W210

I just realized it is impossible to find winter tires for either the 19 or 20 inch wheels. Can we downsize further?

MtnMachine

I asked a related question about using some 18" Braubus wheels I used on a 2003/240 with snow tires. I need to find out if the bolt pattern and offset is same for 2003/240 C Klass and GLK.

Regarding downsizing wheel, if the bolt pattern and offset meet spec for your car, you should be able to downsize by using a higher profile tire to keep speedometer etc correct. I am quite sure the off road version GLK I saw in Spain was fitted with 17" wheels.

DerekACS

The off-road or winter size tires for the GLK are 235/60 x 17". A few weeks ago, www.tirerack.com had several choices available in this size. Of course, you will need a separate set of alloys to go with the tires.

You are right, it is impossible to find any winters in 19 or 20" to fit the GLK.

W210

Yes, I do recall seeing 235/60R17 in Mercedes' publication.

I'm thinking of going one set and pick up my favorite all seasons winter, Nokian WRG2. Maybe I'll do the following:

225/70R16
or
225/65R17

I just worry it'll be difficult sourcing the 17 inch for such a new vehicle.

DerekACS

FYI, www.Tirerack.com currently have two choices available in the recommended size of 235/60 x 17" :

Bridgestone Blizak WS-60 @ $113 each and Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow @ $128 each.

Also, FYI, MB has an attractive 5 spoke design 17" alloy wheel for the GLK.

I would suggest that you choose a MB approved tire diameter and size, otherwise your speedo reading will not be accurate and perhaps the vehicle's handling could be adversely affected as well.

W210

Thanks, yes I agree.

The problem though, is that while we can find 235/60 R17 for the front, if we were to stick with MB specification (giving the car wider 255 tires like all its packages in 17, 19, and 20 inches in the back), there is no winter tire for the rear in 255/55 R17 even from TireRack.

I guess this means we may have to fit the narrower 235 in the rear instead of the 255, not sure how it will affect handling, as the car's torque is split 45/55 front/rear.

By the way, do yo have any pictures of the 5 spoke 17" alloy? My dealer doesn't seem to know how to order one.

DerekACS

Yes, you are absolutely correct about the F/R sizes and the lack of a 255.
My guess is the 235s will do the job in the deep snow where you would want narrower tires rather than wide, floaty ones on the rear. No doubt the GLK owner's manual will have some reference to recommended snow tire sizes.

You can find some pics of the 17" 5 spoke wheels on the MB configurator site @ www.mercedes-benz.de/content/germany

Click on Home Page, then "Konfigurator", then GLK, then choose the various options. By the way, it's all in German !

W210

Thanks, the 5 spoke 17" looks quite nice indeed. I don't care much for the 20" but they come with the car I'm looking at.

Looks like it'll be 235/60 R17 then!

emesap43

I did some digging around in the interactive owners manual and found this section on snow chains:

http://www4.mercedes-benz.com/manual...html#d13e23927

Please note that this is the version of the manual intended for the German market. Could our fellow board members pull out the US and Canadian edition and let us know what they say. Or are they silent in this area?

DerekACS

Contact any Canadian MB dealer for these chains that will fit 235/60 x 17" snow tires for the GLK.

emesap43

What is interesting is this photo shows the chain in front while the manual says to put them in the back.

Also, the maximum speed with the chains on is 50 km/h (approx 30 mph).

MtnMachine

I noticed same thing about GLK picture with chains on the wrong wheels. We have the same chains for wifes Range Rover, full time, all wheel drive and they go on the back wheels.

In another thread "Iventory Leader...." MBWestminster said std MB line is no chains, but people use them at own discretion all the time. Also said Pirelli will be providing 20" Scorpian snow tires, like those for GL and ML65, but no delivery date.

DerekACS

Apparently, the first shipment of GLKs received here in BC came without Owners' Manuals, so it is impossible to check the manual's advice pertaining to the use of chains. However, a previous post mentioned use on the rear wheels only, which makes sense to me given the normal rearward torque bias of the 4Matic.

As far as Pirelli Scorpion snow tires for the GLK, these tires are available in 235/60 x17" size from Tirerack to fit the 17"x 7.5" 5-spoke OEM alloys available from any Canadian MB dealer.

W210

Curious on the MSPR on those 17"x7.5" 5-spoke OEM alloys DerekACS! Did you ever find out?

MtnMachine

MBWestminster was very specific about 20" Perelli's comming and I think they have been a reliable sourc. He even ref'ed the 20" ML 20" snow tires.

DerekACS

Not sure that 20" rims with snow tires would be ideal for winter.

Obviously, it will be less expensive than a separate set of snow tires on 17" alloys, but surely the 20" wheels with very low profile snow tires are not a set-up to be recommended for winter handling and performance, assuming such tires even become available.

DerekACS

MSRP for 17" x 7.5 5-spoke is $397.50 each, less any applicable discount.

W210

Thanks, useful numbers!

southbay79

Hi all,

Just curious, re: the 17" alloy wheels and winter tires -- did your local MB dealers have the option available for you to order these, or did you have to kind of go in and spell it all out for them since it doesn't appear to be a factory option?

It looks like I'm going to have to special order the GLK I want anyway (none of the color combinations or common package options that are currently out in the first batch of vehicles in the US match what I want), so I am hoping that I can just ask them to build it with a set of 17" wheels from the get-go instead of the ridiculous 19s or 20s. Just don't know if that's even going to be an option or if I'm going to have to order it with the standard 19s and get the 17s after the fact....

DerekACS

My dealer's parts department, a factory owned MB Canada outlet, had already been shipped 17" OEM 5 spoke alloys for the GLK, but they did not have any snow or off-road tires in stock (235/60 x17" size) to fit the wheels (tires available from www.tirerack.com). There has been a huge shortage of snow tires across Canada this winter, with most sizes sold out long ago.

From previous posts, it appears that the US dealers do not have the 17" OEM alloys in their parts listings, let alone have them in stock. As far as Canadian GLK orders from the factory are concerned, there are only two options, 19" or 20" wheels. Here's a suggestion : if you want to purchase the 17" wheels, suggest you contact the nearest Canadian dealer to you (www.mercedes-benz.ca) and take advantage of buying in US dollars that are worth approx. 27% more than a CD$.

W210

Thanks DerekACS, very useful information as always.

MTI

A Driving Impression Post About Driving a Euro Version GLK in the Alpine Snow

Smaller gas engine, snow tires, 7 speed 4-matic.

lkchris

Just remember that when getting separate wheels for snow tires you'll need TPMS sensors for them, too.

So, there's ...
price of tires = ??
price of wheels = ??
price of sensors = $500.

DerekACS

Canadian production W204 C Class, W211 E Class and X204 GLK have a speed sensor system for TPM; therefore, individual sensors for each wheel are not required for the aforementioned models. However, you are correct for the US production vehicles.

The system installed in Canadian vehicles thus does not measure individual tire pressure, as in the US vehicles, but relies upon the fact that a deflating tire will rotate at a different speed than a normally inflated tire, thus triggering the speed sensor that is attached to each wheel's brake caliper.
This system is obviously less expensive than the US one, but it nonetheless warns the driver of any significant loss in a tire's pressure. What it won't do is indicate which tire has lost pressure; that requires the driver to stop and perform a visual examination. I know this from first hand experience during the past summer, while driving to Moab, Utah !

jamking

Have been driving GLK 2 weeks now in mostly horrific weather.
Heavy snow alternating with freezing rain and double digit subzero temps.
Have rarely seen bare pavement since I got it.
20" all seasons behaving well, good traction in snow, climb icy hills no problem.