Suggestions for 18" rims for 63 winters
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!!!!
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.
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 !
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.
Here's the link, lot's of reading for you, lolz.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/tiretech.jsp
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
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.
Eye Candy,
Exactly.
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.
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
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
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!
Best Regards.
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
Oh well, I'll wait and see and continue to REALLY enjoy my ML63.
Dave
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by MKW; Nov 19, 2006 at 11:46 AM.
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
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.





