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'05 C55 AMG
New member!
Hey guys, just got my C55 AMG Thursday and am loving it! Just hit 54k and its going great. I got it with Mandrus Mannheim wheels, 18x8.5 and 18x9.5 and a bit of stretch, and am unsure whether I'm keeping them or not. Coilovers will be going on shortly to close that wheel gap, and spacers if I'm keeping these wheels. Now for pictures!
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'05 C55 AMG
And thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I just can't wait to lower her and get the wheels spaced out a bit.
And just out of curiosity, do you all say keep the wheels or go for something new?
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From: Seattle, WA
C55
IMO the mandrus wheels look too plain on it. I like split spoke wheels on c55's if they are 5 spoke or more spokes. 245 isn't really stretching but I don't really see the point of stretched tires on our cars...with our offset its hard to stretch them anyways.
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From: Canada
C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
Welcome to the forum. Can somebody enlighten me about the rationale behind "stretching" reltatively narrower tires over wider wheels? Is this a purely cosmetic issue?.... or is there a performance advantage/disadvantage?
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From: Seattle, WA
C55
why do stretched tires?
- well the whole thing started in germany/belgium, local laws required that the tire tread be within the fender line. well that doesnt allow one to run wider or lower offset wheels, so they put narrower tires on the wheel to maintain legality
- when you would like to run really wide or low offset wheels and keep the tire tread at the fender
- when you would like to go really low and not rub
- well the whole thing started in germany/belgium, local laws required that the tire tread be within the fender line. well that doesnt allow one to run wider or lower offset wheels, so they put narrower tires on the wheel to maintain legality
- when you would like to run really wide or low offset wheels and keep the tire tread at the fender
- when you would like to go really low and not rub
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From: Chicago
Cee Fiddy Five
Stock was 245, at least on mine? (holy **** how'd you get 285s to fit)
C63 stock is 255, AFAIK...both are serious cases of too little rubber!
That is a beautiful wet black C55, enjoy!
C63 stock is 255, AFAIK...both are serious cases of too little rubber!
That is a beautiful wet black C55, enjoy!
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
This, even though stock should've been 255. 255 fits the 8.5 so much better - not only is it a little more rubber, but the sidewall is more perpendicular (matching the front 225/7.5), sidewall height is almost the same as the front (matches), and of course the overall height is the same as the front, so you have no issues with rolling radius differences. And it fits with no problems in the rear, even when running a bulky tire like the Pzero nero. My guess is that 245/35/18 was a cheaper tire to OEM source.
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'05 C55 AMG
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225 on 8.5 is too small as is 245 on a 9.5. Paint looks pretty glossy though. How did the other guy fit 285's ah he's rolling stock suspension??? What 285's also as the section widths vary. I've had 255's that are wider than 275's.... I also had 265 Z stars that rubbed like a b*tch even though I flared my fenders. I am running 33 et rear also-
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From: DE
2005 E55
I've heard / read a lot of different things about tire stretch. The way I understand, it started in Europe because the law said that the tire tread had to be inside the fender. So to put wider wheels and more aggressive offsets people started stretching the tires to adhere to the law. The look caught on and people in other areas started to do the same thing. I've also read that sometimes it's popular with the drifting crowd because the sidewalls are stiffer and help the car to roll less. As well as having less rubber on the pavement is good for amateurs to get started drifting. Also, some say it's done out of necessity because narrow tires are cheaper. Just an fyi.
