dan212

I was thinking of change from 17 inch AMG to 18 inch AMG's on my CLK550. The larger AMG wheels - according to factory spec - will give me 255 rears instead of 245's. The front wheels stay 225 according to factory spec. I am burning rubber on launch so I think wider rears should help, but that is not my sole reason. This is for performance only and not looks. The car fish tails under hard full throttle at launch or on slow corners.

questions:

Will the change to larger diameter wheels improve handling? How? Their may be a slight change in wheel weight - depends on the wheel I choose

Will the slightly wider rears in addition to the additional rubber from the change from 17 to 18 improve wheel spin?

SHOULD I be looking to increase front tires from 225 to 235? Won't that effect steering?

I don't want to cram the largest tires possible under the car for the sake of looks. I only want to improve handling. A slight change in ride comfort is OK.

Should I go to 19's or is this more for looks?

What are the negatives? Trying to understand the physics.

- dan

ItalianStallion

I changed my wheels from the stock AMGs to 19" bremmas with 9.5" in the back on 265's. Much less wheel spin. As far as handling, I think the 17" AMGs may have handled a little better but the wheelspin was annoying, and so was the look.

Red,

https://www.americastire.com/learn/tire-size-calculator

265 / 40 - 17" is only 0.04" taller than 265 / 35 - 18"

0zranvest

Regarding wheels/ tires, most posters in "tire/wheel fitment" run front 225/40-18 and rear 265/35-18. Factory 18" wheels have 32 offset front and I believe 35 offset rear.

Nick_h

I’m running 235/35ZR19 front and 265/30ZR19 in the back. Makes for much better launches as wheel spin is easier to control. Also looks much better

nkx1

265 works in the back for stock 18's? Good to know! I'll do that next time. I'd prefer 19's, but I'm too cheap to buy them.

ambit

I think he figured it out 13 years ago.

nkx1

If you were replying to me, I was referring to the post made yesterday.

0zranvest

Yes, 265/35-18 will fit in rear without issues on 35ET offset rims. On my 2007 clk550 , the rear wheel well felt liner had "curled" and rubbed the 265 tire. I pushed the felt liner edges down using 3/4" self tapping sheet metal screws with washers. Took about 5 mins to install the 4 sheetmetal screws.

Audi Junkie

I think I'm using 235/40/17 in front. It's cushier.