wheel question on e420?!
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Member
Joined: May 2007
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From: Little Rock, Arkansas
1995 E 420
wheel question on e420?!
good day everyone! i know i'm goin with some 18 x 8 on my car (225/40/18) but i cant seem to decide on the offset? (heard of.. 30, 37, 38 but dont know whats correct) fenders are not rolled and would like to avoid that if possible..and the car is not lowered.. (will roll the fenders if i have to, and the car will probably get H & R and B sports) any thoughts and inputs would be great guys!! thanks everyone for their time in advance!!!
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Joined: May 2005
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
good day everyone! i know i'm goin with some 18 x 8 on my car (225/40/18) but i cant seem to decide on the offset? (heard of.. 30, 37, 38 but dont know whats correct) fenders are not rolled and would like to avoid that if possible..and the car is not lowered.. (will roll the fenders if i have to, and the car will probably get H & R and B sports) any thoughts and inputs would be great guys!! thanks everyone for their time in advance!!!
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 826
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From: Southeast PA
2010 VW Golf TDI
I have not been reading about this much recently, but I thought ET42 actually provided for the maximum tire size. As I remember there seemed to be more ET42 wheels set-ups in Europe, with many guys running AMG wheels that were 17" x 7.5" ET42 with 225/45/17 tires. With ET35 it seemed that guys in the US were mostly running 215/45/17 tires to avoid any rubbing.
I just have 16" x 7.5" ET37 with 205/55/16 tires and I can tell that the outside clearance is the issue. The problem is not the inner clearance, with my ET37. Even with my very modest +1 set-up, I had a little rub at the edge of the lower cladding at the front wheels when I had new Turanza LSH tires installed. Anyway, I think ET42 may be optimal.
If you don't have the lower plastic cladding, then you may be able to fit the 225 without rubbing even with ET35. Also, as you have read her I'm sure, there are guys running wider set-ups without rubbing. There seems to be some variability with fitting wider tires on different cars, just like experiences with lowering. I also think you should keep in mind that even though some get away with going bigger and you might also get away with it too, 17" x 7.5" ET42 with 225/45/17 tires may be the very best set-up for the W124.
I just have 16" x 7.5" ET37 with 205/55/16 tires and I can tell that the outside clearance is the issue. The problem is not the inner clearance, with my ET37. Even with my very modest +1 set-up, I had a little rub at the edge of the lower cladding at the front wheels when I had new Turanza LSH tires installed. Anyway, I think ET42 may be optimal.
If you don't have the lower plastic cladding, then you may be able to fit the 225 without rubbing even with ET35. Also, as you have read her I'm sure, there are guys running wider set-ups without rubbing. There seems to be some variability with fitting wider tires on different cars, just like experiences with lowering. I also think you should keep in mind that even though some get away with going bigger and you might also get away with it too, 17" x 7.5" ET42 with 225/45/17 tires may be the very best set-up for the W124.
