That's great 
20" OEM wheels for W212 E550 4matic
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 65
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From: NW Florida
2012 E550
20" OEM wheels for W212 E550 4matic
Hello all. I am new to the platform and wondering if anyone has put some 20" wheels from another model successfully on their 4-matic E550? Kind of weary of a staggered setup because of the 4-matic, but open to success stories. Thanks.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
different model family Mercedes have different offsets.
I would stick with the factory wheels on your 550, probably 18", as they are what it was engineered to use. 20" are just too big for 212's and would require /30 tires which would be harsh and brutal on anything other than a glassy smooth racetrack.
I would stick with the factory wheels on your 550, probably 18", as they are what it was engineered to use. 20" are just too big for 212's and would require /30 tires which would be harsh and brutal on anything other than a glassy smooth racetrack.
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Joined: May 2018
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From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
I think there is a lot of success story for bigger diameter wheels like 20" in lieu of standard typical 18" wheel.
However the success is : how to successfully bend and crack those wheels faster than usual.
The other success seems to be : how to successfully make a good decent ride to be very harsh in a blink
Whatever rocks one's boat is OK, after all it is your car & $$,
But good advice when asked and replied by many who has logged enough miles and years of ownership on their W212 cars are almost always : DON'T go 20", don't even go 19" if possible.
With say standard set up 18" and 245 wide at 40 AR, the tire side wall height is already "thin" at 98mm going down to 74mm if 20" with same tire/wheel 245 width.
Tire side wall will be 24mm lower/thinner or 1 inch. Overall 20" diameter of tire increase by 2mm over 18" version.
If you like thin sidewall look of a 20" rim, but prone to bending your 20" wheels mind you, you can do this safe set up :
Front & rear 245/30-20" ET48, 8.5J : Diameter of tire increase by 2mm over 18" version, side wall thinner/lower by 24mm.
If rear is to be wider wheels, I can't comment on 4-matic sensitivity to differences of rear vs front wheels overall diameter as I am on a RWD car, but originally a staggered one.
However, in theory:
The smaller diameter wheel IF 4-matic IS INDEED a permanent 4 wheel drive system, the smaller diameter will drag the wider diameter, in theory.
If the smaller wheel diameter is at the front, you may short lived the front drive system as this not-so-strong drive system have to drag the rear drive system.
Info on other AWD system DO and DON'T, Very sensitive even to tire thread wear...WOW.
https://www.souzastireservice.com/Ti...tching-AWD-4WD
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=18
Happy shopping.....
However the success is : how to successfully bend and crack those wheels faster than usual.
The other success seems to be : how to successfully make a good decent ride to be very harsh in a blink
Whatever rocks one's boat is OK, after all it is your car & $$,
But good advice when asked and replied by many who has logged enough miles and years of ownership on their W212 cars are almost always : DON'T go 20", don't even go 19" if possible.
With say standard set up 18" and 245 wide at 40 AR, the tire side wall height is already "thin" at 98mm going down to 74mm if 20" with same tire/wheel 245 width.
Tire side wall will be 24mm lower/thinner or 1 inch. Overall 20" diameter of tire increase by 2mm over 18" version.
If you like thin sidewall look of a 20" rim, but prone to bending your 20" wheels mind you, you can do this safe set up :
Front & rear 245/30-20" ET48, 8.5J : Diameter of tire increase by 2mm over 18" version, side wall thinner/lower by 24mm.
If rear is to be wider wheels, I can't comment on 4-matic sensitivity to differences of rear vs front wheels overall diameter as I am on a RWD car, but originally a staggered one.
However, in theory:
The smaller diameter wheel IF 4-matic IS INDEED a permanent 4 wheel drive system, the smaller diameter will drag the wider diameter, in theory.
If the smaller wheel diameter is at the front, you may short lived the front drive system as this not-so-strong drive system have to drag the rear drive system.
Info on other AWD system DO and DON'T, Very sensitive even to tire thread wear...WOW.
https://www.souzastireservice.com/Ti...tching-AWD-4WD
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=18
Happy shopping.....
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I would only point that MB 4-Matic system is using split torque on their transfer cases. Depends on the model, it can be as far as 30% front, 70% rear. That should offset the phenomena?
I am too practical to pay for staggered wheels, but the 4M I used to drive gave be more even tire wear, than RWD vehicles. MB makes negative camber on rear wheels, what I concluded is design for hard cornering, yet with all those grandpas on US roads that leads to uneven tire wear.
4M suspension is adjusted for higher clearance, what makes neutral camber.
Anyway, I am tempted to ask the neighbor to give me a ride in this Cadilac on rims.
I am too practical to pay for staggered wheels, but the 4M I used to drive gave be more even tire wear, than RWD vehicles. MB makes negative camber on rear wheels, what I concluded is design for hard cornering, yet with all those grandpas on US roads that leads to uneven tire wear.
4M suspension is adjusted for higher clearance, what makes neutral camber.
Anyway, I am tempted to ask the neighbor to give me a ride in this Cadilac on rims.
Last edited by kajtek1; Jan 14, 2023 at 09:20 AM.
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