BGTHEMOGUL

Anybody have a coupe on 20" wheels and stock height? Being my car is a lease I don't really want to lower it. Every picture I've seen so far of coupes on 20" wheels the car is lowered. I'm looking to get an idea of how the car looks not lowered with 20's on it. Anybody???

gavrocool

How do you think it will look?AWFUL.20's need for sure lowering.

BGTHEMOGUL

That's what I'm afraid of which is why I want to see some pictures. To go from the 18" stock AMG wheel to a 19" wheel won't make any real visual difference so not worth it.

threeMBs

I disagree. As long as 19" wheels you pick do not have lips, you will definetely benefit lookwise and handling wise.

I also disagree that going to 20" requires lowering. As a side note, I would not use 20s on a coupe (unlike sedan) as it will require tires with too short sidewall increasing possibilities of demage. This will also hurt accelaration (unless its 550).

Just my two cents.

BGTHEMOGUL

I went to the rim shop yesterday to look at wheels and they also had pictures of some E Coupe's they did on 20" wheels. There is way too much of a gap there without it being lowered. They did say they can run a different profile tire that they think would fix that problem and I'm going back tomorrow morning for a test fit. If that doesn't work then I guess I would consider 19" wheels. I just didn't think they would make a visible difference appearance wise which is my main reason for getting wheels. Why do you say to get a wheel WITHOUT a lip? To my understanding you have to go staggered with this car. You can still get a "flat faced" or "concave" style wheel but why do you recommend that style over a wheel with a lip?

threeMBs

Your main concern for not getting 19s is that it will not look much different than 18s.

Well, any time you're getting wheels with lips (especially when staggered with larger lips in the rear), these wheels normaly (very seldom there is an exception to this "rule") look an inch less than they realy are. That is because of lips, hence my comment.

And if you do go with 20s, then what your shop recommended is the way to go - larger than "sock" diameter tires (if they fit). I would assume 255/30-20 front & 285/25-20 rear, or 235/35-20 front 265/30-20 rear. Realy not sure if 245/35-20 will fit coupe's front, but if it does it would be ideal. Then you can safely run 275/30-20 rear. And NO lowering needed at all then.

gavrocool

Well done explanation from THREEMBS about wheels with or without lip.

gavrocool

BGTHEMOGUL i am feeling you want in fact 20's,but why don't you lower your car?Do you have a problem with that?It will look sportier.

BGTHEMOGUL

You must have not read any of my posts where I mention numerous times that the car is a lease and I don't want to get involved with lowering it.

BGTHEMOGUL

I understand what you're saying about the wheels with a "deep dish" staggered look looking smaller than they really are. I remember them saying it would be a 30 profile tire in the front and also a 30 profile tire in the rear instead of the normal 25 series in the rear they've used in the past. They have a new tire that is 30 series that they believe would work in the rear without any issue and help resolve the gap. So are you suggesting that even if I do go 20" that I should still get a wheel without a lip? Or only if I went the 19" route to achieve the different "appearance" that I'm going for?

threeMBs

Look it is very simple:

If you're going with 20s with wheel having lips (especially anything over 1/2 inch) then your wheels will look like 19s without lips.

If you're going with 19s with wheel having lips (especially anything over 1/2 inch) then your wheels will look like 18s stock (or even less as stock 5 spoke, not AMG, are all the way to the edge).

Keeping all above in mind (and especially that IMO there is no "right" tire choice for 20s) I went with 19", but no lips - flat face or concave in/out is all fine and is upto you.

For example:

This wheel in 19" looks bigger than most 20s on a coupe (in 20" it looks enormous) - I had this wheel in 20" and have seen it in 19", so I know what I'm talking about:

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Price

This wheel in 19" looks smaller than stock 18" 5-spoke (not AMG, AMGs look a bit smaler than stock 5-spokes, IMO) - I have/had both 19" and 20" of similar OZ Giotto, so here I also know what I'm talking about:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Price

Hope it helps.

BGTHEMOGUL

Picture of your car on your 19" wheels without lips?

threeMBs

I'm not into taking pictures, but even if I had one, IMO it would not have helped you - there are too many variables envolved - angle of a shot, lightning, shadows, etc.

Remember one thing. If you're going to 19", you will use 245/35-19 & 275/30-19, or even 255/35-19 & 285/30-19(it does fit with "right" offset).
In both cases new tire diameters will be larger then stock - your "gap" will be smaller than what it currently is for sure.

Small story.

Years ago when I was still "experimenting", I used to order several different wheels I liked mounted with different tire sizes I wanted to try at the same time from the Tire Rack. Then I would put each on a car to see the result. Did not drive car with them on - just "test" fit. Then what I did not like I sent back as tires were not driven on and I made sure wheels had no scratches. Obviously I was responsible for shipping both ways (10 or so years ago it was much less than what it is now) plus a small fee of I think $12 or so for them to dismount and clean each wheel. No picture will substitute seeing your specific car with different wheels (mounted with different tire sizes) on it to help you choose. Mostly because of this (and pricing of course), I buy my "shoes" exclusively at TTR for the last 15years or so. I'm sure you can do the same at your local wheel/tire shop if they realy want your business - you will need to pay more for labor for sure, but it still will be less than current shipping rates back and forth.

Good luck.

YYZ-E55

Be sure to check clearance between the tire and the strut. I tried to go with a taller profile on 19s and it wouldn't clear the strut (the lower spring perch).

threeMBs

This relates to front tire only, correct? What tire size was it? I assume 255/35-19, since 245/35-19 fits with pleanty of room? If 255, what brand/model, since spec differ brand to brand and model to model? Finally and most importantly, what was wheels' width and offset?

BGTHEMOGUL

threeMBs, sounds like you know a lot about wheels. Thanks for your input. Like I said earlier I'm going down there tomorrow so they can "test fit" a 20" wheel on the car with these new tires they mentioned that should help eliminate the gap. We'll see if that works.

threeMBs

Let us know.

gavrocool

I really do not understand your problem with the lease.I have a lease myself and i transformed the whole car.You won't ever do something nice to your car if you are worried about lease problems.In fact is your car.Trust me 20's without lowering is awful.Go for the 19's.

BGTHEMOGUL

You will have loads of work to do when your lease is up. Good luck!

gavrocool

flizzardo

hey i kinda see what u meant bro , i am actually thinking the exact same thing as u... I want to upgrade my rims (i find that 18 is too small) but i wouldt want to upgrade to 19 because i feel that the difference would not be that significant .. so i am thinking to go for 20 but the thing is i dont like lowering my car. so how does an e class coupe with a 20 look like without lowering? thanks

aa556919

This is my first time on here and saw your post. I just had 20in Vossen CV3 put on my car. They did not lower or do any modifications at all. Wheels fit perfect. Call Moonshadow in Dallas for any questions. They are great. Hope this helps.

chrisvr6

Yeah. Those cv3's made that car look like an offroad 4x4. Needs to be lowered a little.

miky2001

heres mine with 19 inch wheels.

FRONT WHEELS: 19 X 8.5" OFFSET 35.5MM.
245 35 R19

REAR WHEELS: 19 X 9.5" OFFSET 48MM.
285 30 R19

not lowered, no spacers, and no rubbing whatsoever

chrisvr6

Is that the only pic you have? Hard to see with it being black on black and at a weird angle.