Downsizing Wheels - Any Experience?

[Wighty]

What do they look like from the drivers or passenger seat is what’s important…

That’s how I roll buddy

 

[Noddy 99]

Think I'm going for one of these in the 16"...

The silver ones are £90 cheaper than the polished grey. However, wide spaces between the spokes always means that you can see the rust on the hubs and calipers...

Any thoughts? I might just put it to the vote. My car is an iridium silver estate. Lots of silver.

 

[LostKiwi]

What do they look like from the drivers or passenger seat is what’s important…

Known as the 'arris view.....

 

[curious]

Do make sure whatever size you intend going with your insurance company are ok with it. Aside from different (i.e cosmetic) appearance, they really won't like them if they're a size that Mercedes don't offer as an option on your vehicle.

 

[Blobcat]

Do make sure whatever size you intend going with your insurance company are ok with it. Aside from different (i.e cosmetic) appearance, they really won't like them if they're a size that Mercedes don't offer as an option on your vehicle.

16” are standard on W211 E280’s

 

[JBell]

Just spoken to a very helpful guy at Wheelbase who do tyre and wheel packages. They recommend conservatively so they can guarantee fitment and have offered me these options for all-season tyres and wheels, inc. delivery:

235x45x17 @ £954
225x45x17 @ £904

205x60x16 @ £824

He is not that helpful though, the 17" tyres should be 245/45 R17 all round!!!!!

16" is 225/55 R16 all round

Decent set of Rucha here

Mercedes 211 16" 'Rucha' alloy wheels . Set of four. A2114502114 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mercedes 211 16" 'Rucha' alloy wheels . Set of four. A2114502114 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Use Goodyear efficient Grip tyres

 

[Noddy 99]

He is not that helpful though, the 17" tyres should be 245/45 R17 all round!!!!!

No - that's two different quotations for two different tyre options. Hence the two different prices for 4 by the side...

 

[JBell]

No - that's two different quotations for two different tyre options. Hence the two different prices for 4 by the side...

All of which are the WRONG tyre sizes for your car so his quote is about as helpful as a chocolate Teapot!!!!

 

[Noddy 99]

All of which are the WRONG tyre sizes for your car so his quote is about as helpful as a chocolate Teapot!!!!

So what is the RIGHT size for 17s? Bear in mind that, for a given wheel size (7.5J), a number of different tyre options are available.

Wheelbase is one of the largest wheel retailers in the UK. They can't afford to make a mistake; that's why he checked me out against his Mercedes database and took his time to talk me through the options.

Try to be constructive instead of just pointing out what you think everyone has got wrong.

 

[JBell]

So what is the RIGHT size for 17s? Bear in mind that, for a given wheel size (7.5J), a number of different tyre options are available.

I posted the correct size for 17" tyres in post #26 (245/45 R17), the standard (OEM) wheel size is an 8x17" ET38 all round as posted by @Wighty this maintains the speedo reading and gearing on the car.

Confirmed here:

17" Mercedes 5 Twin Spoke wheels in 9709 Sterling Silver - Alloy Wheels Direct (44675)

Genuine 17" Mercedes 5 Twin Spoke wheels in 9709 Sterling Silver for your Mercedes E Class S211 Estate. Quick Delivery from Alloy Wheels Direct (Part No. B66472159)

www.alloywheelsdirect.net

Try to be constructive instead of just pointing out what you think everyone has got wrong.

You also need to consider if you go for a narrower tyre with the same side wall profile you reduce the size of the side wall therefore reducing the increased comfort level you seek by doing this.

Wheelbase may be massive but in this instance they are wrong and I sold wheels and tyres for 5 years so am coming from a knowledgeable background on this.

 

[Noddy 99]

Very much doubt you will get £500 for W211 wheels buddy , I would think £300 on eBay maybe if they are good condition . The trouble with wheel pricing is that if someone is looking for a set and they see an exchange like the first link I posted, they are good as new for just over £300 , why would anyone pay more ?
As to tyres I shop round before I need them normally , for £16’s I often pay about £50-60 from the likes of Camskill or Tyreleader , then my local garage fits for £10 each

Don't forget mine are genuine Mercedes and come with premium tyres (5-6mm all round)...

 

[Noddy 99]

I posted the correct size for 17" tyres in post #26 (245/45 R17), the standard (OEM) wheel size is an 8x17" ET38 all round as posted by @Wighty this maintains the speedo reading and gearing on the car.

Confirmed here:

17" Mercedes 5 Twin Spoke wheels in 9709 Sterling Silver - Alloy Wheels Direct (44675)

Genuine 17" Mercedes 5 Twin Spoke wheels in 9709 Sterling Silver for your Mercedes E Class S211 Estate. Quick Delivery from Alloy Wheels Direct (Part No. B66472159)

www.alloywheelsdirect.net

You also need to consider if you go for a narrower tyre with the same side wall profile you reduce the size of the side wall therefore reducing the increased comfort level you seek by doing this.

