Jun 5, 2015, 06:55 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
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New E Class (W211) Picture Thread
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 49
Likes: 9
From: DMV
'07 E350 4matic Sedan
Looks very nice, but I would not put staggered wheels on my 4matic as it can cause serious issues with your AWD. There have been many discussion threads on this and it seems like transmission type, difference in size, etc. all play a role. But a 50 mm tire difference does not sound like a good plan on a 4matic IMO.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
W211
Looks very nice, but I would not put staggered wheels on my 4matic as it can cause serious issues with your AWD. There have been many discussion threads on this and it seems like transmission type, difference in size, etc. all play a role. But a 50 mm tire difference does not sound like a good plan on a 4matic IMO.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 49
Likes: 9
From: DMV
'07 E350 4matic Sedan
Oh I've read that people do it and "have no problems". But engineering wise I'm talking about the fact that the transfer case on w211 is designed to distribute torque to 4 equal sized tires. When one tire is 50 mm larger the least that will happen is increased understeer. However more worrying is the added significant strain on both the transmission and transfer case over a longer period of time.
Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 208
Likes: 46
2012 E350 4Matic
It's not so much the diameter, but the circumference and revolutions per mile that you have to be concerned with when running staggered wheels on a 4Matic. Even for the same sized tires, the revs per mile can vary between brand and model of tire so you have to pay close attention to the spec sheets for the individual tires. The width of the tire doesn't make a difference as far as the AWD system is concerned.
Since you can't rotate the tires front to back, you'll have to replace them sooner than normal due to increased wear. Tire wear affects the circumference and revs per mile of the tire, so if the tires on one axle are wearing much faster than the others you'll have to replace all four.
Mercedes has been selling 4Matic cars with staggered setups for a while. Some sport package C classes I believe come with 245/40/18 F and 265/35/18 R. There's a 2% difference in revs per mile front to back with that setup. I run 245/40/18 F and 275/35/18 R which are much better matched, less than 1% difference.
Since you can't rotate the tires front to back, you'll have to replace them sooner than normal due to increased wear. Tire wear affects the circumference and revs per mile of the tire, so if the tires on one axle are wearing much faster than the others you'll have to replace all four.
Mercedes has been selling 4Matic cars with staggered setups for a while. Some sport package C classes I believe come with 245/40/18 F and 265/35/18 R. There's a 2% difference in revs per mile front to back with that setup. I run 245/40/18 F and 275/35/18 R which are much better matched, less than 1% difference.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 400
From: Merkville the galaxy of Stars
'99 CLK/05 E500 WAG
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 400
From: Merkville the galaxy of Stars
'99 CLK/05 E500 WAG
