C32 wheel/tire question - MBWorld.org Forums

Mar 6, 2008 | 07:55 AM

c32AMG-DTM

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From: Philadelphia, PA

2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5

C32 wheel/tire question

Hey everyone,

Searched but couldn't find this answer. I've read many forum members who went to an unstaggered wheel fitment with stock 17" wheels (17 x 8.5 all-around, with 245/40s), and liked the handling plus the ability to rotate tires front & rear.

My question is, is anyone running (or has anyone tried) an unstaggered plus-one fitment? i.e. 18 x 8.5 with 255/35s all around? Can the C32 handle a 255/35-18 on an 18 x 8.5 up front?

TIA!

Mar 6, 2008 | 08:39 AM

MRAMG1

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From: PA

S600, GL450, GLC 43

Quote:

Originally Posted by c32AMG-DTM

Well, I can not say that they won't rub from personnal experience. I can say, that a 255/35/18 on a 8.5" rim isn't a good choice. Check the tire specs, and you will see that the minimum width recommended is 9". You could do it, but the tire will roll over badly in the corners, causing a loss of traction, ie a 245/40/18 will give you MORE grip on the track because it is supported better. A GREAT rule of thumb for tracking is width of the tread should equal the width of the rim. NOT section width, tread width, two VARY different specs

Good luck

see yeah

Last edited by MRAMG1; Mar 6, 2008 at 08:42 AM.

Mar 6, 2008 | 08:50 AM

bud4ya

Super Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 830

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From: New Hampshire

2003 C32 AMG, 2003 E39 M5

I am not a tire/wheel expert but I thought this link may help?

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...rmarket+wheels

Quote:

Originally Posted by c32AMG-DTM

Mar 9, 2008 | 10:41 PM

ashura

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Joined: Jul 2007

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From: tokyo

c55

Quote:

Originally Posted by c32AMG-DTM

i was thinking about this too and using some spacers in the back to fill out the wheel well. i have check a number of threads. as far as i can gather, it appears that 18x8.5 is the widest wheel you can run on the front? if 255/35s are too wide, would 245/35s be ok with 18x8.5s on the front?

Mar 10, 2008 | 12:43 AM

power-fade

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Joined: May 2006

Posts: 314

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From: Pacific Northwest

"One Man. One Engine."

fyi..
CLK63 runs 255/35/18 in the rear on 18x8.5 wheel; and 225/40/18 in the front on 18x8 wheel

Mar 10, 2008 | 02:39 PM

Fifth Ring

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C32 AMG

I thought this would be a good thread to share my recent observations on non-staggered wheels. I used four front (narrow) 17" AMG wheels over the winter, with winter tires. Just last week, I switched back to four wider rear wheels. The transition highlighted to me the effects of the different offsets on the front wheels. With the wider wheels up front, the car definitely tramlines (follows ruts) and is affected by road imperfections. The narrower wheels were clearly designed for the suspension geometry of the C32.

That said, the wider fronts still look great and allow for tire rotation. And I have to assume that they improve grip. I should add that I'm right at the end of my tires' life, so the wandering might be bad / dead tires.

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