Well, my original thread “New Wheels for Mighty Mouse” got hijacked to a point where I thought I’d just start over. No worries hijackers, I’ve done it plenty of times myself.

Anyway, I bought four 19” x 9” forged wheels, the type used as original equipment on the front of the 2017 SL65 AMG. That car came with 19’s in front and 20’s in the rear, but I did not want 20’s, so after much good advice from Wolfman, TireRack & others, I went with four 19” wheels. I mounted the stock size tires that originally came on my 2019 SL450, but I dumped the run flats in favor of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ conventional tires.

I’ve had the new wheels for over a month now, but did not want to mount them while the original brake pads were on the car, as I didn’t want the new wheels to get filthy. So, I bought pads from Porterfield Racing Brakes in Costa Mesa, CA and had a local shop install them, as my dealer refused to mount non-stock pads. The brakes work just like with the original pads, but the dust factor is down substantially.

Our friend Wolfman suggested that I might need spacers on the front wheels and said the best supplier of spacers was a place called Supreme Power in Fullerton, CA, which is only about 20 miles from my home. So, I went over there and Eric, the owner showed me his IMMACULATE shop, where they do a lot of high end wheels & modifications on Porsche & BMW’s. He showed me his “No Touch” tire mounting machine and his Road Force balancing machine, so when he said “I match TireRack prices, I knew I had found my tire supplier/installer. Since Eric lives close to me, he graciously offered to pick up the new wheels at my home and will return the original wheels & tires as well. Supreme Power is a class act and if you live in Southern California, I highly recommend them.

So yesterday, I drove the car to Supreme Power and they did the install. It was decided that the car looked good without any spacers and the lug bolt cylinders are so deep, I even stuck with those original, black lug bolts. I did, however, change the dust caps.

As someone who has been damn near militant about run flat tires, I am happy to report that the most current versions are reasonably acceptable. However, I am talking about a car with ABC, so having that really mitigates the harshness. Still, I am happy to report that these new tires do give a nicer ride, especially over sharp bumps.

Lastly, I had wanted to go with the AMG Carbon Ceramic Brakes—and I still might—if and when I find the right deal.

Anyway, Mighty Mouse is sporting some new boots and here are some photos.

 

Very nice. Surprised you went with all season tires in southern CA.

 

Looking fine!

 

Called Michelin and they say PS A/S 3+ is most quiet, softest riding tire for the SL. TireRack agrees. The rear tire size is not available as a PS-4, the only summer tire I was considering.

 

Sharp as a nail!
2MERKS

 

Makes sense.

 

Stream - great summary - and even BETTER pics - a really nice setup !! Now, enjoy the ride.

 

IMHO, the original wheels suited the car better in design, color(s) combination and function.

 

New Boots or New Black High Top Chuck Taylors?

The chucks have better traction then boots.

 

They look gorgeous! So I thought the OEM staggered setup was 8-1/2" wide in front and 9-1/2" in back; is it actually 8"/9"? And I know nothing about spacers but why would one use a spacer with a new, wider wheel? Also, when you say "The rear tire size is not available as a PS-4", does that mean you have different size tires F&R even though the wheels are the same size?

 

Yes, the car originally came with 8.5” front and 9.5” rear. The new wheels are 9” front & rear, but am still using larger tires in the rear. The offsets of the new wheels are different than those on the original wheels, which is why there was the thought of possibly using spacers, but we are talking millimeters and when the new wheels & tires were put on the car, sans any spacers, it looked fine.

 

Well, we all have different likes & dislikes. Being an old school kind of guy, I like the all aluminum look when it comes to wheels on sporty cars. If memory serves me, I believe that it was Volkswagen that started painting the barrels and other parts of their alloy wheels black, many years ago. I believe it was a way to hide the brake dust, which was probably a good idea and has certainly caught on over the years. But, to me, I always thought that it was a cheap look and I wanted something different. I want my wheels to look and actually always BE clean. Since I will rarely drive the car more than 50 miles in a day, I can probably keep them that way. In addition, where I live, I see white SL’s all over the place and I wanted mine to look different. Now, it does.

 

I said "IMHO" and once you put it in a public forum, well ... it is open to those who do not agree (not only those who do). And I was very diplomatic in my original message, my dislike for those overpriced wheels (even if forged) is profound and then you square instead of keep it staggered (both wheel and tires, and if you put 285/30-19 tires on 9", well its a "no-no"). Do not want to start anything, just my opinion which obviously is not important, because as long as the OP is happy all else is irrelevant.

 

I’m sorry, as I was not trying to marginalize your opinion or even disagree with you at all, I was merely explaining why I did what I did. However, it seems I must have struck a nerve, which was not my intention and I do apologize if my comments were taken otherwise. I fully understand that many folks here do not agree with anything I do or say. I don’t agree with others. Such is life.

