Will i get away with a 35 offset on a W220 S55?
2004 S55
According to some sources the AMG alloys for a W220 S class should have the following offsets:-
8.5 x 19 = 44
9.5 x 19 = 46
The alloys iv seen claim to fit the S class but the offset if just 35.
Is this gona cause big issues or will it require spacers etc etc? And what size tyres do you recommend? Im planning on lowering her soon on lowering links.
Thanks.

2004 S55
According to some sources the AMG alloys for a W220 S class should have the following offsets:-
8.5 x 19 = 44
9.5 x 19 = 46
The alloys iv seen claim to fit the S class but the offset if just 35.
Is this gona cause big issues or will it require spacers etc etc? And what size tyres do you recommend? Im planning on lowering her soon on lowering links.
Thanks.
Mike
The wheels in question are identical to yours (from the pictures thread) but in a 19" as opposed to 20".
As you were using a 275/30 on the rears and the rim was 10" wide, i was thinking of using 265/35 on the rears, or even maybe a 255/35 now that you mention it, as these rims are only 9.5" wide?
Would i get away with a 255 on the back with a 9.5" wide rim?

Mike

The higher the offset the greater the distance the mounting surface is from the center of the rim width. All MB cars are POSITVE offset which means offset toward the outer surface. A 44 offset is 44 mm offcenter toward the outer surface placing 44 mm more wheel inside the mount point than outside the mount point. A 35 offset does the same thing but by only 35 mm. Therefore the 35 mm offset will "stick out" more than the 44 offset. Think about it as keeping the mounting point static and sliding the wheel 9mm out toward you.
BUT you also have to compare apples to apples. If you change total width of the rim as well then the same offset puts more wheel BOTH ways. I ran a set of 38 rear and 35 front offset wheels on my 2004 221 body S55 with no issues but frankly hated the way the fronts stuck out from the hub so far. It looked very empty and the calipers were FAR away from the wheel to the extent it looked odd.
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The higher the offset the greater the distance the mounting surface is from the center of the rim width. All MB cars are POSITVE offset which means offset toward the outer surface. A 44 offset is 44 mm offcenter toward the outer surface placing 44 mm more wheel inside the mount point than outside the mount point. A 35 offset does the same thing but by only 35 mm. Therefore the 35 mm offset will "stick out" more than the 44 offset. Think about it as keeping the mounting point static and sliding the wheel 9mm out toward you.
BUT you also have to compare apples to apples. If you change total width of the rim as well then the same offset puts more wheel BOTH ways. I ran a set of 38 rear and 35 front offset wheels on my 2004 221 body S55 with no issues but frankly hated the way the fronts stuck out from the hub so far. It looked very empty and the calipers were FAR away from the wheel to the extent it looked odd.
Since I'm smoking dope make sure Zacmac promises to buy the 35mm wheels from you when they dont fit. Good luck and I hope they work.

I only drove on a set of 19" 36 rear and 33 front offset wheels for a little over two years on my 04 220; so you are surely correct and I must be the one (along with all tire professionsals) blowing smoke!
Just in case you still want to deny reality here is a link to the wheels I ran for two years from when I sold them:
https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...pc-forged.html
Perhaps you should spend a few minutes looking at a technical writeup of offset and maybe a use pencil and paper and draw it for yourself before you trash others just because we correct an erroneous statement you post.
Last edited by Zachmac; Oct 21, 2011 at 06:33 AM.


I only drove on a set of 19" 36 rear and 33 front offset wheels for a little over two years on my 04 220; so you are surely correct and I must be the one (along with all tire professionsals) blowing smoke!
Just in case you still want to deny reality here is a link to the wheels I ran for two years from when I sold them:
https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...pc-forged.html
Perhaps you should spend a few minutes looking at a technical writeup of offset and maybe a use pencil and paper and draw it for yourself before you trash others just because we correct an erroneous statement you post.
I guess I will reply to this one once, even though I have been out of high school for quite some time. I apologise if you think that I attacked or "trashed" you with my responses, but dont be surprised when you make a comment and get a response in kind. If I wanted to play your game I would have stated "ZacMAC is on Crack" or "Jacmac dont know Jack", but I didnt (until now, I feel younger already). If you want to be hypocritical then get some thick skin. If you have put ET 35 MM wheels on your AMG car, and they worked, just say so in the first place. If it wasnt an AMG then it wont apply to an AMG in most cases due to the brakes. I've been to Tirerack and bought items from them before and I dont doubt their expertise. I just did a quick survey of wheels for a 2004 S55 and the offsets range from 20MM to 45+ MM, with the majority of them at 40MM or more. My opinion is that they (35MM) wont work correctly, the original poster can take that advice or not, it is their money and their call. I have purchased wheels in the past without regard to the offset and had to sell them off beause they contacted the brake calipers. I have also purchased the correct H&R spacers and driven for years with low ET wheels on my car and the spacers.
Anyway, I meant only to give my advice and opinions, not to offend or victimize anyone here. Pease, Love, etc.
Mike
Perhaps I should have used the
in my first post. Saying you were smokin dope was a jest, a way of saying you were incorrect, not a personal attack.BTW, of course an 04 S55 is an AMG car. I just didn't get why if you understand all that you didn't simply admit you had it backwards in your post.
I don't consider correcting a technically incorrect post an attack or being thin skinned. My apology if you took offense.BUT, what is somtimes a problem is aftermarket wheels that dish sharply back toward the mounting surface at the rim effectively changing the offest at the outer rim. That can cause brake caliper interference. If the original poster sticks to known combinations that work he'll be fine.
BTW, haven't been to HS myself since about 1974!

