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Picked up a 08 E350!! Stock 18's how wide can I go?
Hello,
Not new to MB but grabbed a E350 2008 with 50k on her. Loving this car so far.
Quick question, anyone know the widest tire size I can do on the sport 18s? I know they are staggered, but wanted to go a bit wider then the stock recommendation, unless someone knows about rubbing issues etc.
Just for the record, stock wheel sizes are as follows:
RWD Models: 18x8.5 with 245/40/18 fronts | 18x9 with 265/35/18 on the rears. 4-Matic Models: 18x8.5 all around with 245/40/18
As for the front, you can run 255 on an 8.5 wheel with a little bit of sidewall bulge, which is what I do as I have 255/35/18s on 18x8.5 all around. For the rears, you could go as wide as a 275 with a little bulge.
If you want "square" sidewalls then you have the perfect combination as it is, 245 front and 265 rear. 255 is the widest I'd recommend going in the front regardless of wheel size just because of rubbing. It is different for every tire manufacturer and tire out there, since tires are made to fit a range of wheel sizes and will conform to the wheel itself - within reason. Go outside the recommended spec and you may be stretched if the tire is too thin, or bulge anywhere from a little to a lot depending on how wide you go. But for 8.5 front 245 is the ideal, and for 9 rear 265 is ideal.
In the looks department, you might want to go wider with aftermarket wheels if that's your concern. If traction is an issue, which seeing as how you are on an E350 it probably isn't as much, then get a better tire. You also want to make sure you have adequate rubber up front in comparison to your rubber out back otherwise you will increase understeer since there is less grip out front.
Hope that helps.
Last edited by AMGAffalterbach; Oct 2, 2014 at 12:54 AM.
Admittedly mine are 19's however check my signature for wheel/tire sizes. Though factory alignment is fine for standard height I have negative camber set for front and rear due to car being lowered.
Thank you both of you! That was incredibly helpful. Thanks for the detailed responses. I'm thinking of going a bit wider in the back to get a little bulge, right now the tires I have on it aren't even squared they are "rounded inward" not sure how to explain it.
Yeah I would describe that as stretch, I would go with something like a 275! 285 would probably be pushing it I would recommend a 9.5 inch wide wheel for that. Beautiful car by the way, all of these black E-Classes are exactly what I like to see.
By going to a wider tire on the factory wheel, you will most likely jack up the odometer reading.
Your best bet is to do wheels/tires at one time. That's what I did.
????????????
What? A wider wire will NOT mess up the odometer reading, rolling diameter is what affects that, not width. Going to aftermarket wheels would have the same effect, if you change the rolling diameter. Granted, sidewall height is a percentage of width but I don't think odometer reading is something to worry about if you keep things within spec.
rolling diameter is what affects that, not width. Going to aftermarket wheels would have the same effect, if you change the rolling diameter. Granted, sidewall height is a percentage of width but I don't think odometer reading is something to worry about if you keep things within spec.
Changing to a wider tire on a the stock wheel affects the sidewall and will increase the miles put on the odometer.
OEM is set for a 265/35 series in the rear and going to a say, 275/35 or 285/35 will change the sidewall to a 38-41'ish series sidewall, which in turn gives the odometer a false reading on the miles.
Changing to a wider tire on a the stock wheel affects the sidewall and will increase the miles put on the odometer.
OEM is set for a 265/35 series in the rear and going to a say, 275/35 or 285/35 will change the sidewall to a 38-41'ish series sidewall, which in turn gives the odometer a false reading on the miles.
Why do you think I went to a 9.5 rear wheel?
But.. nobody uses the same sidewall height when they use wider tires.. if you were using 265/35, using 275s would mean you'd have to use a 30 sidewall instead of 35.. therefore when you increase width you don't increase over diameter, which means your odometer is fine.
Edit: Realized you might have mistaken the sidewall number to actually be a measurement number. It actually indicates the percentage of how wide your tire is. For example 245/45/18 indicates the width is 245mm and the sidewall is 45% of 245mm making the sidewall height 110.25mm tall. In order to keep your 110.25mm sidewall height while going wider to let's say 275 width, you'll need a 275/40/18 tire because 40% of 275mm = 110mm. 110.25mm is almost identical to 110mm so your odometer will be fine.
Edit again: Math.
Last edited by LemonSqueezy; Oct 2, 2014 at 04:02 PM.
But.. nobody uses the same sidewall height when they use wider tires.. if you were using 265/35, using 275s would mean you'd have to use a 30 sidewall instead of 35.. therefore when you increase width you don't increase over diameter, which means your odometer is fine.
Does any tire manufacturer make a 275/30/18? I have seen a 285/30/18. Even on a 285/30, the odometer variance would be -2.26%
There are multiple sites available for calculating the rolling diameter of the wheel and tire combo, or the circumference / pi. Generally, on staggered setups they're not exactly the same anyway and as long as you fall within a 1/10th of an inch of each other, 4-Matic won't have any issues. For rear wheel drive cars, similar guidelines would prevent odometer reading issues. It's best practice to go to a wider wheel but it can still be done otherwise.
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