Wheelbase may be massive but in this instance they are wrong and I sold wheels and tyres for 5 years so am coming from a knowledgeable background on this.

OK; I respect your input but it looks like there are more options available than the narrow set of "standard" configurations you are pointing to, depending on the rim size. For example, the W211 came with 205/60/16 OR 225/55/16 for different rim sizes. Similar story for 17s.

If you go by the manual (as I did there), then 16" rims were not even offered as an option on the E280 CDI Sport, so it's impossible to say what "my size" needs to be. A limiting factor MAY be the distance to the brake caliper but, apart from that, it seems there is no barrier to fitting 16" wheels and having EITHER 205/60 OR 225/55. Either way the speedo discrepancy is about 1.7%.

Extrapolating from this, I'm sure the same principle would apply to 17" wheels, i.e. a RANGE of options, not just the single one you specify.

Anyway, I'm driving up to their shop in Oldham tomorrow to get a face-to-face consultation.

 

[M80]

The cars handbook will detail tyre size options as considered suitable by MB and acceptable to insurance.
That would include winter / summer and load ratings.

On the 639's I have run on 75 profile rather than the listed 65's. Insurance could be silly sods in the event, but I considered that it would have to be a serious event for them to investigate to that degree. Realising it's only a simple look see of course.

On a hi value vehicle that risk is greater, pretty obvious really. So to some extent I accepted the principle of self insuring. 3rd parties would still be paid out so it is a personal risk consideration.

Likely as not my comments will invite a deluge of self righteous response's, so be it.
In my defence the hi quality tyres fitted would for sure be safer than propper tyres fitted by many clean living types.

 

[Noddy 99]

The cars handbook will detail tyre size options as considered suitable by MB and acceptable to insurance.
That would include winter / summer and load ratings.

On the 639's I have run on 75 profile rather than the listed 65's. Insurance could be silly sods in the event, but I considered that it would have to be a serious event for them to investigate to that degree. Realising it's only a simple look see of course.

On a hi value vehicle that risk is greater, pretty obvious really. So to some extent I accepted the principle of self insuring. 3rd parties would still be paid out so it is a personal risk consideration.

Likely as not my comments will invite a deluge of self righteous response's, so be it.
In my defence the hi quality tyres fitted would for sure be safer than propper tyres fitted by many clean living types.

No, you're right - I WILL be running it past my insurers.

 

[Wighty]

Don't forget mine are genuine Mercedes and come with premium tyres (5-6mm all round)...

Fingers crossed buddy , i hope it works out

 

[JBell]

OK; I respect your input but it looks like there are more options available than the narrow set of "standard" configurations you are pointing to, depending on the rim size. For example, the W211 came with 205/60/16 OR 225/55/16 for different rim sizes. Similar story for 17s.

Yup but a 235/45 R17 and 225/45 R17 are smaller (and smaller again) than the OEM size so the speedo and gearing WILL be affected and you will have less ride quality than a 245/45 R17 due to a smaller Side wall.

It will also affect your fuel consumption.

I am trying to advise you based on the correct OEM fitment and Alloy Wheels Direct are ALWAYS bang on with their fitments.

If you go by the manual (as I did there), then 16" rims were not even offered as an option on the E280 CDI Sport, so it's impossible to say what "my size" needs to be. A limiting factor MAY be the distance to the brake caliper but, apart from that, it seems there is no barrier to fitting 16" wheels and having EITHER 205/60 OR 225/55. Either way the speedo discrepancy is about 1.7%.

I think it is a brake issue as well, that car will have big brakes so clearance for a 16" may well be and issue (It may also be wheel shape but that is a whole other conversation)

I know the wheels @Wighty posted will bolt straight on fitted with 245/45 R17" tyres and there will be NO issues at all (including insurance)

Extrapolating from this, I'm sure the same principle would apply to 17" wheels, i.e. a RANGE of options, not just the single one you specify.

There are BUT you need to keep the rolling ratio of the tyre as close to OEM as possible so you may as well fit the OEM recommended tyre size, there are loads of 17" OEM MB wheels available, see here:

Mercedes E Class Estate Alloys (S211) - Alloy Wheels Direct

Get some new Mercedes E Class Estate alloys. Visit Alloy Wheels Direct for genuine Mercedes & aftermarket alloys to fit your E Class Estate S211 - In Stock.

www.alloywheelsdirect.net

BUT they all state the same size tyre (Unless staggered)!!