Perhaps I should have used the
in my first post. Saying you were smokin dope was a jest, a way of saying you were incorrect, not a personal attack.BTW, of course an 04 S55 is an AMG car. I just didn't get why if you understand all that you didn't simply admit you had it backwards in your post.
I don't consider correcting a technically incorrect post an attack or being thin skinned. My apology if you took offense.BUT, what is somtimes a problem is aftermarket wheels that dish sharply back toward the mounting surface at the rim effectively changing the offest at the outer rim. That can cause brake caliper interference. If the original poster sticks to known combinations that work he'll be fine.
BTW, haven't been to HS myself since about 1974!
Mike
Mike
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2607454560...84.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2607709400...84.m1423.l2649
Anyways, drove about 40 miles to the place, he reckoned they wernt gona fit as soon as he saw the car but just to put everyones mind at rest he decided to try one of the rears on for me.
Well, when he tried to put it on the spokes hit the rear caliper while the mating surface was still about 30-40mm away from the hub!!!! To use a spacer that big to clear the rear caliper brings the wheel about 20mm past the rear quarter.
Im absolutely gutted if truth be told, as me and ALL the guys at the shop agreed that these deep dish wheels would make the car look daddy.
Question is, iv seen a lot of you USA guys running deep dish wheels, so how do you guys do it?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2607454560...84.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2607709400...84.m1423.l2649
Anyways, drove about 40 miles to the place, he reckoned they wernt gona fit as soon as he saw the car but just to put everyones mind at rest he decided to try one of the rears on for me.
Well, when he tried to put it on the spokes hit the rear caliper while the mating surface was still about 30-40mm away from the hub!!!! To use a spacer that big to clear the rear caliper brings the wheel about 20mm past the rear quarter.
Im absolutely gutted if truth be told, as me and ALL the guys at the shop agreed that these deep dish wheels would make the car look daddy.
Question is, iv seen a lot of you USA guys running deep dish wheels, so how do you guys do it?
I have used 25MM spacers for years but make sure you buy some quality ones. I have bought several sets of H&R spacers and they work great. Mine say 'made in agermany' on them and I have had zero issues with well over 100K on them with my 420/560SEL cars. Dont go for any that just use longer bolts, and make sure you get "hub-centric' spacers as well, they dont put all of the stress on the bolts, they use the hub center like they should.
I can send some pics of mine if you want...I dont have them on mg S55 though.
Mike

Somehow I lost your PM...but I have the pics. these are the 25MM ones that I have and these have almost 75K miles on them and show zero wear. These were on my 560SEL with 17" wheels.
Mike
They are pretty big spacers indeed, but seem to be holding out well. I see what you mean about Hubcentric now, is that with the same size bore hole at the back so it actually sits on the hub like a wheel would and hence take the pressure off the longer bolts?
But the one thing i noticed was that the calipers were both the same size on both cars, but the E55 had a bigger hub at the back, sticking out by atleast 20mm compared to that on my S55.
I think thats why iv seen these wheels on an E55 and yet they wont fit mine.

They are pretty big spacers indeed, but seem to be holding out well. I see what you mean about Hubcentric now, is that with the same size bore hole at the back so it actually sits on the hub like a wheel would and hence take the pressure off the longer bolts?
Yes, the lip takes the stress off the bolts and also serves to self center the wheel, and the spacer. They use these (hub centric) in Racing and that was really what sold me that they would be safe to use. The type I have have bolts that go into the hub and then the wheels bolt onto the spacers...all with steel threads...basically once the spacer is bolted on, you perform tire services as normal, the spacers never need to come off the car.
I havent had the chance to compare my S55 with an E55, they are both pretty rare in Nashville...I have only seen two S55 and maybe five E55 here in the past year.
Mike

Thats also new to me, that the spacers actually bolt onto the hub via their own set of bolts, i think i big spacer might be possible after all.
I was under the impression that even with hubcentric spacers you still have to use longer bolts and so there was a higher chance of the bolts shearing. But if your using the same soze bolts then thats not really an issue.
Will have to look at them wheels again me thinks.
Thanks a lot for that mate, really appreciated.


Thats also new to me, that the spacers actually bolt onto the hub via their own set of bolts, i think i big spacer might be possible after all.
I was under the impression that even with hubcentric spacers you still have to use longer bolts and so there was a higher chance of the bolts shearing. But if your using the same soze bolts then thats not really an issue.
Will have to look at them wheels again me thinks.
Thanks a lot for that mate, really appreciated.
Glad to help.
Good luck,
Mike






