SL/R230: Wheel Offset
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Kildare, Ireland
2004 SL350
Wheel Offset
Hello all,
First post but I have to thank you all for your collective knowledge already, you've helped me with many issues to date.
A question I know someone will know off the top of their head.
I've a standard SL350 2004, (500s are rare and 55s almost nonexistent) and have sourced some 20" alloys. Fronts are perfect 20x8.5J ET36 with 255/30R20 tyres.
My question is regarding the rears, will 20x10.5J ET36 fit with 305/20R20 tyres? Is this offset OK? Will I need any modifications to avoid rubbing the bodywork or internals?
Many thanks
Niall form Ireland
First post but I have to thank you all for your collective knowledge already, you've helped me with many issues to date.
A question I know someone will know off the top of their head.
I've a standard SL350 2004, (500s are rare and 55s almost nonexistent) and have sourced some 20" alloys. Fronts are perfect 20x8.5J ET36 with 255/30R20 tyres.
My question is regarding the rears, will 20x10.5J ET36 fit with 305/20R20 tyres? Is this offset OK? Will I need any modifications to avoid rubbing the bodywork or internals?
Many thanks
Niall form Ireland
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
Welcome to forum 
I was wondering where you're from since in US the SL350 didn't start untill 2011 or even later.
The wheels will fit for sure, without any issues to the suspension. The tires will fit the wheels as well. The only thing i think of - they might stick out from under the fender. Besides that - i'm pretty sure you're good to go. The 20" that i had were +20mm (or 25) offset. If by any chance the wheels will touch something under the fender - you can always add spacers, they run in increments of 5mm, to lower the offset of the wheel.
Post some pics when done
Regards.
I was wondering where you're from since in US the SL350 didn't start untill 2011 or even later.
The wheels will fit for sure, without any issues to the suspension. The tires will fit the wheels as well. The only thing i think of - they might stick out from under the fender. Besides that - i'm pretty sure you're good to go. The 20" that i had were +20mm (or 25) offset. If by any chance the wheels will touch something under the fender - you can always add spacers, they run in increments of 5mm, to lower the offset of the wheel.
Post some pics when done
Regards.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Kildare, Ireland
2004 SL350
Thanks Ghostty
So it will all fit, thank you
I'd like to have them look fairy normal, I'd rather not have them sticking out past the body, will they stick out too far or hit the body?
Has anyone fitted 10.5 with offset 36?
Thank you
Niall
So it will all fit, thank you
I'd like to have them look fairy normal, I'd rather not have them sticking out past the body, will they stick out too far or hit the body?
Has anyone fitted 10.5 with offset 36?
Thank you
Niall
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 382
Likes: 27
From: Norway
350 SL, R230 - 300 SL, R129 - 1964 Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe - Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (sold)
I have 20"x8,5", ET31 with 255-35-20 tires front and 2"x10" ET31 with 285-30 20 tires rear on my 2003 SL
The wheels (Mandrus Millenium rims) was on my SL when i bought it because i would rather have 19 inch wheels instead of 20 inch wheel and that is just because i think 19 inch wheels looks better that 20 inch wheels
If i decide to change wheel i will go for 19x8,5 front with an ET that builds more outwards and 19x10 or 11 with ET that also builds more otwards in the rear
I know that Mercedes approves 19"x8,5", ET35 with 255-35-20 tires front and 19"x10" ET30 with 285-30 20
Also 19"x8,5", ET30 with 255-35-20 tires front and 19"x10" ET35 with 285-30 20
The wheels (Mandrus Millenium rims) was on my SL when i bought it because i would rather have 19 inch wheels instead of 20 inch wheel and that is just because i think 19 inch wheels looks better that 20 inch wheels
If i decide to change wheel i will go for 19x8,5 front with an ET that builds more outwards and 19x10 or 11 with ET that also builds more otwards in the rear
I know that Mercedes approves 19"x8,5", ET35 with 255-35-20 tires front and 19"x10" ET30 with 285-30 20
Also 19"x8,5", ET30 with 255-35-20 tires front and 19"x10" ET35 with 285-30 20
Last edited by TheSaint; Apr 4, 2018 at 12:01 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
The difference between 285 and 305 it's literally 20mm - pretty much under an inch. Basically it means that the tire will stick out more on the rim from the center of the tire by 10mm each side - that's how small of a difference is between the two sizes. How much it sticks out from under the fender - that depends more on the wheel offset. The wheel with same width but with 30mm offset will stick out more outside by 10mm than a wheel with same width but with 20mm offset. There are guys that were able to fit 20x12J wheels, they just stick out way more than the 9.5J or 10J - as the difference in width is obvious.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 382
