MB fan2

Have SL500 not SL55, but this maybe of interest to some 55ers.

I just put 255/35-20 Michelin Pilot Sport on 20x8.5 ET30 wheel in the front - did not drive on it yet, but the tire touches the suspension bolt on the top. Was anyone successful fitting 255/35-20 in the front? If so, what tire brand and what wheel size and offset? Can anything be done to that suspension bolt and what?

245/35-20 is 4 to 5mm less in diameter, but since it is "recommended" size, those 4 to 5mm must make a difference.

Also, put 285/30-20 on 20x9.5 ET18 - no visible problems, but again I did not drive on those yet.

Any help/advice (other than going to "recommended" 245/275) is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Tezta

255/35-20 is way too big for the SL, normally people use 245/35-20 but a better choice is 255/30-20 for the front.

Do12aEmOn

20x9 and 20x11 with 255/30/20 and 305/25/20 continetal contisport2 tires

MB fan2

Thanks for replying, but there is nothing new for me there. I know that 245/35 is the size of choice (255/30 IMO has no sidewall and IMO is good for show only).

I am specifically interested to see if someone actually was successfull in putting 255/35 in front and what was needed to do to accomplish it.

deuce zer0

i have an e with 20X9's all around. my tire sizes are 225/35/20 and my tires dont rub. I dont think you have to be as drastic as me with 225 but i think 235 would look good.

MB fan2

I think there was a thread on one of the SL forums (here or elsewhere) of someone with 255/35-20 in front, but no tire brand was given, nor wheel width/offset, nor if anything special needed to be done to fit it.

Just found that thread:

"https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34237"

but jl88 provided no info on tire issue - just that there is no rubbing. I have no suspension nor fender rubbing either, but the "suspension bolt" (don't know what its called) touches the tire's middle on the top - if one looks at the gap between top of the tire and bottom of fender - dead center - one will see that bolt. It is there on all MBs I have/had: SL, E old/new, CLK, etc.

Update: just "shaved" less than 1 mm off that bolt (BTW it has a hexagon(6) or octagon(8) shaped opening in the middle of it - I think its former but can't remember which one) and now the space is "big" enough to insert a sheet of paper between the bolt and tire.

Would anyone (if any) with 255/35 installed on their or someone else's SL like to comment?

Luke@tirerack

do you have a picture of 'said' bolt ???

E55 KEV

TUNING IS A GAME OF MILLIMETERS!

IMHO, Sounds like you should have consider a 19" wheel setup since sidewall is important.

mantylar

I have 255/30/20's and 305/25/20's on my SL600. The ride is not at all harsh. I was going to put 19's on my car until my installer let me ride in an SL with the setup I now have. I do not feel that I have in anyway compromised the way my car rides.

E55 KEV

I always read opinions like "I have 20's and the ride is fine". However, they never give all information like the roads in their area. 20's on a SL is not great everywhere. Rapper/Actor "Method Man" as quoted from GQ magazine about his R230 SL:

"They're twenty-inch Lowenharts - but they're too big. You can't have twenty-inch rims in New York because of the potholes. That's why I always have a flat"

deuce zer0

i wouldnt say that the roads in nashville are nice by any means. I have personally never had a flat with my 20's. The city i live in has great roads but i spend most of my time in nashville. i do feel things on the road a lot more and once in a while i will feel something and get out thinking i have done something to one of the tires, but everyone ok so far.

MB fan2

No, Luke, have no picture, but I think its called "control arm bolt".