Carcrazy2

I'm thinking of using 8.5" wide wheels up front too and was wondering if anyone has done this with sucess. I'd like to use 245's all the way around to counteract some of the understeer. Thanks.

Clk&Slk

What's the offset of your 8.5" wide? 245 up front might rub even if the offset is right because it also depending on how low your car lowered.

Fifth Ring

Yes, I've been doing it for about 6 months. The hardest part was finding a second set of OEM wheels. There is no rubbing at all, and I think understeer is improved. My car is not lowered, but as the pix below show, under stress, the suspension gets compressed a lot, and still I had no rubbing. The only downside I've noticed is a slight tendency for the tires to tramline (follow road grooves or ruts). I imagine that the offset is a little different. Photos below.

Carcrazy2

Thanks for confirming that I wont have any problems. The offset is 3 mm less on the rear wheels at ET34. The problem I have is that I can't find any cheap 17x8.5 wheels and the stock wheels are a bit heavy at 26+ lbs each.

Besides the tramlining how does the steering effort feel? Is this a good combination for the road or more for track use?

Fifth Ring

Steering effort and feel is unchanged. It's really a no-brainer, and it makes me wonder why Benz staggers the wheels to begin with. A side benefit is that you can actually rotate tires like the rest of the world.

26lbs is pretty heavy, but I've seen worse. There's a vendor called EdgeRacing that seems to list wheels that might fit. Like a lot of vendors, they don't know if they'll fit a C32, especially if you want 17" wheels.

AWDman

i also have this setup for track days. the only prob i encountered was with the hoosier r6 in 245/40. the rim protector is so thick that it made contact with the strut. i doubt that you would experience this with a street tire tho some have a more meaty rim protector that others. also to confirm the 245mm width should not be a problem. i run wide for size 245/40 yokes a048 with renntech springs w/o a prob.

try car-part.com you should find a few. i picked up mine, a nice pr, for <$300.

dsC32

Call Tire Rack and get suggestions as to which wheels will work. That is what I did when I purchased four 18inch BBS wheels that I use on the track for my C55.