Adonis

Ok, lets clarify this once and for all. Will 20" wheels fit on my CLK? Which size will fit 20x8, 20x9, etc ? What fender modifications need to be made? Some people say they will fit on the rear with no problems, but i know you guys are the experts. Come on guys, make this work for me.

Petie

Dronellis has 20" rims on his CLK, so the answer is yes, takes some work, dont know how much, he will be able to tell you though....

waterford5301

That is my big question too. I am getting ready to get a new set of wheels for the summer and I want 20's but every website I've been to recommends 19's for the CLK. 19x8 will fit from what I am told. Plus I am lowering my car and I don't want the tires to rub when I turn.

I have been shopping wheels at www.superbuytires.com they have a HUGE selection!

Adonis

why did you give up your Z06? wasn't it faster than your 430?

Petie

uh, i would hope so, or something is terribly wrong...

fudger

Adonis, what aspect ratio do you have with 20" wheels? I have 18" with 40 front and 35 rear and I would not want to have less rubber from a practical point of view unless your roads are fantastically smooth.

For info, I tried 19" Kleemanns before opting for the 18's and they rubbed inside the wheel arch on turning. The fenders did not need rolling as the wheels have the correct offset.

From my experience, i'd say 19's were the limit on the W208.

Good luck with what you decide, the 20's do look great!!!!!!!!!

waterford5301

quote:
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Originally posted by Adonis
why did you give up your Z06? wasn't it faster than your 430?
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Don't get me wrong, I loved the Z06!! I still do, and I've always been a corvette guy. I got rid of it for the same reason millions of guys out there eventually get rid of their toys. I'm getting married, why else. Something had to go and I wasn't giving up my bike or boat so the Z06 is gone. One of the reasons I got the CLK430 is becasuse of it's performance. My fiance doesn't consider it a sports car (since it's a Mercedes). Little does she know it is one hell of a sports coupe!

Adonis

I know the feeling i had a '00 vette 6sp and my wife couldn't drive a stick. For my first two married years I never heard the end of that. She said i needed to drive something more family oriented , but oh how i miss the speed. She agreed we could get the 430 in a year or so , until then i'll just get used to driving the 320. .

Adonis

20" wheels make the CLK emerge as a vanquisher yet if problems begin to occur at the 19" level i can't begin to fathom how i will succeed with my resolve to fit 20's.

Roads aren't particularly smooth in Chicago.

a local tire dealer said that i could cut out part of the wheel well to make them fit but my concern is that the turning radius may not only rub the wheel well but internal motor parts eg: the drive shaft , etc.

what do you think?
did the rear tires rub on you?
did you lower the car?

lee2375

guys, i'd probably stick with 19s

fudger

Adonis, I don't beleive the front wheels would rub on any of the mechanics as the wheel diameter should not increase if you maintain the correct rolling diameter but saying that, can you get lower enough profiles to do this? This also assumes you check the offset does not take the wheel too far in.

My car has the Kleemann suspension set-up (dampers and springs) which does not take the car down too much to cause a problem. Kleemann must have worked out the correct combination of ride height + wheels + offset to make sure there are no issues. I would make sure that you consider the combination very carefully indeed if your mixing manufacturers components. I don't think Kleemann offer 20" wheels as an option on the W208.

The 19" wheels on the rear were fine by the way.

I went for 18" wheels and could have gone 19" at a push but I would not go 20" on the W208 on my roads with my car being used as a family car at weekends.

Good luck!

Jonathan.