Well, i've been driving my C55 for abit now, and my main goal for this car is performance. I've noticed that when I floor my car with ESP on/off I end up spinning out regardless.. therefore I figured a good solution would be to get rims.. what's everyone's thoughts about this?

I'm thinking about some 19" rims to get more traction, so I won't spin out.. anyone have any good suggestion on some 19" rims? I heard SSRs are pretty good and light

 

I am no expert , but would like to know what are the options and wish someone will change to 19" so I can take a look first.

Just saw this adv in Japan Motor Magazine OCT 04'
It says M921 19" / 20" for M , V, E, C, CLK Classes.
check it out and let us know
http://www.w-its.net/

 

Wow those rims look pretty nice, anyone know about:
SSR GT2, GT3
Axis Milanos

 

This is from Tire Rack. I'm getting some 22lb 19" wheels to replace my 26lb SSR GT-3s. Do it right the first time!


Wheel style is usually the first consideration when selecting new aftermarket wheels because most wheels are purchased for their different-than-factory styling which helps personalize the vehicle's looks to match its driver's tastes. After that comes the functional requirements of selecting a wheel diameter, width and offset that are right for the vehicle and appropriate for the desired tire size.

While all wheel styles evolve, there are some classic wheel designs that are almost timeless, including some of the basic five-spoke, six-spoke and cross-spoke designs. And since the look of many of these classic designs has evolved from racing wheels, their form follows function. This means that their basic design helps the engineer balance style, strength and weight. On the other hand, there are also fashion wheels which, like clothing, tend to change their look with the seasons. And with many of the fashion wheel designs, their function follows fashion. This means that their designer (not engineer) places emphasis on style over weight. Additionally, because most of the fashion wheels are expected to have relatively short life cycles, the design the engineer receives to put into production places emphasis on the ability to manufacture them economically in small volumes. Unfortunately, this normally precludes using the most recent high tech manufacturing methods.

However, not so obvious is the role that wheel weight plays in determining the vehicle's overall ride, performance and feel. This is why so many new vehicles have replaced the less expensive rolled, stamped and welded steel wheels with cast aluminum alloy wheels.

A vehicle's total weight is the sum of all of its parts and affects its ability to accelerate, brake and corner. Reducing the total weight will enhance the vehicle's performance because less weight needs to be controlled and therefore, less energy is required. Unsprung weight is the weight under the springs which moves up and down as the vehicle rides over uneven roads and leans in the corners. Reducing unsprung weight allows the springs and shock absorbers to be more effective in controlling the suspension's movement. Additionally, a vehicle's rotational weight includes all parts that spin including everything in the vehicle's driveline from the engine's crankshaft to its wheels and tires. This affects the energy required to change speed as the vehicle accelerates and brakes. As you would guess, reducing the weight of any of these rotating components will enhance the vehicle's performance because less energy will be required to increase or decrease their speed.

In order to get a better understanding of the effects of reductions or increases in wheel and tire weight on performance, comfort and feel, The Tire Rack Team conducted a Ride & Drive comparing a BMW 3-Series equipped with its Original Equipment (16") wheels and tires in order to establish a comfort and handling baseline, to a second BMW 3-Series equipped with Plus One (17") wheels & tires using lightweight aluminum alloy wheels, and a third BMW 3-Series equipped with the same size Plus One application, but this time using heavyweight aluminum alloy wheels.

Original Equipment (OE) BMW 3-Series Alloy Wheels and Tires

16" x 7" sized OE BMW wheels and 205/55R16 91H-sized Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires

The aluminum alloy wheels which came as Original Equipment on our 3-Series test car features cross-spoke styling and weigh an estimated 20.5 pounds each.

The Energy MXV4 Plus tires used as Original Equipment on our BMW 3-Series are Grand Touring tires which blend some of a performance tire's looks and handling with a standard passenger tire's longer life and more comfortable ride. The Energy MXV4 Plus incorporates an advanced version of Michelin's Radial XSE Technology (which consists of a Smart Tread Compound, Optimized Casing Shape and Optimized Mass Distribution). The OE Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires weigh 22.5 pounds each.

