ZEEK

Hey guys I just put on 19s on the w209 and Its fine. However, when I go over 70 miles per hour. The steering wheel shakes so much, I feel like my wheels are about to come off. Can someone please help and answer as to why this is happening? I just drove to NJ about 60 miles and need to drive back tonight. Anyone? Thanks in advance.

ZEEK

Also at about 60mph it does not shake so much.

Klinh

I hope your wheel is balanced, hope you didn't use spacer in the front and hope your wheel is not one of those wheel that required a hub centric "ring".

ZEEK

It did require a hub centric ring and I have those in place. Also no spacers. It did require shorter lugs. Which they are bolted on. Bit I do not understand why the steering would shake after 60 or 65mph? I'm so worried especially the other thread stating wheel fell off. Damn

ZEEK

Btw thanks for the reply klinh.

Klinh

My guess is the ring might have fallen off when they install the wheel or the ring is the wrong size. You always have to ask the installer to let you see first if it still there before they mount the wheel.

ZEEK

I got them installed and the rings were on the wheels. If for any reason the rings did fall off. What's the worst that can happen though?

discoduck

Wheels might be unbalanced.

How can they fall off when the wheel is on the car?

Mka77

I have seen them pinched and broken. It could be several things. Out of balance tire and wheel, or maybe a wheel weight fell off. This happens often. 1 oz. of weight misplaced on the wheel or missing can cause a severe vibration.

Defective tire... bad belt etc... centric ring wrong size or not in, wheel run out per manufacturer. Or something in the front end joints. Good luck with it

ZEEK

Thank you guys. To answer a few questions. The tires that were put on the wheels are brand new. And when I had my stock 17s I could drive up to 100mph and steering wouldn't shake a bit. I also noticed some noise coming out yesterday when driving on turns. Like something is touching something. From the fronts it was coming.
The reason I'm so worried about any wheel coming off because I have a pregnant wife and the last thing I want is the wheel coming off when she's in the car.

M-bENZ

what kind of CLK you have now ? U never mentioned it.

ZEEK

Hey Andy. I told you dude. Bought a 320 cab just for the summer to have fun lol. AMG is still on the hunt

M-bENZ

hahaah cool cool.

Glyn M Ruck

Some wheels require ball head lug bolts & some require tapered lug bolts. Are you sure you are using the correct bolts.

Klinh

Not all hub centric are the same sizes, thickness and material. My brand new slk wheel from Tire Rack came with hub centric ring that just fallen off when I remove the warning label that said the ring MUST install with wheel. The front ring is plastic that fallen off and the rear ring is aluminum that stuck inside the hub. It might have fallen off during the mount and balance of the tire and the installer might not even know it. He should just just check to make sure.,

CakeDaddy

goodness. so many posibilities

ZEEK

I checked the rings were on when the wheel was put on the hub. I made sure of that. Also if the wheel is on without the ring, after mounting it, while the car on the lift, wouldn't the wheel shake if you shook it? Because the ring is not with the wheel? I shook the wheels pretty hard after mounting them to make sure they are nice and tight.

As far as the bolts are concerned I just have the same bolts as stocks the only difference is that they are shorter. That's all.

Mka77

Valid point.

Glyn M Ruck

Stocks are ball head. Ask your wheel vendor what is required with your new wheels.

Glyn M Ruck

Also remember that taper & ball head come in different head sizes:

e.g.

R12 means Radius = 12mm (diameter = 24mm)
R13 means Radius = 13mm (diameter = 26mm)
R14 means Radius = 14mm (diameter = 28mm)

Klinh

No, once the lug nuts is tight. As for "ball" and "tapered" lugs nut. It could be possible due the the wrong lug nut head. But I'm still using oem "ball" head lug on an aftermarket "tapered" seat wheel with 3mm spacer and no vibration what so ever.

Glyn M Ruck

You got lucky - I've seen that crack a wheel due to the reduction in contact area.

raymond g-

check every bolt for proper size for the wheel
check for proper torque
check for proper balance

leave wife at home. run on freeway and as soon as you feel vibration, continue
for minute or two and then pull over quickly and inspect each tire sidewall for
possible failure. they may have weakness and belts will bulge out, leading to
imbalance. if allowed to cool down, the bulge may retract and all appear normal
and you'll overlook this possible ailment. shouldn't happen with new tires but
then again, stranger things have happened.

check suspension for wear at all wearable points. possible that realignment is
needed for new tires.

put the old wheels/tires back on until you resolve this.

ZEEK

I appreciate all the replies people. You guys are amazing.

Glyn, I have the ones on the left from your picture. I'm not sure about the thread on them. I'll check.

Also to update everyone. I had to drive to pa for work last night so I decided I'm gonna drive with these wheels on. It felt fine. And I decided to go about 70 then 75 then 80 mph. The steering did not shake. I was so pissed and happy at the same time. Because I want to know if there is a problem, not let it disappear.

The last time When it shook so much it was on a new road. That got me more confused because its a new road, it can't be that maybe the road could have been bad. But see the problem is. I work in PA and I'm here for the whole week. And there are hardly any shops around here and MB. God they told me that stock wheels are cracked when I just had vibration. I checked my stock wheels and they are fine. So I don't think I can take it to them.

I had just gotten a wheel alignment done like three weeks ago. Is it possible that I need a new wheel alignment again with the new wheels?

Can MB perform a wheel alignment with the aftermarket wheels on?

ZEEK

Also what do you guys mean by "tapered" wheel set?