CLK-Class (W208) 1998-2002: CLK 200, CLK 230K, CLK 320, CLK 430 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Help! What are the *widest* tires/wheels (18") that will fit W208 CLK w/no rubbing?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 04-21-2003, 02:07 PM
  #1  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
Improviz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,679
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CLS55 AMG
Help! What are the *widest* tires/wheels (18") that will fit W208 CLK w/no rubbing?

I desparately want to upsize, because I'm sick and tired of traction issues!!
Old 04-21-2003, 05:38 PM
  #2  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Ted Baldwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
300ce
.................235/18's in front and 275's rear


Ted
Old 04-21-2003, 07:51 PM
  #3  
Super Member
 
hinhin7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
MB
Ted: isn't 275 for the rear would be too tight?

Is it the same having 275 on 18in wheel and 275 on 19in wheel?
Old 04-21-2003, 10:04 PM
  #4  
Newbie
 
amgpowered's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2001 CLK55
I just ordered 18x9's from tire rack. When getting the tire sizes, I wanted to get 265's on the back, but they said their testing notes showed that there would be some rubbing in that size on the CLK55. Even though the car comes with rolled fenders from the factory. Plus in the forums a lot of other people complained over time that the larger rear tires rubbed when there were passengers in the back. So i ended up with the blessed 255's.
Old 04-22-2003, 02:31 AM
  #5  
Super Member
 
ndabunka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No longer car shopping...
Go to the tire and wheel forum

Ask this to Luke. He works for Tire Rack and knows these cars. I believe 265's don't rub on CLK55 but do on CLK430. Also depends on the mfg of the tire.

Last edited by ndabunka; 04-23-2003 at 01:46 AM.
Old 04-22-2003, 03:34 AM
  #6  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
LowRydeR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My 19x10 265 in the rear don't rub.

-Bruce
Old 04-22-2003, 04:07 AM
  #7  
Member
 
clk_klass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
02 clk320
Hey, Bruce do use any spacer for your rear?

it Look flush to fender. my 265-30-19 in rear too but it doesn't look flush like your..I like it flush to fender..

Last edited by clk_klass; 04-22-2003 at 04:18 AM.
Old 04-22-2003, 07:32 AM
  #8  
Newbie
 
amgpowered's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2001 CLK55
Lowryder - question / comment

Bruce,

You obviously dropped your car a lot, so did you do any mods to the fender? Yours didnt come factory rolled, so i am assuming you did something, and that will make your situation different than the CLK55 situation.

I would like to know from experience, not speculation if the 265x18's fit on someones factory CLK55, because there is more of a tire selection in that size. I really dont want to deal with rubbing noise when i get someone in the back. I had to cut the fender lips out of my last car because of this.

Bruce, additional question- Does your decklid spoiler attach to the underside of your trunk lid? And where did you get the upper spoiler?

Thanks
Old 04-22-2003, 07:48 AM
  #9  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Ted Baldwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
300ce
Ted: isn't 275 for the rear would be too tight?

..........It depends on the tire manufacturer and whether or not you lowered your car. I have 265/45/18's with 12mm spacer on 18x8.5 rims without rubbing except minimally when I have two passengers in the back seat which I hardly do. My tires are S-03's. However, I had the same rims and same size tires but wider spacers(15mm) with Toyo T1-S tires without rubbing even with two passengers in the back. In addition my car is lowered with Kleemann suspension. Therefore, in a non lowered CLK, you should be able to run 275's in TOYO tires without spacers with no rubbing. S-03's are the widest tires and it seems Toyo tires are the narrowest.

Ted
Old 04-22-2003, 07:59 AM
  #10  
Newbie
 
amgpowered's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2001 CLK55
Ted tire size????

Ted,

Do you mean 265/35-18 ? A 45 series would throw off your speedometer badly, and I couldnt find that tire size for sale.

Also, is your car a CLK55 or 430. The CLK55 is already an inch lower from what I understand. So the info would apply depending on how much you lowered your car.

Also, did your previous rubs occur on the inside of the tire or the outside? Why the spacers ?

Thanks,

Carl
Old 04-22-2003, 10:30 AM
  #11  
Almost a Member!
 
I6turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A key ingredient to figuring what wheel/tire will fit is knowing the offset of the factory wheels as well as the aftermarket ones in question. If you know the offsets, wheel width, and tire size you can use a ruler and a plumb line to make careful measurements and then calculate what will fit. I've done it on a few cars and it worked out within about .125" of calculated values. All the measuring and calculating takes a while though, so it might be easier to just find someone with exactly the same setup - wheels, tires, springs, etc. -- as you want to run.
Old 04-22-2003, 01:07 PM
  #12  
Super Member
 
hinhin7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
MB
amgpowered: Can you order a car with factory rolled fender? Did they just cut the inner fender and put some rubber?