When combined, the weight of the Original Equipment Energy MXV4 Plus tires mounted on the BMW alloy wheels results in a 42.5 pound Tire & Wheel Package.

On the road, the OE BMW alloy wheels and Energy MXV4 Plus tires were praised for their good ride, low noise, real world handling and steering feel. The car felt balanced and generated a relatively light steering feel that felt appropriate for the car. This combination made it easy to understand the combination of real world ride, noise and handling qualities that BMW engineers wanted for their 3-Series sedan. On the track, this combination was rated as responsive and predictable while providing good braking, cornering traction and handling. However, as expected, this car turned in the slowest lap times of the three combinations tested.

Plus Size Wheels & Tires Using Lightweight Wheels

SSR Semi-Solid Forged 17" x 8" alloy wheels fitted with 245/45ZR17-sized Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico tires

The SSR aluminum alloy wheels used in this test feature five-spoke styling and a unique manufacturing process called Semi-Solid Forging (SSF). Using a process originally developed for aircraft and automotive parts which require high strength, low porosity and light weight, SSF produced wheels use a special aluminum alloy which is heated until it has about the consistency of warm butter, and then it is forced into the mold under high pressure. This results in a strong, lightweight wheel that offers many of the traits of wheels forged in the traditional ways, but costs less to manufacture and therefore is available at a more affordable price. The lightweight 17" x 8" SSR aluminum alloy wheels on our 3-Series test car weighs a scant 17 pounds each.

The Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico Max Performance tires used in this test feature a lightweight construction and an asymmetric tread design developed to maximize the tire's ability to put the power down whether accelerating, braking or cornering. Additionally, the P Zero Asimmetrico tread compound combines traditional carbon black with a special blend of silica and synthetic polymers to enhance wet traction and reduce rolling resistance. The P Zero Asimmetrico is used as Original Equipment on many performance vehicles, and for that matter, the tires in this test have been used as Original Equipment on the BMW E36 M3. The 245/45ZR17-sized Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico tires weigh a respectable 21.5 pounds each.

When combined, the weight of the Plus One-sized P Zero Asimmetrico tires mounted on the SSR Integral alloy wheel results in a 38.5 pound Tire & Wheel Package which is actually 3 pounds lighter than.

On the road, this combination was praised for its steering feel and responsiveness, while it generated a small increase in ride harshness on bumpy roads. On the track, this combination was praised for its feel, feedback and responsiveness. It felt light and nimble, ready to transform the driver's input into performance. The car equipped with the lightweight alloy wheels and Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico tires turned in the fastest lap times of the three combinations tested.

Plus Size Wheels & Tires Using Heavyweight Wheels

17" x 8" alloy wheels (brand name withheld) fitted with 245/45ZR17-sized Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico tires

The heavyweight aluminum alloy wheels used in this test were selected because they were designed to emphasize a trendy fashion style without regard to overall weight. The heavyweight aluminum alloy wheels on our BMW test car weigh 27 pounds each (ten more pounds per wheel than the lightweight wheels).

When combined, the weight of the Plus One-sized P Zero Asimmetrico tires mounted on the heavyweight alloy wheel results in a 48.5 pound Tire & Wheel Package which is about 7 pounds heavier than the stock combination.

On the road, this combination was only praised for its ride quality. Our experience showed that the heavyweight wheel's reluctance to be moved as the vehicle rode over expansion joints, patches and potholes actually damped the impact harshness transmitted to the suspension, and forced the tires to absorb more of the jolt. However, when it came to steering feel and responsiveness, heavyweight wheels made the tires less communicative and responsive at highway speeds. On the track, this combination found no praise. It felt heavy and lethargic, and actually reduced the feedback the tires normally transmit to the driver, making the vehicle more difficult to drive at the limit. This made it more difficult for the driver to know how much input was required and reduced the vehicle's ability to transform the driver's input into performance. For that matter, many of our team members compared the feeling of running on heavyweight wheels to that of jogging with ankle weights or hiking with field boots. You really feel the difference when you take them off. The car equipped with the heavyweight alloy wheels and Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico tires benefited from the handling of the tires but couldn't match the performance of the lightweight combination, and its lap times fell between the other two combinations tested.

