Black&Tan-AMG

Eye_Candy

Sadness. What is the 778 option?

2MANYCARS

Check with the tire tech section they have on tire rack, and you get all the answers there. It's also my personal guide book because for an X amount on the wheel, you would need Y amount of rubber to protect it from the roads and curbs.

What is option 778?

Doing some calculations, the 15.4" rotors we have on the ML63 equal to 391mm discs!!!! If I were you, and the 19s are absolutely necessary, just get one wheel from dealer and do a test fit in the fronts at home. Make sure you ask your dealer if the wheel is returnable if it doesn't fit. I don't have my car yet, so I can't do any testing for you guys, I hate this long wait!!!!

Black&Tan-AMG

The 778 option is the code for the 20" rims which is standard in the US. I told the tire guy at the dealer that 19s are standard in Europe and they would have to fit. After looking at the space he wouldn’t even try it. He said the 19s must have different calipers. I don't thinks that’s true, I can’t imagine they would spec the brakes different for Europe. Anyway, since I might be looking at 20s any recommendations? The winters here are not too bad, so I am thinking of all season rather than a snow any thoughts? I have a friend of a friend that know someone at AMG so I hope to get an answer soon.

By the way, I just came back from a nice Sunday drive, about 420 miles with wife, 11 month old baby, and 2 strollers in the back. Without driving the car like an AMG (wife, baby, and break in period) I could not be happier.

Rider1

Regarding snow tires for the ML63: Page 537 in the owner's manual says to use 285/45/R19 107V M+S with the snowflake on the sidewall.

I like your "Sunday drive" of 420 miles I thought I was "crazy" going to lunch 127 miles one way today and with some "extra" driving my total was 288miles. Good going and yes I agree the ML63 is a great ride even when you're takin' it easy !

Eye_Candy

Well the owners manual and tire rack are in agreement on the 285's (http://www.tirerack.com/snow/WinterP...&autoModClar=).

However, I still don't see why you can't go with a Nokian 275/40 R 20 (http://www.nokiantires.com/en/tire_wr_suv.aspx) which is approved for rims 9 to 11 according to that chart and my local dealer. With 19" rims could you not drop the width a little (say from 10 to 9) which would open up a 255/ 50 R19. I tried to find the tire tech section you referred to 2Manycars but could not. Could you point me to it?

It is noteworthy that tirerack does not list an available 285 tire. They also do not carry or review any Nokian. The Pirelli S&C does come in a 285/45 R19 according to the Pirelli site.

2MANYCARS

Eye Candy,
Here's the link, lot's of reading for you, lolz.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/tiretech.jsp

Eye_Candy

Don't take this the wrong way. But after reading that tire tech section I can't find exactly where it says you need a 285 with a 10 rim. This is important to me as I was planning on the 275 Nokians if the 18's wouldn't work, which we now know is the case.

2MANYCARS

Eye Candy,
Sorry about that, here's the correct one.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...3D845VR9SCORIS
It appears that tirerack had reconfigured the links and when you need to see if the specific tire fits your needs, you have to find the tire that you're looking for and see the full spec of it. In this case, which is the Pirelli Scopion Ice & Snow, it seems that it would barely cover the 10" width on the ML63.

ClayJ

Doesn't Brabus make a 9.5 X 20 (295/ R20) wheel for the G-Class?

Have you tried talking with Brabus about an 18" (or other)ML wheel which might allow you to fit better rubber on your ML - Winter or Summer?

Eye_Candy

Is there a 19" rim out there that will work and give us a narrower rim? This talk of hydroplaning is worrisome.

Eye_Candy

So to summarize the stock 20"s are 10j x 20 et46 and mercedes recommends a set of 19"s 9.5j x 19 et 46 for 285 winters (Pirelli).

2MANYCARS

Hydroplaning happens when you have ****ty tires equipped on your car, one useful tool that tirerack uses, it tells you what the ratings of each condition are for a specific tire. Use that as a guide line and you should be ok in the rain.

Eye Candy,
Exactly.

crjag

Where has everyone come out on the winter wheels/tires issues? My ML63 should be in in 2-3 weeks to replace a Cayenne TT. I went one season in that without snows - bad choice - and then 2 with Pirelli ice and snow scorpions and big difference. Since it appears 18's won't fit, and MB chose to make the 20's standard - even though they recommend 19's for winter (shouldn't they have offered this as a choice in the US, then?), I guess it's Pirelli's in a 20 or 19" wheels and tires, too, which frankly makes very little sense for a leased vehicle. I wish there was an inexpensive steel wheel option. Comments? Thanks.

Rider1

Regarding snow tires for the ML63: Page 537 in the owner's manual says to use 285/45/R19 107V M+S with the snowflake on the sidewall.

