gthal

My 2012 C63 AMG coupe is scheduled to arrive on December 23rd

BUT... I live in eastern Canada and weather is an issue. So, I decided to order a set of winter wheels and tires. After much agonizing and much searching, I ended up at Power Wheels. http://www.powerwheelspro.com/shop/


Obviously, these are inexpensive replicas but, hey, they are winter wheels so that works well. Here is my set up.


- Style 815 wheels (pic below) in an 18x8 ET 35 wheel
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 in a 225/40-18
- TPMS


My thought is that I can rotate them and if the wheels are damaged, no big deal as I can just replace it. Also, thinner tire is better in snow. I was worried about the offset but was told they would not rub and I confirmed with an online calculater that the front wheels are only extended 5mm and the rears only a little too.


Customer service from Deborah was amazing... very responsive and helpful. If you call them, definitely ask for her. Price was great ~$530 (I had them refinished so my actual cost was a little more). They have lots of sizes and styles that aren't on the website and a large shipment coming in 5 weeks (they are low on stock today).


As said, they are functional winter wheels but the look is great so might as well like how you look in winter!!

aznkuja328

et 35 is too wide for the rears

gthal

If you take into account an 8" wide rear wheel with an ET35, if only sticks out like 4 to 5 mm compared to the OEM ET 45/54 wheel.

I confirmed this with a wheel calculator and also with the vendor. Am I missing something? The narrower wheel width and tire make a difference to mitigate the low offset if I'm not mistaken.

16NiSSC350

That may be true, but you will have issues with your rear tire size. Don't you want more tire for your winter setup?

rage2

You want LESS tire for winter, helps cut through snow, slush and ice.

Pit-Pony

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out.

The USRims 430 is also nice but a bit pricier.

I have more time than you to execute this issue. :-)

..jack

gthal

Correct... in winter, skinnier is better. I will put 265/35 rears on the OEM wheels next summer but for winter, always go narrow for snow traction. Winter survival isn't about handling performance in dry weather... it's a compromise.

Also, this is the size recommended by Tire Rack for the C63 AMG and they know what they are talking about!! So... 225 in winter and 265 in summer

gthal

I'll let you know how the wheels work out this winter or if I have issues... might help you for next winter!

Pit-Pony

Thanks.

Any bites on the M3?

I just listed my Corvette on Kijiji last night and I already had 6 (419 type) scammers responding.

gthal

Just as a follow up on fitment, attached are two PDF documents from a great online tire/wheel calculator for the 18x8 ET 35 winter wheels versus OEM. The fronts are 5mm pushed out and rears are 4mm out compared to stock. Both should be well within a reasonable range to avoid any issues. Also, the 225/40 square setup is with 1%+/- of rolling speed to OEM... again perfectly in line I believe.

From a tire perspective, I could have gone with a tire that is more dry performance oriented... like a Pilot Alpin PA3... but my experience with those on my M3 is that they SUCK in icy, slushy, snowy winters. I need something that is slightly more bad weather oriented while maintaining a sporty winter character... hence the LM-60.

gthal

A couple of bites that weren't scams... about 10 scammers too

If I don't sell it privately, the dealership will do something with it.

Keithb

Nice looking wheel. Have you rec'd them yet? What did they ding you for shipping (and how did they ship w/r to duties etc).

I feel the same about winters, and have had BS LM22s in the past. I'm sure the LM60s will work well on nice CDN winter roads. At least that's probably the first thing I'll be looking for in a couple of weeks.

gthal

Shipping for the tires and wheels was $240. But you are in Ontario and they are in Michigan so it would be less for you. I haven't received them yet (just finished the order yesterday) so I don't know the scoop on duty yet.

Helms

sounds good!

grane

Why didn't you use 10/10 Tire since they are Canadian and have other options?

I'd put winter tires on the AMG rims and take the time to research a separate set of rims for your summer tires.

I would have waited and gotten some takeoff AMG wheels with proper offset since most folks like to customize their rides via wheels. several years ago I got a bargain on same via this Bb. Thank you!

I had some problems with Mandrus wheels and incorrect offset on my CL so I've avoided aftermarkets since. Offset is very important, especially on an AMG, as you go up the food chain. That being said there are some USA and probably Canadian machined wheels that are of very high quality since they are used on race cars. The best were the stock magnesium wheels on my late NSX. Strong and light, now I want titanium wheels

It's snowing here in CT and I'm looking for the orange RainX washer fluid! It's somewhere in the garage!

gthal

I wanted to use a square set up for winter. Did this with my M3 and it worked great. I'm not worried at all about the offsets (and I do understand the importance) because I get good clearance all around with these wheels. My logic for winter is inexpensive wheels that you don't worry about damage, narrow tires and square to allow rotation. Has worked well for me in the past.

callmiro

SL55 wheels with 235/40/18 fronts 255/40/18 rears Michelin Pilot Alpine PA2's ....awesome traction...

Especially since 80% of the time they are on there is no snow and the roads are clear

gthal

I had Pilot Alpin PA3 last winter and they were NOT fun in the slush, ice or wet snow. They were awesome on dry roads but scary in really bad weather. They did do well in light fluffy snow but we don't get much of that here. This year I went with something a little more "aggressive" for winter weather in the LM-60.

Richard2011

I don't see this wheel in 18x8 on their website, only 17x8.

ZephyrAMG

I always love that pic with the beast in the snow...

Callmiro, did you get her tinted??

gthal

That is because they are out of stock for a couple of weeks and I was told the website only shows what they have.

callmiro

Thanks Zephr!!!

Never got her tinted but always wanted to....

I'm hoping a 2012 5.5TT E63/CLS63 will be on my driveway in the springtime and tint will be the first mod (and the hidden radar detector

ZephyrAMG

That shot is sick too...

There is a CLS63 just sitting at the dealer by my place here and I drive by at night and just look through the window once in a while on my way home from being out. Love it.

What a killer price tag though....

callmiro

Totally...$110k+ is steep, so maybe we'll see some incentives in May/June to push some off the lots....

You can skip the $8K performance pack as the non-PP cars are making sick power with just a TUNE....11.30's!!!!

ZephyrAMG

I would love one but like I mentioned....it's the TITANIC. A HUGE beast. The interior is unreal. Yes the performance pack which puts it over $120K is killer and they are very rare.
Like you said, let's see if they have any incentives. From what I have heard, they are not necessarily sitting on lots very long also...