Hey Luke,

I'm looking at your web site and want to make sure if my wife says its ok that the following sizes will fit my 2000 e55.
19x8.5 ET 35 front with 245-35-19
19x9.5 et 37 rear with 275 -30-19

will this combination fit my 210 series e55?

 

Yo AMGE, "if wife says its ok"? I don't get that part. Anyway. I love Tire Rack and seek their advise often, but many of the recommendations for the W210 E55 1999-2002 may not work. Here is the problem - an 8.5 et35 width rim using a 245 width tire may not. The tire will rub inside. You may have to use a 235 width tire with an 8.5 et35 - which is the recommendation on regular E-Class models from 1996-2002.

This is the history. Only The US and Canada W210 E55's come with 245/40/18 up front and 275/35/18 in rear. The rest of the world got 235/40/18 & 265/35/18. Why? I don't know. So all European, Italian, Japan, etc wheel makers base all their fitment data and recommendations for a 235/40/18 tire and not a 245. When you try to use a 245/40/18 the extra 10mm of tire is too wide inside.

I upgraded to an 18x8 et35 from the standard 18x8 et31 with a Nitto 555 tire. Due to the Nitto broad shoulder it touched inside. So, I have to use a not so broad shoulder tire the Original Dunlop Sp Sport 9000. However, it is so close inside only a hair can slip between the tire and the suspension nut that the Nitto tire touched.

The Math - going from a 18x8 et31 to a 18x8 et35 moves the rim inward only 4mm so any 245 tire moving inside more than 4mm will rub. If you go from 18x8 et31 to 18x8.5 et35 the wheel moves inward 10mm. There is not 10mm of space between the tire and that nut. So to maintain the same inside space as the OEM 8.0 et31 the 8.5 inch rims would need an offset of et25. Since my 18x8 et35 has only a hairs width of space a 8.5 width rim would need to be et29. So a 8.5 width rim can only be et25 thru et29.

So, every experts on Tire Rack will say it fits, but I belive their data is generic and based on an assumption they should fit. They would need to get a W210 E55 or even a regualar E-Class and test fit all those rims using a 245 tire for any rim that moves inward more than 4mm.

Brabus rims for the W210 E-Class had offsets of 28mm for 8.5 inch widths.

This is the nut that the 245 Nitto touched and the one that only left a hairs width of space with the 245 Dunlop using an 8.0 et35 which move the 245 tire inward only 4mm:

 

THanks for the detailed information and your right when I called Tire Rack the rep said this combo will fit my car just fine.

I really do appreciate your info it definately will save me some grief.