Is traction much better with wider tires on 19s?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: On the beach
2014 Mercedes E63
Is traction much better with wider tires on 19s?
Hi,
The only reason I'm considering changing rims and tires is to improve traction.
My question to all xyz55 owners:
How much did your bigger 19s or 20s improve your traction in turns and straight line?
On the factory 18s I constantly spin out of turns and during straight line WOT. The traction control kicks in and catches it again but I would like it better if the car just had more traction.
What are the widest front/rear tires and offsets combinations an E55 and CSL55 can acommodate?
I don't want to end up with rims/tires that don't fit.
Thanks,
Oliver
The only reason I'm considering changing rims and tires is to improve traction.
My question to all xyz55 owners:
How much did your bigger 19s or 20s improve your traction in turns and straight line?
On the factory 18s I constantly spin out of turns and during straight line WOT. The traction control kicks in and catches it again but I would like it better if the car just had more traction.
What are the widest front/rear tires and offsets combinations an E55 and CSL55 can acommodate?
I don't want to end up with rims/tires that don't fit.
Thanks,
Oliver
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: orlando,fl.
2005 e55
Originally Posted by BlackBear
Hi,
The only reason I'm considering changing rims and tires is to improve traction.
My question to all xyz55 owners:
How much did your bigger 19s or 20s improve your traction in turns and straight line?
On the factory 18s I constantly spin out of turns and during straight line WOT. The traction control kicks in and catches it again but I would like it better if the car just had more traction.
What are the widest front/rear tires and offsets combinations an E55 and CSL55 can acommodate?
I don't want to end up with rims/tires that don't fit.
Thanks,
Oliver
The only reason I'm considering changing rims and tires is to improve traction.
My question to all xyz55 owners:
How much did your bigger 19s or 20s improve your traction in turns and straight line?
On the factory 18s I constantly spin out of turns and during straight line WOT. The traction control kicks in and catches it again but I would like it better if the car just had more traction.
What are the widest front/rear tires and offsets combinations an E55 and CSL55 can acommodate?
I don't want to end up with rims/tires that don't fit.
Thanks,
Oliver
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 3
From: Sydney, Australia
2017 S63 Coupe Iridium Silver
Originally Posted by BlackBear
What are the widest front/rear tires and offsets combinations an E55 and CSL55 can acommodate?
Now I upgraded to 19" and got even wider tires, but offset is critical:
Front 255/35/19 ET35 (but could run ET30, as there is no risk of fender rubbing)
Rear 285/30/19 ET38 (leaves 2 mm clearance from tire to fender, all around the top outside of the tire, under maximum compression, one wheel on high curb) No rubbing whatsoever!
Some guys went with 295/30/19 on the rear and it rubbed, triggering ESP on full acceleration, resulting in the infamous rear "wiggle " for a few hundred meters.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: On the beach
2014 Mercedes E63
Originally Posted by Rafal
I went from 265/35/18 Conti 2 to 275/35/18 PS2 and improved my traction by 200%. The ESP hardly ever lit up after the upgrade. Lateral G (cornering grip) improved by 9%
Now I upgraded to 19" and got even wider tires, but offset is critical:
Front 255/35/19 ET35 (but could run ET30, as there is no risk of fender rubbing)
Rear 285/30/19 ET38 (leaves 2 mm clearance from tire to fender, all around the top outside of the tire, under maximum compression, one wheel on high curb) No rubbing whatsoever!
Some guys went with 295/30/19 on the rear and it rubbed, triggering ESP on full acceleration, resulting in the infamous rear "wiggle " for a few hundred meters.
Now I upgraded to 19" and got even wider tires, but offset is critical:
Front 255/35/19 ET35 (but could run ET30, as there is no risk of fender rubbing)
Rear 285/30/19 ET38 (leaves 2 mm clearance from tire to fender, all around the top outside of the tire, under maximum compression, one wheel on high curb) No rubbing whatsoever!
Some guys went with 295/30/19 on the rear and it rubbed, triggering ESP on full acceleration, resulting in the infamous rear "wiggle " for a few hundred meters.
Great information. That was exactly what I was looking for.
One more question: Do the 255/35/19 and 285/30/19 maintain the same roling radius relationship so that ESP and ABS still work at optimum performance?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: orlando,fl.
2005 e55
Originally Posted by BlackBear
Great information. That was exactly what I was looking for.
One more question: Do the 255/35/19 and 285/30/19 maintain the same roling radius relationship so that ESP and ABS still work at optimum performance?
One more question: Do the 255/35/19 and 285/30/19 maintain the same roling radius relationship so that ESP and ABS still work at optimum performance?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 3
From: Sydney, Australia
2017 S63 Coupe Iridium Silver
Originally Posted by rbc55
to match factory diameter,you need 245/35/19 and 265/30/19; the 285/30/19 will slightly change the overall diameter but not enough to notice any effect on esp function.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: On the beach
2014 Mercedes E63
Originally Posted by Rafal
I went from 265/35/18 Conti 2 to 275/35/18 PS2 and improved my traction by 200%. The ESP hardly ever lit up after the upgrade. Lateral G (cornering grip) improved by 9%
Now I upgraded to 19" and got even wider tires, but offset is critical:
Front 255/35/19 ET35 (but could run ET30, as there is no risk of fender rubbing)
Rear 285/30/19 ET38 (leaves 2 mm clearance from tire to fender, all around the top outside of the tire, under maximum compression, one wheel on high curb) No rubbing whatsoever!
Some guys went with 295/30/19 on the rear and it rubbed, triggering ESP on full acceleration, resulting in the infamous rear "wiggle " for a few hundred meters.
Now I upgraded to 19" and got even wider tires, but offset is critical:
Front 255/35/19 ET35 (but could run ET30, as there is no risk of fender rubbing)
Rear 285/30/19 ET38 (leaves 2 mm clearance from tire to fender, all around the top outside of the tire, under maximum compression, one wheel on high curb) No rubbing whatsoever!
Some guys went with 295/30/19 on the rear and it rubbed, triggering ESP on full acceleration, resulting in the infamous rear "wiggle " for a few hundred meters.
I forgot to ask if your rims are 8.5 and 9.5 since that is important when comparing offset/ET.
Thanks.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 3
From: Sydney, Australia
2017 S63 Coupe Iridium Silver
Originally Posted by BlackBear
I forgot to ask if your rims are 8.5 and 9.5 since that is important when comparing offset/ET.
Thanks.
Thanks.
What the width does do, is either stretch or compress the tire to give it a different sectional width from the nominal 245, 255, 275, 285 mm etc.
My front 255/35/19 on 8.5" rim are 255mm wide but the rears 285/30/19 mounted on 9.5" rim are "only" 279mm wide. They will only "stretch" to 285mm width on a 10" wide rim.
You add/deduct 5mm/0.2" from the sectional width for every 0.5" of rim width
deviation from the "ideal" size. That recommended size , as well as the maximum and minimum rim width is listed on every manufacturer's tire sizes table. l
