E55 wheels/tires and still not enough traction off the line!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
E55 wheels/tires and still not enough traction off the line!
Just slapped on a set of Continental 265/35zr/18 rear and 245/40zr/18 fronts.
Much better handling...cornering the CDI pulls more g's and breaks free more progressively than with the stock tires. You can really drift the car through the interstate on-ramp clovers at the brink yet with confidence. Before the little 16's would hang with it but then just surrender at the brink causing a loss of speed and lack of confidence.
Still have that pesky wheelspin from a stop. The ESP triangle stays solid if you try to drive away from a light in a hurry, even on dry clean pavement.
Anyone try a limited slip differential?
BTW....I have the Carlsson C-Tronic mod claiming 425 lb. ft. so this is a pretty nasty little diesel.
Ken
Much better handling...cornering the CDI pulls more g's and breaks free more progressively than with the stock tires. You can really drift the car through the interstate on-ramp clovers at the brink yet with confidence. Before the little 16's would hang with it but then just surrender at the brink causing a loss of speed and lack of confidence.
Still have that pesky wheelspin from a stop. The ESP triangle stays solid if you try to drive away from a light in a hurry, even on dry clean pavement.
Anyone try a limited slip differential?
BTW....I have the Carlsson C-Tronic mod claiming 425 lb. ft. so this is a pretty nasty little diesel.
Ken
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Lake Goodwin, WA
2005 E320 CDI, 1999 ML430
I would like to see some pictures of your car with that setup. Are you at the factory ride height? I’m thinking about going with almost the same setup but with 275 rears. I’m worried it will look odd on the CDI.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
Stock suspension, 1300 miles on rubber.
Will get pics. Car looks much better, I mean MUCH better, in my opinion.
Could use about 1/2" to 1" of drop to look better, but mine is non-airmatic so hardware is involved. I'm open if someone can recommend a good set of springs (interested in stiffer and lower. Front needs to stiffen up a lot, rear is almost OK as is).
Really, it just looks like an E55 without the body kit, if you went from a real E55 to this you would be disappointed. But going from a vanilla E320 to E55 wheels really sets the car off.
Ken
PS going to 275 rears you should be OK, might check:
http://www.ring-pinion.com/content/calculators/RPM.asp
A good calculator for tire height.
Could use about 1/2" to 1" of drop to look better, but mine is non-airmatic so hardware is involved. I'm open if someone can recommend a good set of springs (interested in stiffer and lower. Front needs to stiffen up a lot, rear is almost OK as is).
Really, it just looks like an E55 without the body kit, if you went from a real E55 to this you would be disappointed. But going from a vanilla E320 to E55 wheels really sets the car off.
Ken
PS going to 275 rears you should be OK, might check:
http://www.ring-pinion.com/content/calculators/RPM.asp
A good calculator for tire height.
Last edited by cdiken; Feb 23, 2006 at 09:35 PM.
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Lake Goodwin, WA
2005 E320 CDI, 1999 ML430
Thanks for the photo. If possible, post pictures from different angles this weekend in the daylight. It looks a little too high for my taste, but the photo is too dark to tell for sure.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
The CDI's dont have airmatic from what I know.
BTW the traction problem isnt the width of the tires, its the POS continental tires from the E55 that are your problem. When I had them on the E55, I could apply very little throttle and I would smoke them. They are rock hard for EPA gas mileage and have a very low rolling resistance.
Get some PS2's or some Pilot Sport A/S.
BTW the traction problem isnt the width of the tires, its the POS continental tires from the E55 that are your problem. When I had them on the E55, I could apply very little throttle and I would smoke them. They are rock hard for EPA gas mileage and have a very low rolling resistance.
Get some PS2's or some Pilot Sport A/S.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
Thanks for the tire recommendation.
Will have to ride the Conti's for now as they are brand new but will upgrade when they are worn.
Definitely looking to lower...the fender gap annoys me, its a tad too ghetto for my taste.
On a positive note, ride quality does not seem to have suffered a bit. I do notice more rolling resistance than with the 16's, you let off the gas and the car loses speed more quickly. Sad part is the car is probably actually slower now in terms of acceleration as the new wheels/tire are much heavier, a double penalty since it is wheel weight.
Cornering grip is leaps and bounds better.
Definitely looking to lower...the fender gap annoys me, its a tad too ghetto for my taste.
On a positive note, ride quality does not seem to have suffered a bit. I do notice more rolling resistance than with the 16's, you let off the gas and the car loses speed more quickly. Sad part is the car is probably actually slower now in terms of acceleration as the new wheels/tire are much heavier, a double penalty since it is wheel weight.
Cornering grip is leaps and bounds better.
