Wheel offset question
08-07-2015 | 02:57 PM
#2
Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
2012 E550 Coupe
Are you considering a square set up on your car?
Both will fit the car, however, the fitment will not look great in the rear. Also, using 8.5 in the rear limits the tire width you can use and the E550 has traction issues with a narrower tire. The 19X8.5et40 is a good fitment for the front with a 245/35 tire. As for the rear, the highest recommended tire width on an 8.5 rim is 255.
Both will fit the car, however, the fitment will not look great in the rear. Also, using 8.5 in the rear limits the tire width you can use and the E550 has traction issues with a narrower tire. The 19X8.5et40 is a good fitment for the front with a 245/35 tire. As for the rear, the highest recommended tire width on an 8.5 rim is 255.
08-07-2015 | 03:49 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Are you considering a square set up on your car?
Both will fit the car, however, the fitment will not look great in the rear. Also, using 8.5 in the rear limits the tire width you can use and the E550 has traction issues with a narrower tire. The 19X8.5et40 is a good fitment for the front with a 245/35 tire. As for the rear, the highest recommended tire width on an 8.5 rim is 255.
Both will fit the car, however, the fitment will not look great in the rear. Also, using 8.5 in the rear limits the tire width you can use and the E550 has traction issues with a narrower tire. The 19X8.5et40 is a good fitment for the front with a 245/35 tire. As for the rear, the highest recommended tire width on an 8.5 rim is 255.
08-08-2015 | 05:04 PM
#4
Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
2012 E550 Coupe
There is a lot of information on the forum regarding offsets, widths and tire sizes ... it doesn't matter if your car is coupe or cabrio, 2011 or 2015 the wheel fitment has not seemed to change.
You will find there is no "ideal" fitment, each person will have different objectives when selecting wheels, some will select extreme fitments and others will settle for available offsets to stay OEM or use a particular wheel.
For me, I like to have my tire just inside the top fender so that there is no chance of rubbing when I have passengers in the back or a load in the trunk or hit a bump in the road and with the E550 I want good traction from a standing start [the torque tends to spin and chew up narrower tires]. Therefore, the "ideal" for me would be 19X8.5et35-245/35 up front and 19X9.5et42-275/30 in the rear.
I currently have 10" wheels on the rear of my car and love the concavity that a wider wheel permits but the 275/30 tire is a little stretched and doesn't provide as much protection for the rim as I might like. That is why I selected a 9.5" wheel as my "ideal".
A 285 in the rear would be great for traction but it is my understanding that the larger gap between front and rear tire width negatively affects handling. Having said that, there are a number of members that run 245/285 tires and seem to have no issue with the handling.
As I said, there is no "ideal" wheel, you have to decide what is most important to you first, whether it be ability to rotate tires, traction, handling, price, looks etc. and make your decision on the basis of your personal preferences.
You will find there is no "ideal" fitment, each person will have different objectives when selecting wheels, some will select extreme fitments and others will settle for available offsets to stay OEM or use a particular wheel.
For me, I like to have my tire just inside the top fender so that there is no chance of rubbing when I have passengers in the back or a load in the trunk or hit a bump in the road and with the E550 I want good traction from a standing start [the torque tends to spin and chew up narrower tires]. Therefore, the "ideal" for me would be 19X8.5et35-245/35 up front and 19X9.5et42-275/30 in the rear.
I currently have 10" wheels on the rear of my car and love the concavity that a wider wheel permits but the 275/30 tire is a little stretched and doesn't provide as much protection for the rim as I might like. That is why I selected a 9.5" wheel as my "ideal".
A 285 in the rear would be great for traction but it is my understanding that the larger gap between front and rear tire width negatively affects handling. Having said that, there are a number of members that run 245/285 tires and seem to have no issue with the handling.
As I said, there is no "ideal" wheel, you have to decide what is most important to you first, whether it be ability to rotate tires, traction, handling, price, looks etc. and make your decision on the basis of your personal preferences.