While we expected to feel the gyroscopic effects of wheel weight at highway speeds (where at 60 mph they revolve about 13 times a second), we were rather surprised at their influence on the car's feel at the lower speeds on our performance test track drive. Additionally, realizing that the impact of heavyweight wheels would increase as top speeds climbed on a race track (where at 150 mph they would revolve about 33 times a second), it left little doubt as to why professional race teams spend thousands of dollars for wheels which minimize weight while retaining strength.

 

19's wont give you any more traction..... if anything, they'll likely be heavier than comprable 18's and reduce performance. If you want more grip... get wider wheels/wider rubber.

 

Ahh.. okay, sorry i'm pretty new about the whole tires thing and have yet to really understand it all.. so i have some novice questions

How wide can 18s go and still fit on a c55?
Is there any reason to go 19s then if other than looks?

Thanks for ur help!

 

I agree with you, but that's not necessarily true.

If you put out more money, there are some very lightweight 19's that work well and are lighter than the stock wheels. For example, on my A4, I run 19x8.5 Volk Le37t's each rim weighing in at 20lbs. It actually made my car "feel" faster when I auto-xed it. Its like wearing lightweight running shoes vs heavy cross-trainers. Minor difference in total performance, but it makes it easier.

 

19s wont really do much more then look better then 18s. If you are looking for the SSR GT3s in 18s there nice 2. I used to have then in 19s on my C230. The sidest tire u can fit on the rear is a 265.

 

You'r have 362HP & 376 ft-lbs. of torque under your hood, of course your gonna spin the tires if you floor it without controling your right foot. IMO, change the way you launch the car, then considering changing your tires/wheels.

 

Yea, a friend told me there's no way to not spin with that amount of torque. I was just assuming there would be some way to stop all of it (without drag tires), so i can just floor the car and the car will move.

So in the end, tires maybe help a little, suspension may help a little, wider wheels may help a little

 

yea tehres a way to stop the tires from spinning when u floor it... disconnect 4 of your spark plugs

 

psychoburn: let me know if you get new rims and decide to sell your C55 stock ones.

 

In my opinion, I think the SSR wheels are a bit played out, especially the GT3 wheels. I mean, I see them everywhere now. Don't get me wrong, wheel is absolutely amazing, but it's a common trend.

If you need some help in performance/wheels let me know since that's what I do.

 

 

Driving habits help A LOT.

Btw. You are NOT fast when you're spinning, just wasting good rubber.

 

-It's all about Control and Technic, If you already burn them tires like crazy, you difinately don't want lighter wheels. logic?
- 19 in wheels will come with a lower profile tires, better handling? sometimes this is not necessarily true. .02
- I think Mercedes should provide the 255 tires in rear instead of 245.
>>>Enjoy your C55<<<<

 

Gotta go 19's- these are on my E55 and weigh in nicely at 24 and 26 lbs (front and rear) which helped me reduce some unsprung weight versus the stock E55 wheels which weigh around 27 and 30 lbs. Your car will take the same size wheels but with a 235 and 265 tire setup.

Maya STM's 19x8.5 and 19x9.5:

 

DOPE RIDE!!! but, IMO 19's are too BIG and overwhlem the W203...taking away from the car itself......but looks perfect for your car...if I had an E, I'd go 19's too..... this is my philosophy: Entry level sedan/coupe (e.g. C-class, 3-series)=18's.....Mid-size(E-class, 5-series)=19's.......Big-size(S-class, 7-series)=dub's.....but then again, to each his own..

 

I can see your logic and I have seen many an 18 on a C class looking great. Its all about personal preference and to some extent performance issues. I have always liked 19's on smaller cars including my M3 and S4. I actually think 20's better suit the E class and I thought about it but they are just too heavy and I didnt want too much of a performance loss.

 

I would recommend taking a look at Work wheels. They are made very, very well and have quite a few choices to choose from. You can order with varying high disk/low disk options as well... check them out here:

http://www.work-wheels.co.jp/wheels/index/index.html

 

Wow! Those look awesome! Very very nice! They fit the car perfect. The car looks nice and clean 2!