MBJIMBO

The new GLE apparently has a new lug size consisting of using a 15x1.25mm lug bolt.
Anyone seeking aftermarket wheels are going to need their wheels to be drilled to fit the OE bolts, or search the option of getting an aftermarket cone seat bolt.
Why Mercedes decided to change the lug bolts from 14mm doesn't really make much sense, but as Mercedes Now charges back customers on lease returns for cars without OE rims, and because they have expanded the AMG Wheel line, this is perhaps a way for them to keep the OE rims on the cars. At least for now.
The lineup will probably start going to this option on other models.

tery

Cone seat or ball seat ?
and from the other post it was stated M14x1.25 you say 15x1.25

MBJIMBO

Sorry, the OEM bolt is obviously Ball seat.
Most aftermarket wheels use a cone seat.

tery

Is it a M15 or m14 bolt ?

GregW / Oregon

Sorry, I did not check the diameter when I measured the threads. I will check mine when my wife brings the car back in about 4 hours. This is my other post; looks like a ball seat: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ml#post7762508

Ron.s

Thanks for the info. It’s going to be difficult to find aftermarket wheels for some of these anyway. I have looked at hundreds of wheels for weeks and so far haven’t found anything 20” that will work without spacers. I did not look at wheels much over $1000 each. et 44 is limited but very rare at et57 .
Edit-There are a few ugly wheels.....

tery

For M14x1.25 there are stud kit that convert from M14x1.25 to 1.5 thread if you wish to use some more regular lug nut or lock. This will open you up to put wheel spacer stud kit goes all the way up to 78mm in length. Because most M14x1.25 lug bolt is around 40mm the longest. Other wise you have to custom made wheel lug bolt which will run you around 300$ a set.

GregW / Oregon

Okay, confirmed - it is a 15mm diameter bolt, ball seat. I'm sure this was done from an engineering standpoint for more strength given how large and heavy the wheel/tire combos have gotten. Looking at the 20" wheels I saved off my ML for snows, I believe a simple drilling of the holes may work; the head still fits comfortably within the hole recess. All the pertinent dimensions follow:

tery

M15 is not a common size I guess there are no way you can find it on the market other than custom make one.

and it weird that MBUSA wheel lock option for v167 part number is the same as W166.

GregW / Oregon

I checked with the parts dept. and the new one obviously has a different part number.

tery

Thank you for the info, I guess it’s just the picture on the website it’s wrong. Can you let me know how many threads you think the stock bolt goes into the hub ? You think a 15mm spacer will bolt on ?

Ron.s

Tire Rack has removed the 20 p+ wheels they had for the 2020 GLE. I questioned them on the offsets being wrong a week ago.

tery

What offsets did tirerack had on their website ?

Ron.s

You might be thinking the same thing I was.....et 45ish wheels with 12 mm spacers in front. There may be some AM things show for wheels since the GLE sells a decent volume. They are making it tough with 1.25 threads and 15mm bolt.

GregW / Oregon

Clarification: I checked part no. for the stock lug bolt, not the locking ones.

GregW / Oregon

Soon you will see manufacturers catch up with wheel & bolt offerings as the model along with the forthcoming GLS gets more prevalent.

MBJIMBO

I found a source for conical seat 15x1.25 bolts, pm if needed, they have 28mm shank and 33mm shank black cone seat bolts for aftermarket wheels.
As far as wheel applications, not sure if I read some of the notes about ET45 with a spacer wrong??? But if the GLE has a ET57 stock, there is typically a 10-15mm offset difference that you could fit, obviously depending on the rim width and tire options, but you can usually factor this negative offset to fill out the fenders a bit more. But if you take an ET45 and add a 15mm spacer, you are moving the offset down to an ET30, which means the wheels will stick out even further. In the past I have spaced factory wheels 10-15mm to fill out the fenders with some of the factory AMG options, this is probably not an option for the new GLE till more lug bolts get supplied to the market.

In terms of aftermarket wheels from some select manufactures, if the GLE Stock has an 8.5 or 9.0 wheel with an ET57, a 8.5 or 9.0 with an ET45 should fit fine. If the aftermarket wheels are 9.5 and the stock one is not a 9.5, I would be cautious and test fit, there might be some suspension issues on the inside that could limit the rim width.

I know for years since the W163, a 20x9.5 has fit these model SUV's, but some changes with the new model could pose an issue, like the new lug bolts being 15x1.25.
Hope this info helps.

tery

I know two manufacturers can custom make you a set of titanium M15x1.25 lug bolts in cone or ball seat. Depends on the length it can run you from 299 to 550

GregW / Oregon

Here is an excellent tool for comparing different rims & tires: http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

I intend to use the 20" wheels off of my W166 for Winter tires. They have these specs compared to the 21s on my GLE:





Here is the comparison using the online tool. The fronts (left chart) are very close and actually have the exact same specs as the 'RZV' 20s on the GLE. The rears should work fine in terms of clearance but the outer face will be tucked in about 1" further (1/2" compared to the RZV 20s), so could benefit from 12mm spacers.

GregW / Oregon

I am working with US Wheel Adapters to come up with a spacer fitment for this vehicle that would allow for a 57mm offset wheel (like from the W166) to be used in the rear (12mm spacer). They were unaware of the new lug bolt spec. I need to verify the bolt circle and hub diameter are still the same.

tery

I hope it’s still 66.6mm hub bore and 5x112

MBJIMBO

PCD and hub bore are the same, actually 66.56 c/b.
The lug bolts for some reason have moved to this 15x1.25 thread pitch which for aftermarket wheel guys this is a bit of a inconvenience as most aftermarket wheels are machined for Conical lug seat, so this was the purpose for this thread as some people might be quick to order up wheels and then not be able to put them on due to no bolts in the market.
I have a supplier that did spend the money to air freight in some lugs, so for those aftermarket wheel companies needing bolts, adding $200 for lugs was reasonable since there is nothing in the states here for this application. Gotta pay to play I guess!

GregW / Oregon

Getting extended lugs for spacers will be harder. Let us know if you hear of a source.

MBJIMBO

Probably will be sometime before an aftermarket Ball seat bolt is available. Another option is working with a Aftermarket wheel supplier that can provide their wheels to accept the OE bolts.
I know companies like AG Luxury/Avant Garde have drilled some of their flowform cast wheels to work with OEM bolts, this might be an option too.

GregW / Oregon

As I previously mentioned, my goal was to adapt W166 wheels to use as Winters. Drilling out the lug holes is pretty straightforward, but the rears could really use 12mm spacer to be optimum fit.