Alloys W204

[raklfc2015]

Hi All,

Please can someone advise on alloys wheels for C class W204 (2011 facefit). I currently have the standard 16inch wheels and I feel it's time for a upgrade. Any Advise or recommendation would be greatly Appreciated.

Thanks guys

 

[Chrishazle]

I've recently changed from standard 16" 12 spoke Elegance spec wheels to 17" 5 twin spoke AMG rims with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asynnetric tyres - 225/45 front 245/40 rear. Ride quality is as good or better than on the 16's, much less tyre noise (tyres have EU rating CAA) and car feels much more precise and planted. Even SWMBO, both as passenger and when driving the car, is really happy.

 

[raklfc2015]

..

 

[raklfc2015]

Thanks for you advise Chrishazle. Not sure whether I should go for something bigger in size, either 18in or 19in. Guess I will have to investigate further before I decide. Can anyone recommend any trusted sellers?

Cheers

 

[Chrishazle]

Accepted wisdom is that the bigger the rims, the harder the ride - and the more expensive the tyres, the more the risk of kerbing the rims.

Look in the back of your owners manual, you'll find the correct spec for recommended rims and tyres - rim width (7, 7.5, 8J etc) and ET. Then look on here, MBOA, Ebay and Pistonheads for a second hand set and allow £300 for full strip, refurb and powder coat.

 

[Meldrew2]

I changed from 16" Elegance spec to 18" without finding the ride noticeably harsher - but the car's handling was sharpened up nicely.

Now I've sold the car, I'd like to sell the wheels. No luck on eBay - I'll take £500 collected - that's for all 4 wheels & 4 tyres - they cost me more than double that and I only used them for a couple of months. They don't fit my new car and they are taking up a lot of space...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-general-sale/195483-w204-18-alloys-tyres-new.html

 

[Chrishazle]

Horses for courses - I'd read on here and MBOA that increasing rim size made for compromises, so I bought 17's prepared to sell them if they didn't work - thankfully they did. The only way the OP can decide is to find a way to test drive a similar car on different rim sizes. From mu experience I'd be surprised if 18's were comfortable.

 

[Meldrew2]

Al I can say is that I lived with 18" on my W204 for a couple of months, and despite having a bad back I felt no difference in the ride quality. I guess that was due to the good suspension of the C class elegance - perhaps the sports suspension might have told a different story.

The tyres are still 40 profile - so there is sufficient rubber, they're not "Rap Artist" slim…

Incidentally, the BMW I bought to replace the C class has 18 inch as standard - 45 section - but nothing like as smooth a ride. I guess the "runflat" tyres might be contributing to this - I'm considering a change to traditional tyres.

Note- the C class was sold because it was too low for my elderly mother to get in and out, nothing to do with the wheels. The original wheels were refitted when the car was PX'ed.

 

[Chrishazle]

Meldrew2, apologies if I unintentionally stepped out of line, and I agree on one aspect, the Elegance spec suspension probably helps a lot! One additional aspect I discovered talking to an SL400 owner today, the rim protect aspect of the Eagle F1's is good - her previous car had 18" rims and she was forever kerbing them, did not know you can get tyres with rim protection - and I don't know if they're available on 18's for our cars!

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

I'll be selling my sport alloys soon

However you'd probably prefer the ones I'm upgrading to which are the seven spoke facelift sport wheels! Can't think of any other alloys that look nicer for these, unless we're talking about the more expensive AMG wheels

 

[raklfc2015]

Hi ash59fifty.

What size are the wheels and are you able to post pics ? Thanks

 

[nigel cross]

Why is this post still here? Totally wrong section

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Hi ash59fifty. What size are the wheels and are you able to post pics ? Thanks

They're 18" the standard sport ones on the prefacelift, if this rain ever stops ill grab some pics. Not sure if 18's would affect your drive though maybe some 17's would be better?