As for the wheels being overpriced, as stated, that is your opinion. I happen to think they were very reasonably priced, compared to other forged wheels on the market. As for squaring the wheels and putting the 285’s in the rear, we are only talking about a half inch in rim width and this was not done without first getting the green light from several, very knowledgeable and professional tire & wheel sources. If I should happen to run into any problems, which I have been assured that I won’t, I can always change wheels or tires or whole cars, again. I actually have a habit of doing that.

So, with that all said, it is a gorgeous, sunny, 73 degrees here in Newport Beach today, so my wife and I are going out to lunch, with the top down. Cheers!

 

Congratulations!

I love those wheels! Per our previous discussions, the square setup is a bit unusual but understandable if the 19" max diameter was desired and even the offsets looks fine to me. Was the car raised in those pics? Looks a bit taller than it should. Enjoy!

To ThreeMBs; the 285's on a 9" rims is no problem whatsoever. It would have been on the 8.5" ones. Roll diameter is factory spec and they are much better wheels than the cheap cast factory wheels which are rather fragile. In regards to pricing, what is overpriced is in the eye of the beholder. Some people think spending $80k on a car is too much. That said, Stream got those wheels at a great discount.
I personally prefer the 19"/20" combo but think that this wheel design makes for the best looking wheels available for the R231 SL

 

That might be so, however every tire manufacturer I know of, including the one OP has put on, specifies that the "appropriate" range for 285/30 (regardless of diameter, but also specifically for 19") is 9.5-10.5, and that "rule" is one of the few wheel/tire "rules" I still abide by.

 

Congratulations on the new wheels. Personally, I feel that the design you chose is much more fitting for the aesthetics of the R231.

I agree that the OEM brake pads are horrific for brake dust. I also found that surface rust would immediately appear all over the MB steel rotors if left to sit in the rain for a day or two. While you have already made and are comfortable with your decision regarding aftermarket brake pads, I personally would be rather uncomfortable with something so safety-critical that was not necessarily designed in tandem with the rotors.

I will note that the carbon-ceramic brakes make no brake dust whatsoever. Additionally, with your shiny new wheels, you should most probably be able to have them bolted on directly, with no difficulty or complications at all.

 

That's strange you went with 19's......given all your ranting about wheels bigger than 18's It does look nice though.......for an old man! JOKING LOL!!!! Enjoy the ride Stream! I cannot recall what the stock wheels looked like though so I can't say they looked better

 

Thanks Hype.
From day one, driving this new SL home, I was truly amazed at how well it rode on the 19’s and the run flats. I’m quite sure the ABC has a lot to do with it as well, as my 2013 SL550 on 18’s, conventional tires and no ABC did not ride nearly as well. Anyway, I have been in love with these particular wheels and since they were only made as 19’s & 20’s, I went with all 19’s. When I ordered this car, I intended to change to 18’s, so I just got the no cost stock wheels (pictured) which I really don’t care for. After driving the new car, the idea of staying with 19’s and getting these wheels got the better of me.

 

There is a very detailed thread about the CCB retrofit on an R231:https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...550-guide.html Reading it was one of the things that got me thinking about these wheels and possibly going for the brakes. I’d like to do it, but I’m not there yet. It would just be my luck to spend $15k to $20K on the CCB, and then fall in love with the new R232.

 

Hey Stream - don't second guess. You have a REALLY nice set-up so ENJOY. "Mighty Mouse" is looking really sharp. All of us will be watching what the new R232 will present ... and when. In the meantime, cruising in the R231 model is a wonderful thing indeed, no matter what the powerplant, wheels or tire size. Personally I went from a 2014 Corvette to a E400 Cab (too much of a change) to my first SL ....Thanks Goodness. What a Blessing to be able to enjoy that ride. Steve

 

You are SO right! Just got back from a morning drive of about 30 miles and it was glorious! I just turned 1,000 miles, which was my self imposed break-in period, during which I did not exceed 4,000rpm, so I put her in Sport+ and had a little fun. I am still, more than ever, just blown away by the performance of this sweet, little six. As a glass-half-empty type of guy, I do second guess myself all the time. Lately, it has been the idea that I just should have ordered a new 911 Cabriolet, with the ceramic brakes, the Burmeister sound system and a manual transmission, but after another ride in this wonderful car, my decision to go the way I did is reinforced, in aces & spades. Now, I just need to get that sound system upgraded.

 

Thanks Wolfman, I probably would not have made the switch without your sound advice. Your help & expertise are very much appreciated.

I don’t think I had the car raised in those photos. Here is another photo, with the car definitely in the lowest position. It does look like a bit of lowering may be in order. I’ve read posts where you mentioned how lowering a car with ABC is very simple. How so?

 

I must say, those wheels do fit that vehicle to a T! Well played SL, enjoy many more miles and smiles! Damn that is a good looking car (even if I am a bit prejudiced).

 

Oh, you did well. MB knows how to make some ugly wheels do they not? Looks good.