Snow tire size
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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S350 Bluetec
Snow tire size
Hi, I am about to replace the snow tires on my 2012 S350. The stock size is 255/45-18 but it is hard to find decent snows in that size. Has anyone tried 245/55-18? or 235/55-17?
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S500
not sure your are meant to run snow chains on 18"
its all very clearly written in the owners manual
you need to consider wheel / tyre circumference playing with tyre sizes - I run the bog std stupid wide 18" wheels with 235 tyres but its hard work seating them on the rim to get the air in
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.ph...t2=43#isPage=1
I do it for better handling as fat tyres hate corners and make it a bigger lumbering mess than it needs to be
its all very clearly written in the owners manual
you need to consider wheel / tyre circumference playing with tyre sizes - I run the bog std stupid wide 18" wheels with 235 tyres but its hard work seating them on the rim to get the air in
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.ph...t2=43#isPage=1
I do it for better handling as fat tyres hate corners and make it a bigger lumbering mess than it needs to be
Thread Starter
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S350 Bluetec
Hi, Thanks for the quick reply. Nope, no snow chains involved here. Just looking to put some decent snow tires on and there really aren't any good options in the 255/45-18 size. 245/45-18 is a common one however so just seeing if anyone else has tried it.
Super Member
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From: USA
Yes, a 245/45-18 will work just fine. The difference is tiny. You'll get a slightly narrower tire which can even be better for cutting through snow. Lots of people do this swap for winter tires. Just be sure to put them on all four wheels.
Thread Starter
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S350 Bluetec
Thanks, that is what I was looking for! Yes, I always run 4 snows.I am in Maine and drive a lot of rural roads, not worth messing around with tires.
Usually I use studded tires but I think this time around I will go with the Nokian R5s (they aren't studded), I have them on another vehicle and they do almost (not quite) as well on ice and packed snow but much better on dry roads.
Usually I use studded tires but I think this time around I will go with the Nokian R5s (they aren't studded), I have them on another vehicle and they do almost (not quite) as well on ice and packed snow but much better on dry roads.
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S500
stupid site link earlier didn't behave
245 45 will be 4mm lower than stock
235 50 will be 4 mm higher than stock
higher making more sense in snow
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.ph...t2=43#isPage=1
245 45 will be 4mm lower than stock
235 50 will be 4 mm higher than stock
higher making more sense in snow
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.ph...t2=43#isPage=1
Super Member
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W221 S500
I've always fitted stock sized winter tyres with no issue.
My old W212 used to behave impeccably on Continental Wintercontacts, and have used Nokian and Goodyear winter/all season tyres to good effect too.
Regardless of perception regarding handling etc, as this is incredibly subjective and varies enormously between different tyres, fitting non standard sizes exposed you to all sorts of liability and can invalidate your insurance.
Starter for 10...
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Goodyear-...Tire/714947603
My old W212 used to behave impeccably on Continental Wintercontacts, and have used Nokian and Goodyear winter/all season tyres to good effect too.
Regardless of perception regarding handling etc, as this is incredibly subjective and varies enormously between different tyres, fitting non standard sizes exposed you to all sorts of liability and can invalidate your insurance.
Starter for 10...
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Goodyear-...Tire/714947603
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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S500
mostly relates to
1) wild size change - minor tweaks across all four is not a big deal - but even Merc support crazy width stupid rubber with no compliance - just fractured or oval wheels
2) wrong speed rating (critical)
3) wrong load rating (higher usually OK, lower can be dangerous / wild)
4) nasty brands (madness)
1) wild size change - minor tweaks across all four is not a big deal - but even Merc support crazy width stupid rubber with no compliance - just fractured or oval wheels
2) wrong speed rating (critical)
3) wrong load rating (higher usually OK, lower can be dangerous / wild)
4) nasty brands (madness)
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Super Member
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W221 S500
mostly relates to
1) wild size change - minor tweaks across all four is not a big deal - but even Merc support crazy width stupid rubber with no compliance - just fractured or oval wheels
2) wrong speed rating (critical)
3) wrong load rating (higher usually OK, lower can be dangerous / wild)
4) nasty brands (madness)
1) wild size change - minor tweaks across all four is not a big deal - but even Merc support crazy width stupid rubber with no compliance - just fractured or oval wheels
2) wrong speed rating (critical)
3) wrong load rating (higher usually OK, lower can be dangerous / wild)
4) nasty brands (madness)
You'd have been better off dropping to the narrower 17" wheels from a base W221 if the width is such a big concern... Assuming they fit over the front brakes of course.
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S500
once on the car its vastly better, they are wearing 100% flat on all four corners - and the car is better balanced, with better steering feel and its smoother riding
I agree I'd have been far happier with the smaller much lighter, narrower width wheels the car's first had when they were ALL made with 17" wheels - as marketing matters more than how it drives all USA cars were released 18 months after europe and the model all got the nasty riding, nasty handling 18" wheels as std - which I agree look right, whereas 17" look plain disgusting
I agree I'd have been far happier with the smaller much lighter, narrower width wheels the car's first had when they were ALL made with 17" wheels - as marketing matters more than how it drives all USA cars were released 18 months after europe and the model all got the nasty riding, nasty handling 18" wheels as std - which I agree look right, whereas 17" look plain disgusting
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S550
I'm on my 3rd set of 245/45/18's and have had no problems - 2011 S550 4matic, 172,000 miles. Looking at specs on the Tire Rack web site there is a 0.3 inch difference in the outside diameter between the 2 sizes. 255's are generally 27 inch outside diameter and 245's are generally 26.7 inches, which is inconsequential. The load capacity is generally the same also. I've found up to a 0.4 inch difference between different manufacturers in the same size! Tire Rack offers 13 different all season tires in 255/45/18 and they offer 74 all season tires in 245/45/18, so there is a huge difference in the number of available tires.
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W221 S500
Any vehicle is type approved with specific wheel sizes: diameter/width/offset and their respective tyre sizes: width/aspect ratio/radius along with tyre pressures and suspension geometry to meet the design requirements of any given application.
Variations outside of this type approval will impact how the car drives in ideal conditions and can have potentially lethal implications in unexpected or emergency conditions.
Just because a tyre can be (force) fitted to any given wheel size, and just because that wheel size physically bolts onto the car, doesn't guarantee that the wheel/tyre combination is actually safe.
Variations outside of this type approval will impact how the car drives in ideal conditions and can have potentially lethal implications in unexpected or emergency conditions.
Just because a tyre can be (force) fitted to any given wheel size, and just because that wheel size physically bolts onto the car, doesn't guarantee that the wheel/tyre combination is actually safe.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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S500
as halfwits with a heavy throttle can destabilise a car with one press of the loud pedal - and you can buy budget joke tyres that adhere to mercs stds, but stop 15m down the road
whats with your attempts at point scoring - who's impressed?
whats with your attempts at point scoring - who's impressed?
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W221 S500