Just curious why are you replacing the Cayenne TT? I traded my '06 CTT about a month ago for a black/black ML63 and couldn't be happier ! My ML63 just turned 4,000 miles and have had NO problems at all with it and the power...wow so responsive even in the middle of a turn

Dave

crjag

Several reasons: first is my own rule that my next car must be faster than my last, so ML replaces CTT, which replaced '01 E55, which replaced '99 540 sport, etc. Second, I thought the CTTS was (even) more overpriced. I would have gone $10k, but $20k didn't seem worth it (if you have already bought into Porsche myth - I mean mystique - this might actually make sense). Third, too many small but annoying problems: many light bulbs inside and out replaced; wipers that never stopped screeching; several warning messages that went away after restart; worst of all, tranny that just wouldn't operate in any mode but on/off, or so it seemed, and especially in low speed corners just wouldn't downshift to second. But I still enjoy it, though I see a lot more now than I did in late '03 (not that there aren't 600,000 MLs on the road), and it's still pretty much of a stealth vehicle.

Rider1

I like you're first rule but what's next after the ML63?

You'll really enjoy the ML63 after coming out of the CTT! I sure am! Wait until you go around a corner and step on the gas in the ML63....it goes! VS. wait for what seems like forever in the CTT

Dave

crjag

I'm looking forward to it. I noticed on another post the comment about wind noise from the CTT sunroof; I had forgotten that one. But I did like playing with the adjustable ride height at stoplights!

Next car? I'll have to wait and see. Was interested in a Quattroporte, but my E55 was basically undriveable in winter (actually if there was dew on the road it was undriveable) and I assumed Quattroporte would be similar. Maybe in 3 years MB will put the 6 liter TT in the ML. Now that's what I'm torquing about!

rubensans

These rims are ET 60 and for the ML63 you need in 8' somethink like ET30.

Best Regards.

MSDLTD

Its Quite Obvious you will see a paxton or Whipple supercharger on the 63 within 1 years time...probably show up on the E first just to stomp the CR*P out of the M5

Rider1

Interesting! I thought that AMG was not going the forced induction route anymore...hence the all new 6.2 n/a ?

Oh well, I'll wait and see and continue to REALLY enjoy my ML63.

Dave

A-Train

Any thoughts / experiences with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta Sport Utility 5?

For the ML63, it is offered in 275/55R20 117 T XL and also in 275/40R20 106 T XL sizes.

http://www.nokiantyres.com/suv_produ...PELIITTA+SUV+5

I'd imagine the better choice between the 2 are the 55's, for someone who is more focused on superior bad winter weather grip and is deciding between those 2 sizes.

MKW

Factory rubber ( 295/40-20 ) is 29.3" in diameter [295 ( section width in mm at widest point of sidewall , not tread ) times 0.40 ( tire aspect ratio) times 0.079 ( conversion factor ) plus 20 ( rim diameter in inches )] .
factory recommended winter rubber ( 285/45-19 ) is 29.1" diameter.

A 275/55-20 is way too tall at 31.9 " and will mess up the ABS/traction control/ESP/4matic , etc. The 275/40-20 at 28.7 " is at least a little closer to stock diameter . Speedometer error widens the farther away from stock as well as power to the ground - larger diameter tire is like taller gearing-i.e., less TQ to the ground at given throttle and rpm.Also, rolling inertia increases the farther away from center hub the mass of the tire is, affecting acceleration and braking .

Recommended rim width for a 255 tire is 7-9" and for a 275 tire , 8-11 " . Too narrow and the sidewall bulges , too wide and the sidewall is not supported properly under load .

Nokian has a WR V-speed rated winter tire tire at 255/50 - 19 and one of 275/40-20 , both around 29" diameter. Importantly, they have the " XL " sidewall load rating . You could fit that latter tire on stock rear wheel BUT the resultant reduced sidewall height mixed with hidden potholes on snow covered roads is not a risk worth taking , imo. As a comparison to a similarly sized and weight vehicle, the all new 2007 BMW X5 hitting dealers now has a 315/35-20 rear tire on the sport package with 11' wide rim, but has an all season 255/55-19 on 9 " rim alternative.

ML63

Hi,

I don't know, if everybody already knows, that there is no way for 18" rims on the ML63. Here in Germany it's only possible 19" original AMG or 20" original AMG. here is a link from DC Germany with a list, what the possible combinations are. click the link and open "Download für M-KLasse Typ164", than you get a PDF in German but I think it's possible to understand it. On Page 3 you see all possible rims (the last 2 of this page are the rims for the ML 63)
In Germany the ML63 has the 19", the 20" are option. I bought it with the optional 20" and.... had to buy the 19" with Pirelli Scorpion (285/45) for winter, which were another 3000 Euro plus tax.

I tried to get rims from other rim-companies but the dealer said it's not possible to find rims which are good for 500 hp !

Here is the link http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content/...mbination.html

I hope that helped a little....

bye, Peter

Eye_Candy

Thanks,

I originally started this thread back in the innocent days of september when I naively thought 18 inch rims would fit. Of course they won't. We have been discussing various options in this and other threads.

I had to laugh when you said that your dealer told you that you could not get rims outside of AMG that could handle 500HP and fit. I'm sure HRE and a myriad of others would disagree. The problem is cost. A set of 3 piece forged from HRE is $6700 U.S. for 19's and $7800 for 20's. My quest is to find something strong enough but a little more affordable. Then you can drop to a 9 inch wide 19 (the AMG's are 9.5) and give yourself a wider selection of tires. The Pirelli's only come in 285's at 19 inch - too wide for winter in my opinion. A 9 inch rim could take you to 255 Hakkas. But I don't have the truck yet so can't experiment.