SLK/R171: Need advice on 19" wheels
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
Need advice on 19" wheels
My tires are starting to go so I'm thinking about getting new wheels while I'm at it. I looked at some 18" wheels on a C-class and they don't seem a whole lot bigger than the stock 17s I have right now so I want to go to 19".
Has anyone put 19s on their 350 or 280 without lowering the car? How did it look? With the sport bumpers and bad roads around here, I'm skeptical about lowering the car. How much of a drop do lowering springs give? If they exactly counter the raise you get from moving to 19s I'm fine with that...but if they go lower then I might have a problem.
Has anyone put 19s on their 350 or 280 without lowering the car? How did it look? With the sport bumpers and bad roads around here, I'm skeptical about lowering the car. How much of a drop do lowering springs give? If they exactly counter the raise you get from moving to 19s I'm fine with that...but if they go lower then I might have a problem.
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From: San Jose, Bay Area
2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
hmm i would wanna know as well too, i heard run-flat tires also run out about 10k miles, and i heard run flat tires also use special RIMS too?? correct me if i am wrong, i don't think stock SLK350 suspension would get you low tho since you can already tell by looking at your wheel gap, SLK55 suspension is different story 
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
Wow I can't believe this forum is so empty. I think it'll look fine. The SLK350 is plenty low from the factory and 19's will compliment it quite nicely without any extra lowering. If you get the proper sizes, 19" wheels and tires won't "raise" your car either.
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
Yea man, the SLK section is DEAD! I think there are more SLK55 owners on here than SLK280/350 people.
What is the proper size 19" wheels for this car? I believe Tire Rack recommended 19x8 for the front and 19x9 for the back but what do most people go with?
What is the proper size 19" wheels for this car? I believe Tire Rack recommended 19x8 for the front and 19x9 for the back but what do most people go with?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
AFAIK, R171 SLK has very very similar wheel fitment as the W203 C-Class. Largest you can go is 19x8.5 in the front and 19x9.5 in the rear. I've seen the same set of Bremmas I have on my car on a R171 so I know those will fit.
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From: Colorado, USA
MBZ SLK
Haven't been here in awhile, spend most of my time on slkworld. Well here's your answer.
1. 19"s will fit perfectly, many people have 19"s on their SLK280/350.
2. Will look horrible w/o lowering, too much fender gap, lower springs are cheap, around $250 and I wrote a tutorial some time ago on how to lower it yourself.
3. Most lower springs are around one inch drop, with coilovers, you can do 2" but not recommended, lowering an inch with 19"s will bring you to factory height. I measure it with 17"s and 19"s and it's abou an inch higher w/o lowering. Someone else on the forum had 3/4" to be exact.
4. No, with 19"s, you will have to go with 235/35 fronts and 265/30, probably inflated, it'll raise 3/4" w/o lowering, Eibach/Brabus lowers it 3/4" inch so you will be back to exactly factory height. Do it.
5. Tireracks recommendation will fit, most people have 19x8.5 fronts and 19x9.5 rears, that is the ideal size in my opinion. I have 19x8.5 fronts and 19x10 but I don't recommend it b/c the max tire size for the rears are 265/30 and with 10" width it's a bit stretch, 9.5" width would be ideal as you will have some rubber to protect your wheels.
1. 19"s will fit perfectly, many people have 19"s on their SLK280/350.
2. Will look horrible w/o lowering, too much fender gap, lower springs are cheap, around $250 and I wrote a tutorial some time ago on how to lower it yourself.
3. Most lower springs are around one inch drop, with coilovers, you can do 2" but not recommended, lowering an inch with 19"s will bring you to factory height. I measure it with 17"s and 19"s and it's abou an inch higher w/o lowering. Someone else on the forum had 3/4" to be exact.
4. No, with 19"s, you will have to go with 235/35 fronts and 265/30, probably inflated, it'll raise 3/4" w/o lowering, Eibach/Brabus lowers it 3/4" inch so you will be back to exactly factory height. Do it.
