Wheel Question For 124

[twickman]

Hi there

I just bought 4 Merc wheels off ebay for my '93 320ce coupe. Couldn't get original 8-hole replacements cheap enough so got other ones off an SL.

However, I've just read up on sizes and although my 'new' wheels are 16" and the originals were 15", (which I knew and thought would be OK), also my original's width was 6.5J whereas these new ones are 8J.

I need to put new tyres on them and get these fitted to the car but not if they're simply going to scrape and just not fit

Does anyone know if they should fit OK or not? My suspension is as original

Thanks a lot for your help.

Dave

 

[television]

I fitted the same size to my 300TE and did not have a problem, The SL was based on a 124 and uses the same off set, Do you have any tyres at all on them.

Malcolm

 

[twickman]

124 Wheels

Phew, that's good news.

Yes they have Pirellis on them at moment, but 2 need replacing. Any idea of what tyres would do? Don't want the most expensive but don't want cheap rubbish either.

Thanks v much for your kind reply.

Dave

 

[television]

Why not just put one on the front and put the wheels on full lock, both ways ,spinning the wheel, As I said earlier should be no problem, if the wheel did just rub, you can always fit a spacer.the back wheels are never a problem.
Tyres are always hard, there are some good buys around on Dunlops right now. The Yokohama Avids have a good name in the USA, and folk over there are getting 25k out of them.

Can you let me know the sizes of the original 15" tyres,and the tyres on the 16" and I can give you the size for your car.

Malcolm

 

[Bolide]

8" rims

You'll need to maintain a similar rolling radius to the 15s. You can use my tyre size calculator to find a 16" tyre similar to a 195/65 15 - a 205/55 16 is very close

Tyre Size Calculator
http://www.bolide.co.uk/actions/info.taf?page=tyresizecalculator

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[andy_k]

I've got 8J 16" rims on my W124 and after a lot of experimenting I've fitted 225/50 tyres on the rear and 205/55 on the front. You can fit 225s all round but it in my opinion it affects the handling and makes the car very prone to tramlining.

HTH

Andy

 

[twickman]

You'll need to maintain a similar rolling radius to the 15s. You can use my tyre size calculator to find a 16" tyre similar to a 195/65 15 - a 205/55 16 is very close

Tyre Size Calculator
http://www.bolide.co.uk/actions/info.taf?page=tyresizecalculator

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Thanks v much Nick, can''t access these pages right now tho... will try later.

 

[twickman]

I've got 8J 16" rims on my W124 and after a lot of experimenting I've fitted 225/50 tyres on the rear and 205/55 on the front. You can fit 225s all round but it in my opinion it affects the handling and makes the car very prone to tramlining.

HTH

Andy

Thanks, I've got 2 good 225/55 tyres on them which I think I'll put on the back, then I'll get these 205/55 on the front. What about the numbers that come after that ie Ok the R16 is wheel size but what about 91/95 etc? Any idea of decent but not topline expensive version of your front tyres?

Thanks a lot

Dave

 

[twickman]

Why not just put one on the front and put the wheels on full lock, both ways ,spinning the wheel, As I said earlier should be no problem, if the wheel did just rub, you can always fit a spacer.the back wheels are never a problem.
Tyres are always hard, there are some good buys around on Dunlops right now. The Yokohama Avids have a good name in the USA, and folk over there are getting 25k out of them.

Can you let me know the sizes of the original 15" tyres,and the tyres on the 16" and I can give you the size for your car.

Malcolm

original 15s are: 195 / 65 / R15 91H
current 2 Pirellis on the 16s that I want to keep are : 225/55 ZR16 95W

I'd like to keep these Pirellis obviously and put them on the back with new ones on front (not ideal apparently, I know) so what front ones do you think? Someone here has said they recommend 205's.

Thanks

D

 

[andy_k]

as well as putting your speedo out by a few percent the 225/55s may well foul the rear arches or the suspension - the 225/50s on mine are a very snug fit

Andy

 

[twickman]

as well as putting your speedo out by a few percent the 225/55s may well foul the rear arches or the suspension - the 225/50s on mine are a very snug fit

Andy

bugger. What does the 50 mean? the literal width of the tyre?

Thanks

D

 

[twickman]

I fitted the same size to my 300TE and did not have a problem, The SL was based on a 124 and uses the same off set, Do you have any tyres at all on them.

Malcolm

So they should be fine but only with certain tyres? Is that right?

a correspondent reckons I'd be in trouble with 225/55s at the back.

Thanks
D

 

[twickman]

I've got 8J 16" rims on my W124 and after a lot of experimenting I've fitted 225/50 tyres on the rear and 205/55 on the front. You can fit 225s all round but it in my opinion it affects the handling and makes the car very prone to tramlining.

HTH

Andy

so my 225/55s would be ok on the front? and I can get anything at or below 225/50 on the back?

D

 

[Blobcat]

bugger. What does the 50 mean? the literal width of the tyre?

Thanks

D

The 50 is the aspect ratio - width to height. Simply the lower the No. the smaller the sidewall.

 

[clive williams]

I fitted the same size to my 300TE and did not have a problem, The SL was based on a 124 and uses the same off set, Do you have any tyres at all on them.

Malcolm

Malcolm, I'm surprised! My 500E has enormous front wheel arches to allow the fitment of the 8J ET35 16 rims. I accept that the suspension is also lowered but I would have expected severe arch rubbing on lock with energetic driving??

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[clive williams]

I've got 8J 16" rims on my W124 and after a lot of experimenting I've fitted 225/50 tyres on the rear and 205/55 on the front. You can fit 225s all round but it in my opinion it affects the handling and makes the car very prone to tramlining.

HTH

Andy

Andy, the 225s are the minimum size that should be fitted to 8J rims. Your 205 are stretched too tightly onto the beads. The net effect of this is to pinch the tread pattern affecting wet performance and braking. Also you will have to run higher than normal pressures so as not to concave the tread. I doubt whether any of the tyre manufacturers would sanction such a fitment and the tyre fitting centre are now liable for the consequences.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[television]

Andy, the 225s are the minimum size that should be fitted to 8J rims. Your 205 are stretched too tightly onto the beads. The net effect of this is to pinch the tread pattern affecting wet performance and braking. Also you will have to run higher than normal pressures so as not to concave the tread. I doubt whether any of the tyre manufacturers would sanction such a fitment and the tyre fitting centre are now liable for the consequences.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

You had better tell Volvo, My car V70R came with 205x40 tyres on 8J rims as standard. OK I have since gone up to 215x45 because I want a higher side wall.

malcolm

 

[television]

Malcolm, I'm surprised! My 500E has enormous front wheel arches to allow the fitment of the 8J ET35 16 rims. I accept that the suspension is also lowered but I would have expected severe arch rubbing on lock with energetic driving??

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

I do not understand what wrong with my post Clive.

Malcolm

 

[television]

bugger. What does the 50 mean? the literal width of the tyre?

Thanks

D

The first figure is the width of the tyre, the next,is the percentage of the width. So a 205 x 50 would have a 102 sidewall

Malcolm

 

[Juddian]

hi dave. ref 16'' x 8j wheels on a 124 we run the same size wheels on goergeous's estate. the wheels were fitted with 215/55 x 16 tyres as standard and they are perfect widthwise, however under fast cornering or similar the front tyres can catch the top lip of wheelarch or even the plastic cover behind wheel. we sourced 215/50 x 16 for the fronts and no probs. the rears are fine i think your 225's will be ok. clive is right 205,s will be quite a stretch for an 8 incher!!! good luck. Ya,ll have a nice day.