d4005

Hi,

I've had my W221 S500 (aka S550 in the states) for a month and I've been leisurely looking around for what winter rims/tires I'll get for it via ebay.

I've noticed that the tires I currently have are 255/45 R18 99Y on the front, but also on the rear. The wheels are either A2214015202 or A2214015302, I'm not sure which. The difference between those wheel types is that one is 8.5" wide and the other 9.5" wide. I'm assuming my rims are the same 8.5" width, the A2214015202 type.

Everyone selling any on ebay refer to them as S600 wheels and sell them as 8.5" for the front with 255/45R18 tires (like mine) and 9.5" for the rear with 275/xx R18 tires.

My guess is that the S600 is only sold as RWD, not 4Matic, and it needs wider tires on the back as they're handling all of that V12 torque. Whereas my S500 4Matic, with power going to all 4, doesn't need that extra width at the back and therefore is happy to have 8.5" wheels all round with 255/45R18 tires all round too.

Have I got this all correct? If so then I'll go ahead and get me two pairs of A2214015202's at 8.5" wide and throw some Sottozero 3's on for the upcoming winter.

Not much point telling me of any US sites selling them, I'm in Europe. It's more of a "what" to buy, not where.

Welwynnick

What are your rear tire sizes?

If they're the same as the front, the wheels are almost certainly the same. Otherwise the sidewalls would look rather different.

Ultimately you should take one rear wheel off and read what it says on the inside.

Nick

d4005

Yeah, that was I was thinking. I'm really convinced that an S500 4Matic has 8.5J wheels and 255/45R18's all round and that it's only the RWD S600 that has 9.5J and 275/xxR18's on the rear. I was just looking for someone to say "Yep, you nailed it, that's exactly right".

I asked here so that I wouldn't have to take one (or two) off ;-)

steveb9771

I realize you are in Europe, but look at https://www.tirerack.com/content/tir.../homepage.html and enter your vehicle info (4-matic available in USA starting with 2009). You can then look at the snow tires and rims they show that the claim will fit your vehicle. This should give you the info you want even though you will not purchase them here.

d4005

That is a useful site, thanks. It shows that both 18" and 19" are available as OEM, but whether I choose 18 or 19, it always shows me that the wheels are the same size "front and rear". I tried the S600 out but it said that only 19 and 20 were available OEM, and some of the wheels were same size F&R but other wheels were wider at the back.

I guess I'm happy that the S500/S550 4Matic correctly has same size all round as I suspected