Is my rubber too wide??

Dean Fletcher

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I didn’t really want to have to do any alterations to the arches. I’m going to rethink my options and look into 17” rims now I think
Or just smaller tyres? There cheaper aswell. My continental cost around 160 a piece.
 

flowrider

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You cant just change the wheel diameter, you will need to check the correct wheel and tyre dimensions so that the rolling radius matches the car.
 

A.J.

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295's are just bonkers, the car would not behave properly on those. Mine has 235 front and 255 rears. Just had a new set of P Zero rears just before Christmas and they were just short of £250 for the pair. Makes far more sense both with handling and cost. :)
 

AMGeed

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18,s and 19,s can both work with your SLK provided they are the correct fitment to start with. Check the ET in the link above before you buy anything.
 

RhodieBill

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The R170 SLK AMG had 17" Staggered Wheels as Standard.

THE FRONT WHEELS -

17 X 7.5 ET37 Tyre 225 45 17

THE REAR WHEELS -

17 X 8.5 ET30 Tyre 245 40 17

You could of course fit 18's but keep to the same ET +/- 1 or 2mm. You could fit wider rims 8 and 9 with wider rubber but you would have to go lower on the Aspect ratio, that's the 40 and 45. The Aspect ratio is a percentage of the width of the tyre, so you would have t0 go lower on that to keep the total diameter the same.

You can use this calculator to work it out. https://tiresize.com/comparison/

You put the original size tyre in the first, Size 1 and then put the wanted size tyre in Size 2 and to make sure the overall diameter is within 1-2%

This is an example of my wheels and tyres. You will see the Diameter remains the same even though I have wider tyres on the rear. The Aspect Ratio goes from 45 front to 40 rear. https://tiresize.com/comparison/
(I have 18" staggered AMG Wheels).
Good luck.
 
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JBell

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I didn’t really want to have to do any alterations to the arches. I’m going to rethink my options and look into 17” rims now I think

Just make sure the wheels are this spec or as close as and no mods needed

Front wheels: 7.5Jx18 ET37
Rear Wheels: 8.5Jx18 ET30

Front Tyres: 225/40R18 92W XL
Rear Tyres: 255/35R18 94W XL

The wheels you have will sit (from OEM specs):

23mm further out on the front with 11mm more inner clearance
9mm further out on the rear with 3mm less inner clearance

The rears will be ok but the front will probably not, a trial fit would be advisable

These will fit straight on

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-Genui...351445?hash=item2f2f51c715:g:0ksAAOSwIztcuXas

As will these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Mercedes-Benz-SLK-AMG-18-Staggered-Alloy-Wheels-Refurbished/223490978508?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20131017132637&meid=28ac6f269c7f40c0a9f8377ea4a9fa72&pid=100033&rk=8&rkt=8&sd=303106469955&itm=223490978508&_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042
 
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JBell

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I like these, probably look good on mine, but fitting might be a problem.

They are lovely, a right pain in the bum to clean though
 
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rikvdub

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I found a set of wheels that I like and there 17” however there staggered fronts 8.5j and rears 10j but the offset is 13 & 20

Would these fit ok or will I need to fit spacers? Thanks Rik
 

LostKiwi

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I found a set of wheels that I like and there 17” however there staggered fronts 8.5j and rears 10j but the offset is 13 & 20

Would these fit ok or will I need to fit spacers? Thanks Rik
Spacers will make them worse. 10" is probably too wide for your car.
 

AMGeed

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I found a set of wheels that I like and there 17” however there staggered fronts 8.5j and rears 10j but the offset is 13 & 20

Would these fit ok or will I need to fit spacers? Thanks Rik


Nope, even worse fitment than the others you were considering.
J Bell in Post #28 covers what you need to know. Its all about the ET and the correct width rim.
 
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rikvdub

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Picking wheels is a nightmare! First you have to find a set that you actually like (a lot) then you have to make sure they fit and once you got all that you then have to chose the correct rubber. But if you ain’t got all the above or even just two out the three your straight back to square one I’ve literally spent hours looking at wheels, my minds going mad
 

flowrider

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Your going the wrong way about it. I would first decide on the wheel spec that fits my vehicle, then look for the wheels and finally decide on the correct size tyres. You appear to be looking for the wheels first without knowing what will fit on your car. Just a thought :D
 
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rikvdub

rikvdub

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I think I’m just being picky. I don’t want to buy wheels just for the sake of it nor do I want then to be like everyone else. Something a little different
 

RhodieBill

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Rikvdub - Just for your information the LOWER the ET Number the MORE they will stick. So by adding Spacers would actually make the ET Number Lower, not higher.

You would fit Spacer if the ET Number was too high, so if you need an ET of 37 but found wheels with an ET of 47 you would fit Spacers 10mm thick to bring the ET Number down to the required 37....

A lot of people were saying those sizes will make it worse without explaining why....
 

JBell

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Picking wheels is a nightmare! First you have to find a set that you actually like (a lot) then you have to make sure they fit

What style wheel are you looking for?

Once you got all that you then have to chose the correct rubber.

The tyre size is fixed in order to maintain the correct gearing etc

17"

225/45 R17 Front
245/40 R17 Rear

18"
225/40 R18 Front
255/35 R18 Rear

19"

225/35 R18 Front
255/30 R19 Rear
 
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rikvdub

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Ok so I’ve chosen a set of wheels and they are.......

Front wheels : 8J 18 ET20 5x112
Rear wheels : 9J 18 ET27 5x112

And the tyre sizes will be.....

Front 225/40/18
Rears 255/35/18

Will this set up be ok? Because as JBell states the wheels should be 7.5 and 8.5 however mine are 8 and 9. Will these ok and will the tyres fit these wheels or would they be stretched? Thanks
 

LostKiwi

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Ok so I’ve chosen a set of wheels and they are.......

Front wheels : 8J 18 ET20 5x112
Rear wheels : 9J 18 ET27 5x112

And the tyre sizes will be.....

Front 225/40/18
Rears 255/35/18

Will this set up be ok? Because as JBell states the wheels should be 7.5 and 8.5 however mine are 8 and 9. Will these ok and will the tyres fit these wheels or would they be stretched? Thanks
No they won't work either. The ET cannot be a significantly lower number than was quoted earlier i.e. Front ET 37, Rear ET 30.
The front rims you're looking at are ET20 so will stick out further which will likely cause them to catch the wheel arches.
 


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