Thanks for looking. This will be my first winter with the GL550 - last winter I used my ML55. I know the OEM rims/tires are garbage in the snow - I wanted to find something more beefy - similar to this picture (not as aggressive). I'm having a hell of a time finding smaller RIMS - any suggestions?

Smaller diameter rims may be limited to your brake caliper size, but I am not certain.

This can help : https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...-see-link.html

Thanks. I'm looking for smaller rims, bigger tires. 20" + snow is not good.

Erik

I am using the original 19" with 265/55r19 Pirelli Ice&Snow V rated tyre, so no speed limiter required. We have moved from UK to Switzerland and those perform quite well. Just noticed that Nokian now has 275/55r19 with V rating, so that will be my next choice for winter tyres.

The smallest rim that was fitted on GL was 18", but I'm yest to see one with those.

Look for GL 450 18" rims on eBay for snow wheels and I like the conti LX20 all season tires. Good luck!
http://www.continentaltire.com/produ...5560r19-109h/?
The link above is the the 19" tires I run all yearlong.

I purchased New Rims and Tires for my 2010 E350 at One Price tire and the price was almost 1/2 what a dealer wanted and my rims look just like a 2015 E350 and have been complimented on how they look! I purchased the Bridgestone Blizzaks and the car drove like a tank in 8" of snow and handles great on dry payment with low noise! Studs are available also in your local zoning if applicable. Go to One Price and look what they have for your GL. I did I am quite happy! I also got the warranty replacement and free rotation and mounting each winter. This also is an addition to the rim and tire replacement I purchased for my CPO back in October.

I wanted to ask a question as well as this will be the first Winter with our new 2012 GL350. The 20" run-flats are supposedly horrible in the snow (we live in Chicago), so I wanted to get a Winter set-up for my wife.

I purchased a set of mint 18" OEM Mercedes wheels from a 2009 GL450 for $360 that still have some tread on them.

I'm either going to purchase Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2s or Nokian Hakkapiliitta R2s. My question is, which size should I get:
• 255/65r18 (0.7%)
• 265/60r18 (1.0%)
• 275/60r18 (0.5%)

All three keep me at 1% or less difference diameter and revs. Some say that the thinner tire is better in winter because of the increased pressure, but now some seem to say that stock width is better.

Just wanted to see your opinions as I am planning to purchase the tires in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers,
J

Narrower gives more pounds per square inch of ground pressure but then you give up contact patch.

It's six one way, half dozen the other.

Other than looks and dry traction (hard cornering, hard braking, etc), the thinner tire is better in snow as it will "dig down" better. Wide tires are for sand and mud where you want to float on top.

Thank to both of you. The mindset of the thinner tires seems to be changing, which is why I was asking the question.

I decided to go the middle of the road with 265/60r18. We'll see how they function.

Cheers

It all comes down to physics... and that does NOT change. There's no way that "all of a sudden" wider tires are better in the snow. At least not when we're talking about snow on streets. Trust your gut - it's good you asked before listening to someone say that wider tires are all of a sudden "magically" better.

Wider is better if the snow is deeper than the axels. At that point, you want to run on top of the snow to avoid being high centered.