I have a 19x8.5F ET 35 and 19x9.5R ET 35.
I have bought a set of Dunlop tires 235/35/19 and 265/30/19 and some spacers just in case if I need them.

I have a CLK 430 and will be equipped with H&R spring and Koni shock.

Any idea if this is going to work without any rubbing or I have to do some work.


Thanks,

Solihin
Old 04-22-2003, 02:00 PM
  #13  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Ted Baldwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
300ce
Do you mean 265/35-18 ? A 45 series would throw off your speedometer badly, and I couldnt find that tire size for sale

................sorry I run 235/40/18 in front and 265/35/18 in the rear


Ted
Old 04-22-2003, 04:31 PM
  #14  
Super Member
 
Lucas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just to make one thing clear, I do not work for Tire Rack.
Old 04-22-2003, 04:34 PM
  #15  
Super Member
 
Lucas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hinhin7

You will have no problem with your choice, we at Kleemann run exact the same sizes and no fender trim is needed, you can use a 6-8 mm spacer rear without trouble.
Old 04-22-2003, 05:48 PM
  #16  
Super Member
 
hinhin7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
MB
Thanks Lucas.

And for the guy that works at the Tire rack, I think he meant Luke



Solihin
Old 04-23-2003, 01:43 AM
  #17  
Super Member
 
ndabunka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No longer car shopping...
Oops

yes, i meant Luke. Sorry about the mis-type
Old 04-23-2003, 05:44 AM
  #18  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Ahmed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bahrain
Posts: 2,549
Received 161 Likes on 130 Posts
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
I have the following setup and NO RUBBING! If there's no one seated at the rear.

FRONT: 235/40 ZR18 Michelins Sport on 18x8.5 inch wheels
REAR: 265/35 ZR18 Michelins Sport on 18x9.5 inch wheels

I have also NOT rolled my fenders either.

I personally think the the rubbing i get ( only when person is seated at the back ) is due to the fact that my shock absorbers are standard. I have only replaced my springs with Eibach springs.
Old 04-23-2003, 03:53 PM
  #19  
Super Member
 
Lucas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It doesen't help much that most of you post wheel sizes, the offset is just as important.

WRITE OFFSET ......... there is a huge differense in a 9,5x18 ET 25
or an ET 40.
Old 04-23-2003, 06:22 PM
  #20  
Almost a Member!
 
Van_CLK430's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Vancouver B.C
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CLK430
Carlsson 2/5

I use 245 for front and 265 back and just some rubbing when i go out bumps and that's it...you can use a heat gun to melt the plastic (near) the fuel tank (NOT THE FUEL TANK) the rubbing will be gone.
Old 04-23-2003, 11:31 PM
  #21  
Super Member
 
hinhin7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
MB
Lucas, if you got the wrong offset, let say its bigger (supposedly you have to get 30mm offset, but you have 30mm offset wheels), shouldn't a 5mm spacer fix everything?


VAN_CLK: where did you feel the rubbing from? front or rear?


Thanks,


Solihin
Old 04-24-2003, 01:34 AM
  #22  
Super Member
 
Lucas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hinhin7

Look at your post again - I don't get it ?????

The higher the offset is, the more the wheels will go in.

The lower the offset is, the more they will go out.

So ET 25 is more out ( more problems with rubbing ) than 35.
Old 04-24-2003, 03:30 AM
  #23  
Almost a Member!
 
Van_CLK430's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Vancouver B.C
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CLK430
hinhin7

The rubbing is from the rear near the gas tank....
Old 04-24-2003, 03:52 AM
  #24  
Member
 
clk_klass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
02 clk320
How about this set up?

I have a 265-30-19 Rear with a 38 offset wheel. but its rubbing with passenger in the back seat, what if I add a H&R 10mm spacer will this solve the problem?.....and I have about 3/4 of an inch from the fender.......Thanks...

Last edited by clk_klass; 04-24-2003 at 03:56 AM.
Old 04-24-2003, 10:55 AM
  #25  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Ahmed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bahrain
Posts: 2,549
Received 161 Likes on 130 Posts
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
I dont think this is too low, I just need to replace my shocks. Do you guys agree? Will the rubbing go away if I replace with stiffer shocks?


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Help! What are the *widest* tires/wheels (18") that will fit W208 CLK w/no rubbing?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:55 PM.