To give you an example of tyre prices:

Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 17" R17" - 245/45/17, 245/45R17

www.camskill.co.uk

This looks fantastic value with £5 off each tyre if you buy 2 or more:

Uniroyal Tyres / Car / Uniroyal RainSport 5 - 245/45 R17 99Y XL FR TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: A NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 72dB Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 17" R17" - 245/45/17, 245/45R17

Buy online cheap Uniroyal Tyres / Car / Uniroyal RainSport 5 - 245/45 R17 99Y XL FR TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: A NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 72dB

www.camskill.co.uk

 

[JBell]

For example, the W211 came with 205/60/16 OR 225/55/16 for different rim sizes. Similar story for 17s.

Yup BUT they both have the same circumference

 

[Noddy 99]

Yup BUT they both have the same circumference

I do appreciate the time you've taken on this and I respect your expertise.

I've been on a number of configuration sites and dialled in all the various options. The maximum speedo discrepancy I came across was 1.7% which equates to a discrepancy of 1km/hr at 60kph. I think I can cope with that so it's NOT a point of pedantic contention or a deal-breaker.

Remember I'm getting new rims and tyres as a package - as long as the rims fit the tyres, the rims clear the calipers and the speedo discrepancy is marginal, surely I'm good to go. It's a completely virgin fitment so what are the limitations? Why can't I fit ET33 rims, for example?

These options are all available on the Wheelbase website under W211. If you're right, then literally thousands of people must have been sold the wrong wheels. The company would have been shut down.

Regarding the range of options, I went on an Oponeo configurator just to check rim flexibility. For a 225/55/16 tyre, then there are SIX different rim sizes that will fit that tyre size. Work the other way round and there will be a range of tyres which will fit a specific rim.

If your only worry is the speedo discrepancy, then rest easy - 1.7% is fine. I DO accept your point about tyre width/ride comfort, though, so thanks for that.

 

[JBell]

I've been on a number of configuration sites and dialled in all the various options. The maximum speedo discrepancy I came across was 1.7% which equates to a discrepancy of 1km/hr at 60kph. I think I can cope with that so it's NOT a point of pedantic contention or a deal-breaker.

The MAX recommended variation from OEM is + / - 1.5%

Remember I'm getting new rims and tyres as a package - as long as the rims fit the tyres, the rims clear the calipers and the speedo discrepancy is marginal, surely I'm good to go. It's a completely virgin fitment so what are the limitations? Why can't I fit ET33 rims, for example?

You can vary ET, the lower the number the further out the wheels will sit in the arch (This is why people use Spacers) and as there is loads of room in a W211 arch it is no real issue particularly in the rear BUT I wouldn't use a higher ET as that can cause caliper clearance issues, this is also effected by the wheel width so a 7.5" ET33 wheel will sit further in the arch than a 8" ET33 wheel

Regarding the range of options, I went on an Oponeo configurator just to check rim flexibility. For a 225/55/16 tyre, then there are SIX different rim sizes that will fit that tyre size. Work the other way round and there will be a range of tyres which will fit a specific rim.

Yup, a certain width tyre will fit on a range of rim widths so a 245 wide tyre will fit rims from 7 - 9" wide with 8" being the optimal size hence MB using that fitment on their cars.


One of the tyre sizes WB quotes was a 225/45 R17, this is way out and should be a 225/50 R17 on your car

Personally I would buy these, have them refurbed and stick a set of Uniroyal RS5 on them

Mercedes E Class 17” Alloy Wheels | eBay

<p>Mercedes E Class 17” Alloy Wheels. </p><p> </p><p>Alloys have lacquer peel and corrosion. Would look great refurbished </p><br /><p>See pictures </p>

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Noddy 99]

The MAX recommended variation from OEM is + / - 1.5%



You can vary ET, the lower the number the further out the wheels will sit in the arch (This is why people use Spacers) and as there is loads of room in a W211 arch it is no real issue particularly in the rear BUT I wouldn't use a higher ET as that can cause caliper clearance issues, this is also effected by the wheel width so a 7.5" ET33 wheel will sit further in the arch than a 8" ET33 wheel



Yup, a certain width tyre will fit on a range of rim widths so a 245 wide tyre will fit rims from 7 - 9" wide with 8" being the optimal size hence MB using that fitment on their cars.


One of the tyre sizes WB quotes was a 225/45 R17, this is way out and should be a 225/50 R17 on your car

Personally I would buy these, have them refurbed and stick a set of Uniroyal RS5 on them

Mercedes E Class 17” Alloy Wheels | eBay

<p>Mercedes E Class 17” Alloy Wheels. </p><p> </p><p>Alloys have lacquer peel and corrosion. Would look great refurbished </p><br /><p>See pictures </p>

www.ebay.co.uk

OK; thanks for your advice. Those wheels are 175 miles away from me + refurb will be £300 + tyres on top - doesn't make financial sense, unfortunately.

I'm pretty much decided I'm going to go with 16" - if I'm spending best part of a grand, I want to notice a BIG difference in the ride quality...