GLK-Class (X204) Produced 2008-2014

255/45-20 tires on GLK?

Old Mar 30, 2025 | 04:06 PM
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255/45-20 tires on GLK?

Anyone running 255/45/20 on their GLK?

Any rubbing issues?

How is the ride/acceleration? Heavier?

Do you have any photos??
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Old Mar 31, 2025 | 02:20 PM
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2011 GLK 350 4Matic
No, but I'm running 255/50/19 which net out to precisely the same outside diameter (and of course, width).

No rubbing, but I had to take great care in spacing them to get the front wheels / tires JUST right to prevent it. It's close enough that when I went with new tires, they barely touch the fender liner at full lock. There's more room in the back for the tires (especially since they don't turn), but I took the same care to get them spaced to match the front.





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Old Mar 31, 2025 | 03:43 PM
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From: Lac Ste. Marie, Quebec
2006 Alfa Romeo Brera, 2010 GLK350, 2018 BMW 640i GT, 1997 Subaru SVX, 2012 Moto Guzzi Norge GT8V
No rubbing on mine with 255/45/20. No spacers.
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Old Apr 1, 2025 | 02:47 AM
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Originally Posted by habbyguy
No, but I'm running 255/50/19 which net out to precisely the same outside diameter (and of course, width).

No rubbing, but I had to take great care in spacing them to get the front wheels / tires JUST right to prevent it. It's close enough that when I went with new tires, they barely touch the fender liner at full lock. There's more room in the back for the tires (especially since they don't turn), but I took the same care to get them spaced to match the front.




Oh wow cool. Did you notice any acceleration or braking changes with all that additional rotational mass and unspent weight of the thicker tires?

They look amazing, well done one the spacing too, very nicely flush with the fenders.
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Old Apr 1, 2025 | 02:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Silver Shadow
No rubbing on mine with 255/45/20. No spacers.
Super cool to hear. Thanks for confirming.

Do you happen to have any photos??
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Old Apr 1, 2025 | 01:11 PM
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2011 GLK 350 4Matic
Originally Posted by 700horses
Oh wow cool. Did you notice any acceleration or braking changes with all that additional rotational mass and unspent weight of the thicker tires?

They look amazing, well done one the spacing too, very nicely flush with the fenders.
I doubt you could discern the difference if you had lab equipment installed in your GLK, much less through the seat of your pants. ;-) I know that this is one of those things that people obsess over, but unless you're tracking your GLK (in which case you have problems I can't help you with...) it's never going to matter. IIRC, the GLE rims are lighter than the (fairly heavy) 20" "sport rims" that were on the vehicle when I got it, so any increase in tire weight is probably offset by a reduction in wheel weight.

Still, if I went from a theoretical 235/50/19 Michelin Defender 2 to a wider AND taller 255/50/19 (which is what I mounted) the difference between the two is about 5.8 pounds per corner. On a two ton vehicle, 24 pounds of rotating weight isn't going to make a lot of difference in acceleration, and really isn't going to be enough to change the unsprung mass enough to do anything that matter.

That's entirely my opinion, and I know some will disagree. It's kind of like oxygen free speaker cables... there are those who'll swear they make a huge difference, but when they do a blind A/B test, no one can hear it... ;-)
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Old Apr 1, 2025 | 01:12 PM
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2011 GLK 350 4Matic
Mine needed spacers because the wheels are from a GLE, which has very different specs / offset. Fortunately, the differences could be accommodated with spacers (IIRC, 15mm front, 20mm rear).

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Old Apr 1, 2025 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by habbyguy
Mine needed spacers because the wheels are from a GLE, which has very different specs / offset. Fortunately, the differences could be accommodated with spacers (IIRC, 15mm front, 20mm rear).

Those wheels seem to suit the GLK and, as a bonus, look like they're easy to clean/keep clean.
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Old Apr 2, 2025 | 01:40 PM
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2011 GLK 350 4Matic
Originally Posted by MBKLUE
Those wheels seem to suit the GLK and, as a bonus, look like they're easy to clean/keep clean.
Honestly, I like them more than any wheels I've seen out there at any price (sorry to everyone else). ;-) I'm not entirely crazy about them on the GLE, which is a bigger vehicle. I think the size, color and width are spot-on for a silver GLK though. And yes, they're super-easy to clean, especially since I hit them with a ceramic coating (DIY of course) when I first got them.
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