Likes: 27
From: Norway
350 SL, R230 - 300 SL, R129 - 1964 Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe - Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (sold)
Yes i like quite a big "lip" on the wheels i have on my cars so i would go for something like on the pictures below. Not chrome polished wheels but silver and i might go for gold or copper center
I would have to check how wide i can get the lip before ordering any wheels :-)
As Ghostty said if the difference between 285 and 305 is only 20mm is not much at all so i cant see any problems having 305 or even wider tires fit
A bit lip on this wheel
Like this rim
More lip than what is on this Japan Racing whel
Last edited by TheSaint; Apr 4, 2018 at 01:05 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
About the lip question - yes and no. Even with a big lip they still have an ET, that's what you have to go by any way. The lip comes from the wheel design. It has nothing to do with the offset.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 382
Likes: 27
From: Norway
350 SL, R230 - 300 SL, R129 - 1964 Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe - Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (sold)
Off cours i agre. I can not have the wheels with a ET like 15 because then the rims/tires would stick out from the fender and that is not pretty. But as i said a lip as wide as possible :-)
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Kildare, Ireland
2004 SL350
That's what I thought, the lip is just design but ET is fitment.
I know it's ET36 only 1mm from standard offset (ET35) and the tyre is 50mm wider than standard 255/45/17, so I'm assuming it'll be poke out 24mm more than original and will be 26mm closer to wheel well.
Will they fit,rib, bang etc.?
Also on traditional springs and shocks as that was the standard set-up on the 350s
Thanks again
Niall
I know it's ET36 only 1mm from standard offset (ET35) and the tyre is 50mm wider than standard 255/45/17, so I'm assuming it'll be poke out 24mm more than original and will be 26mm closer to wheel well.
Will they fit,rib, bang etc.?
Also on traditional springs and shocks as that was the standard set-up on the 350s
Thanks again
Niall
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
35mm was measured by MB and for 10J width was not considered as unfit. That means it won't touch or bump into anything from the suspension or body.
See attached.
P.S.
10.5J will still fit without problem
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 382
Likes: 27
From: Norway
350 SL, R230 - 300 SL, R129 - 1964 Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe - Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (sold)
That's what I thought, the lip is just design but ET is fitment.
I know it's ET36 only 1mm from standard offset (ET35) and the tyre is 50mm wider than standard 255/45/17, so I'm assuming it'll be poke out 24mm more than original and will be 26mm closer to wheel well.
Will they fit,rib, bang etc.?
Also on traditional springs and shocks as that was the standard set-up on the 350s
Thanks again
Niall
I know it's ET36 only 1mm from standard offset (ET35) and the tyre is 50mm wider than standard 255/45/17, so I'm assuming it'll be poke out 24mm more than original and will be 26mm closer to wheel well.
Will they fit,rib, bang etc.?
Also on traditional springs and shocks as that was the standard set-up on the 350s
Thanks again
Niall
ET 30 and ET 31 is also approved by Mercedes i am quite sure. So ET30 and ET31 will make more lip and move the rims more outwards
Those wheels are looking good. Pretty decent lip and they are silver. I really do not like chrome wheels on Europeans cars and especially Mercedes..
Last edited by TheSaint; Apr 4, 2018 at 01:02 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
ET 30 and ET 31 is also approved by Mercedes i am quite sure. So ET30 and ET31 will make more lip and move the rims more outwards
Those wheels are looking good. Pretty decent lip and they are silver. I really do not like chrome wheels on Europeans cars and especially Mercedes..
Those wheels are looking good. Pretty decent lip and they are silver. I really do not like chrome wheels on Europeans cars and especially Mercedes..
offset closer to 0 will move the wheel outward but not create lip!
P.S.
MB has stock wheels with offset as high as +60, depends on the model. It narrows down to specific models because of different suspension setups. Ideally its 0 - which is a perfect balance, but personally I haven't seen offset less than +22mm.
Last edited by Ghostty; Apr 4, 2018 at 01:27 PM.