5. Tireracks recommendation will fit, most people have 19x8.5 fronts and 19x9.5 rears, that is the ideal size in my opinion. I have 19x8.5 fronts and 19x10 but I don't recommend it b/c the max tire size for the rears are 265/30 and with 10" width it's a bit stretch, 9.5" width would be ideal as you will have some rubber to protect your wheels.
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
Thanks a lot Ynot, you rock! So 19s and lower springs it is.
I ran over a big pot hole yesterday and started thinking about what would happen if I wasn't running stock wheels. But I'm planning on getting some of those ultra light and ultra strong wheels so I should be more or less fine, right?
BTW, I also posted on slkworld but didn't get a reply. At least not an email notification...maybe I'll login and check my settings haha.
I ran over a big pot hole yesterday and started thinking about what would happen if I wasn't running stock wheels. But I'm planning on getting some of those ultra light and ultra strong wheels so I should be more or less fine, right?
BTW, I also posted on slkworld but didn't get a reply. At least not an email notification...maybe I'll login and check my settings haha.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Colorado, USA
MBZ SLK
Thanks a lot Ynot, you rock! So 19s and lower springs it is.
I ran over a big pot hole yesterday and started thinking about what would happen if I wasn't running stock wheels. But I'm planning on getting some of those ultra light and ultra strong wheels so I should be more or less fine, right?
BTW, I also posted on slkworld but didn't get a reply. At least not an email notification...maybe I'll login and check my settings haha.
I ran over a big pot hole yesterday and started thinking about what would happen if I wasn't running stock wheels. But I'm planning on getting some of those ultra light and ultra strong wheels so I should be more or less fine, right?
BTW, I also posted on slkworld but didn't get a reply. At least not an email notification...maybe I'll login and check my settings haha.
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From: San Jose, Bay Area
2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
i say no on Lowering spring... especially on a SLK...
i remember my nightmare with Lowering spring on my C-coupe
it sux big time... i thought Spring would be a way to go because i was on budget
now with Bilstein PSS9!
WOOOWFHLKFJAWEFGKL;HAWEFGL;OHAWEGFKL;HF LGHOAWEIK FHQWE
i remember my nightmare with Lowering spring on my C-coupe
it sux big time... i thought Spring would be a way to go because i was on budget
now with Bilstein PSS9!
WOOOWFHLKFJAWEFGKL;HAWEFGL;OHAWEGFKL;HF LGHOAWEIK FHQWE
Thread Starter
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
When I had a W208 CLK, changing springs alone was a big no-no...you either had to do a cup kit or springs + shocks together. I talked with Neal@Euroteck and he said that they improved the suspenson on the R171 such that you can do lowering springs alone and be fine. I'm not sure, maybe the C coupe has a similar issue as the CLK?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Colorado, USA
MBZ SLK
When I had a W208 CLK, changing springs alone was a big no-no...you either had to do a cup kit or springs + shocks together. I talked with Neal@Euroteck and he said that they improved the suspenson on the R171 such that you can do lowering springs alone and be fine. I'm not sure, maybe the C coupe has a similar issue as the CLK?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
OK so I'm thinking of putting on some black 360 Forged Spec|5ive wheels on the car. I'm just not sure how black wheels will look on a Caspian Blue car. Are there any members with a dark car and black wheels? I hate cleaning brake dust, but I also want the car to look good when it is clean...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Colorado, USA
MBZ SLK
OK so I'm thinking of putting on some black 360 Forged Spec|5ive wheels on the car. I'm just not sure how black wheels will look on a Caspian Blue car. Are there any members with a dark car and black wheels? I hate cleaning brake dust, but I also want the car to look good when it is clean...
Thread Starter
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
Wheels are on! https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....&postcount=295
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From: Virginia USA
SLK55///AMG The MONSTER on the block
Nineteen inch wheels are the way to go. Do a search on eBay for "19" SLK wheels" and you'll get tons of wheels to look at and choose from. That's a start. I paid around $2500 for wheels and tires for my SLK 55. Plenty of 19" wheels only starting around $700.
