danielemccabe

ok, the guys at mercedes are not stupid, nor are the AMG guys. According to the specs from MB and AMG the rear tires sizes for the 16 spoke AMG wheels are 255/30. i get going up +1 in the front to close the gap a little. I even get going up +1 for the rears so they look better. But my concern is this. Do the 275s feel splashy compared to the 255s or the 265s? If the 275s were really that great, i would think that MB or AMG would have at least been close to that size.

Has any of you out there with the 16 spoke AMG 19s switched from the 255s to the 265s, or the 265s to the 275s and can speak to the difference in handling? I'm worried about a splashy vague feeling if I go too large. I'm getting my car back from my Euro delivery in 3 weeks (i hope) and my 19s are in, and I have to order my tires. I think I've decided on the 265s, but I'm still on the fence. By the way I'm getting the Michilin PS2s, they are expensive, but they are simply the best tires out there in the dry (and my car may never seen the rain again)

My thought is that MB and AMG is being conservative with the 255s, but if the bigger tires are going to perform better, why wouldn't MB want that? Further, if the bigger tires LOOK better, why wouldn't MB want to use them? There has GOT to be a reason.

your thoughts are welcomed and invited.

mr inkredibul

Hmm I think your reasoning has some flaws. For example I think most of us would agree that lowered cars look better and perform better, but MB didn't do that did they?

chino1031

I have the 16 multi-spoke amg wheels and i have my car lowered with 265/30/19 in the rear. Im getting ready to order 275/30/19 Nitto NT05s now. My only fear is that it may be to wide and get the rubbing issue. I dont have any rubbing issue now with the 265's. Does anyone know if with 275's my car will rub ?

danielemccabe

i agree with your assessment of MB and lowering the cars. But i think they don't lower their cars because of the inherent problems that are possible- rubbing, bottoming out, etc. Not that my lowered C32 does these things, but they are possible. hell i don't know. maybe i should get the 275s.

Sincity

Perhaps noise? A 275 means wider contact patch = more noise. Dunno....just putting it out there.

1st amg

As i have posted on one fo your similar threads regarding this same issue, the 265 have worked for me and am a bit reluctant to go one more size up. Safer than sorry is my attitude for now.

wadgras44

There are two (perhaps competing) issues to consider beyond performance

1. aesthetics - a 255 tire on a 9" rim will certainly look more "low profile" than a 265 or 275 with the same sidewall profile. so going bigger will provide a beefier appearance. not sure if this was one of Merc / AMG's drivers.

2. comfort / rim protection - my entire car almost fell in pothole the other day and I'd imagine it's the same by you in Chester county. to this end, my 18's have been getting brutalized. so it's only going to be worse for you and your 19's w/ the lower sidewall profile. that said, I'd try to slap as much rubber on those puppies as possible to protect the wheel / your butt.

good luck. and I hope to join the 19' v-spoke club this summer.

benyl

From a lowering standpoint, not everyone lives in California. At the current height, the car is already a snow plow here in Calgary. I can't imagine the areas in Europe where they get even more snow than we do.

The other issue might be approach and break over angles. Especially in Southern Cali where the side walks are sometime HUGE due to storm drains, etc.

I have no idea why MB decided to go with 255. That isn't my beef. Mine is the huge offset required. It's as bad as Japanese cars.

Are high offset wheels easier on bearings?

Even Money

It's like I'm still driving my STi, the offset was about 55. As for the bearings, I think you're right. That's one reason you shouldn't go much lower on the offset as it increases the moment arm and load on the bearings, besides rubbing up against the fender.

nrgy

Maybe they simply did it because of cost? Or they just wanted the C63 to perform at a certain level, but not go beyond that? In any event, like 1st amg said I too am running 235/35 and 265/30 front and back and have had 0 issues, even being lowered. If you want to play it safe, go with these sizes, although at stock ride height I think you would be fine with 245 and 275.

Also, I would have to disagree with the PS2's being the best tire. In fact I think there are a lot of alternatives that perform as well or better, in particular the Bridgestone RE-11s. Or you could step up to a R compound and try the Corsa or Cup tires

propain

Lowering the car. The clearance on this car is bad enough. Lowering it from the factory would mean many people destroying their front ends on curbs and parking space bumpers.

Wider tires probably translate to worse gas mileage. Also on the twisties im sure the 255's perform better than the 265 and 275.

For me as a daily driver. Dont lower it, but give me some 275's so I can at least get some straight line traction.

alqamzi

Going to 265 or 275 does it effect the performance of the car?

MNL ICE

I'll get the cheapers ones..good or bad it doesnt matter coz these tires wont last on a V8....

gsrjc

I just got my AMG 16 spoke wheels and chose to run 235 in the front and 265 in the rear. i can update you when it gets warmer and i put the rims on the car.

Merc63

I've ran 265 and 275 in the rear on the 19s.

The 265 tire was a Hooiser racing tire with a treadwear of 40, the 275 was a sport summer tire with a treadwear of 340.

Obviously the Hooiser 265 hooked up better because it was a soft compound racing tire. I was using it for drag racing and launching. Once heated up, it grabbed awesome.

The 275 spun a lot more then the Hooiser because of the hard compound, but also lasted many many times longer.

Handling between the 2, hard to say because one was softer then the other but seemed about the same. When the hooiser 265 were cold, they would spin like crazyy and the back end was all over the place.

Id get the 275, I don't see how it would effect anything. Maybe its a tiny bit heavier, but meh this is street driving. Im sure you get more traction from the larger foot print.

danielemccabe

i love this forum. the guys from philly call me out on my county. i need to get together with the otherr C63 owners when i get mine. it's been 3 weeks, and i'm going through full withdraw. i've already spent over 2K on stuff for the car, and I don't even have the car back. in fact the my dealer isn't even tracking it yet. VIM, AMG door pins, tires, etc.

thanks for those of you who answered my other thread. i think the 265s are the safe bet. i think the 275s will look a little better, but the 265s will probably perform a little better.

here's what i've come up with. i'm going to drive this car so hard, that i'll probably get about 8K for each rear tire. so i'll get the 265s first, blast through them with all my burnouts, then buy the 275s and tell the forum the official difference.

don't know why you guys are against the PS2s. i know they are expensive, but it's only becuase they are the best. i've driven Nittos, Goodyears, Pirellis and Bridgestones, and the only the only tire that ever came close was the goodyear GS-D3s. however, i felt like i should be driving a vette when i had those. i got tired of the daignal tread, and i was always worried someone would ask....."damn, i got deez on my chevy!"