darker wheel centers make the brakes stand out more.