CLK320 spare wheel
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk, UK
2000 CLK55 AMG, 2000 CLK320 (being sold), 1999 Ford Cougar V6
CLK320 spare wheel
I'm replacing the alloys on my CLK320 (X/2000) with a set of the factory fit AMG alloys (front: HWA1704010102, rear: HWA1704010202). I was wondering what size spare wheel is supplied on CLKs that had these alloys fitted at the factory?
My current spare is one of the non-space saver gloss black wheels, fitted with a Pirelli P6000 (205/55/16), which I believe is the original wheel/tyre combination.
I'm assuming the spare supplied with the 17" AMG alloy set would be a 17" itself, with a profile closer to the actual alloys.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
My current spare is one of the non-space saver gloss black wheels, fitted with a Pirelli P6000 (205/55/16), which I believe is the original wheel/tyre combination.
I'm assuming the spare supplied with the 17" AMG alloy set would be a 17" itself, with a profile closer to the actual alloys.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
Question: is your new wheel set a staggered set up?
I recommend getting a full size spare. So whatever specs are on the front, get the same for the spare.
The spare that comes with the 17" AMG staggered set is the same size as the front.
I think I have the same wheels as you. If you're staggered, the spare rim should be the same specs as the front as the rear specs will not fit the front but the front specs will clear on the rear. So it would be 17x7.5 or whatever fits factory specs. On the 430 the spare tire is a 225. Rear tires are 245's and wont fit the front.
I recommend getting a full size spare. So whatever specs are on the front, get the same for the spare.
The spare that comes with the 17" AMG staggered set is the same size as the front.
I think I have the same wheels as you. If you're staggered, the spare rim should be the same specs as the front as the rear specs will not fit the front but the front specs will clear on the rear. So it would be 17x7.5 or whatever fits factory specs. On the 430 the spare tire is a 225. Rear tires are 245's and wont fit the front.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk, UK
2000 CLK55 AMG, 2000 CLK320 (being sold), 1999 Ford Cougar V6
Question: is your new wheel set a staggered set up?
I recommend getting a full size spare. So whatever specs are on the front, get the same for the spare.
The spare that comes with the 17" AMG staggered set is the same size as the front.
I think I have the same wheels as you. If you're staggered, the spare rim should be the same specs as the front as the rear specs will not fit the front but the front specs will clear on the rear. So it would be 17x7.5 or whatever fits factory specs. On the 430 the spare tire is a 225. Rear tires are 245's and wont fit the front.
I recommend getting a full size spare. So whatever specs are on the front, get the same for the spare.
The spare that comes with the 17" AMG staggered set is the same size as the front.
I think I have the same wheels as you. If you're staggered, the spare rim should be the same specs as the front as the rear specs will not fit the front but the front specs will clear on the rear. So it would be 17x7.5 or whatever fits factory specs. On the 430 the spare tire is a 225. Rear tires are 245's and wont fit the front.
I had thought that the 430 version was supplied with a 17" spare the same size as the front wheels, so thanks for confirming. Unfortunately the 17" spare is pretty elusive, there aren't any popping up on Ebay, and 430s are pretty rare in the breakage market.
I posted this question on a couple of other forums, and the answers I got explained that as the diameter/circumference of the 16" spare vs the 17" alloys is less than 1% different, the existing spare would be fine.
Obviously in an ideal world I'd have a 17" spare just for completeness, and if one appears for a reasonable price I'll grab it, but I'm not going to bust a nut over it if it's not essential.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
Nice to know you got it figured out!
In my opinion buying a 17" spare just to have it would be somewhat a waste of money. A quick search showed me that they run around $200. For that price I'd rather not buy the spare and, assuming that I blew a tire on a business day, would just take the rim off, go to a shop, have a new tire mounted, then just put it back on. Anywho good call just sticking with the 16"!
Haha also get ready for the extra cash you'll spend on tires having the staggered set up. What I mean is you'll go through them about twice as fast as a non staggered set up due to the fact that you can only flip them but not rotate them. Also maybe it's just the way I drive, or the v8's fault, but I go through 2-3 pairs of rear tires before I have to change the fronts. Fun stuff
In my opinion buying a 17" spare just to have it would be somewhat a waste of money. A quick search showed me that they run around $200. For that price I'd rather not buy the spare and, assuming that I blew a tire on a business day, would just take the rim off, go to a shop, have a new tire mounted, then just put it back on. Anywho good call just sticking with the 16"!
Haha also get ready for the extra cash you'll spend on tires having the staggered set up. What I mean is you'll go through them about twice as fast as a non staggered set up due to the fact that you can only flip them but not rotate them. Also maybe it's just the way I drive, or the v8's fault, but I go through 2-3 pairs of rear tires before I have to change the fronts. Fun stuff
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk, UK
2000 CLK55 AMG, 2000 CLK320 (being sold), 1999 Ford Cougar V6
I spoke to a Mercedes dealer earlier as I wanted some part prices, and they can't source a 17" spare at all, so I've officially written that idea off.
I'm going from a 2.5l V6 Ford Cougar to this CLK320, so I'm used to getting through a pair of tyres per year. I don't rotate my tyres as there seems to be conflicting advice both from industry professionals and enthusiasts about whether rotating tyres is good practice, I figured it was better not to bother.
Have you got any recommendations on tyre makes/models? I was considering either the Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110 (£410 a set), or Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 (£515 a set). I've heard good things about both, but the consensus seemed to be that the Goodyears are the absolute best tyre available for a CLK at the moment.
I'm going from a 2.5l V6 Ford Cougar to this CLK320, so I'm used to getting through a pair of tyres per year. I don't rotate my tyres as there seems to be conflicting advice both from industry professionals and enthusiasts about whether rotating tyres is good practice, I figured it was better not to bother.
Have you got any recommendations on tyre makes/models? I was considering either the Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110 (£410 a set), or Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 (£515 a set). I've heard good things about both, but the consensus seemed to be that the Goodyears are the absolute best tyre available for a CLK at the moment.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
I've only had two types of tires on my benz. I've also heard a lot of discussion about which tire is best for our cars. The tire I used to get all of the time was the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. They're great tires, just very soft and VERY expensive ($800-$1000 a set), and therefore not worth it.
Recently I've switched to the Sumitomo HTR Z II. A lot of people claim this is a terrible tire but for the money, I think it's the best deal. They're incredibly cheap. Even if they don't last, I can still go through two sets at less cost than one set of Michelin's. I havent had any problems with the Sumitomo's. I hear they're awful in rain though, but rain is just something I dont have to deal with in Arizona.
My point is that all of the tires on the market are remarkably similar. When purchasing tires your main factors should be weather conditions, price, and speed rating. So just make sure you get weather safe tires, make sure you get ZR speed rated tires, and after that just choose the ones that are the right price for you.
Recently I've switched to the Sumitomo HTR Z II. A lot of people claim this is a terrible tire but for the money, I think it's the best deal. They're incredibly cheap. Even if they don't last, I can still go through two sets at less cost than one set of Michelin's. I havent had any problems with the Sumitomo's. I hear they're awful in rain though, but rain is just something I dont have to deal with in Arizona.
My point is that all of the tires on the market are remarkably similar. When purchasing tires your main factors should be weather conditions, price, and speed rating. So just make sure you get weather safe tires, make sure you get ZR speed rated tires, and after that just choose the ones that are the right price for you.
