I have a 1998 E300D with the 18 inch AMG wheels. I bought it last year with tires that were too big and rubbed when I went over bumps so I replaced them with a pair of 235/40-18 which I had read on this forum should work. The rubbing was greatly reduced but if I have more than 2 people in the car it still rubs against the passenger side fender over large bumps.

The car has 189k miles on it. Are the tires still too big or is there something else wrong that I am missing? The winter tires in normal 16 inch size don't rub at all.

Thanks!

 

is the offset for the front wheels 31, and 8.5" by any chance? if so, that,
along with the low offset places the tire way too close to the fender lip.

you may need to roll the fender to compensate for this ($80 done yourself
or about $200+ done commercially). the other option is to consider narrower
tires. if you've lowered your car, this will exacerbate the problem.

by comparison, I have 99 E320. I lowered 1.25", AMG 211 rims, ET31 and
245/40. they rubbed. I rolled the fender lip but still a problem. I increase
to #4 spring pads and Bilstein HDs but still rubbing. I then dropped down to
225/40, skipping over 235 given the lowered body, compensating for settling,
etc. Bilstein Sports, and now with #1 pads.

the above steps and progression were done with eye on least amount of $

i'm almost happy now.

 

I believe the wheels are from the AMG E55 model with the staggered 18" wheels. What is their offset?

I have a stock suspension.

My rears are 275/35-18. If I go to 225/40 in front won't that drop the ride height in the front? I don't want my rear to be sticking up in the air.

 

E55: 18 x 8” ET31 front, 18 x 9” ET35 rear with factory rolled fenders.
ohlord

 

Maybe I should just be looking at rolling the fenders, again... I didn't want to do it, but the thought of 225 wide tires on 8" rims sounds way to stretched.

 

will fit fine on any rim from 7.5-9 inches.But you would only be gaining 5mm on the outside and 5mm on the inside.Where are they making contact?You do not state front or rear.Check the et number stamped on the rim and post front and rear values.
ohlord

 

because you have that big *** 275 in the rear...and feel compelled to keep that,
you lock yourself into staying with the 235/40 to stay within acceptable
rolling range between front and rear tires.

you really dont leave yourself much choice but to roll the fender lip. examine
your lip now. if you rolled the lip flat, that should give you another .125-.25"
clearance.

now look at the rubbing marks on tire. does it indicate that this amount of relief
(after fender lip rolling) will resolve the rubbing? gauge what relief is needed

you also have another choice. if you're not one to obsess with the tire-to-
fender gap, you can consider this <$30 mod: swapping out spring pads to next
larger pad. this will give you vertical space of 4mm. if your car has stock
spring pads, chances are good that they'll be #3. this still leaves you with
option to go with #4 or #5 (4mm more with each step).

you can go with stiffer springs. you can find spring spacers....little metal
nubs which you squeeze in between the spring coil to keep them from
compressing. this is a old hot rod, ghetto trick and would cost a few dollars.
never used them myself. ohlord ? [ see attachment ]

225 is the smallest you should put on an 8" rim.

 

you are making me feel old
those spacers were last used on a 60's hot rod we owned
ohlord