E320 CDI wheels and tyres

[CL420]

Hello All,

New tyre time for my E320 - it has the standard 215/55 R16 alloys. I have been recommended to look at Michelin Primacy tyres, and have a good price from Micheldever tyres who I think are well known on this site? However, I've always thought these wheels looked a bit weedy on the car - my last E class had 18 inch Kahns which were a bit over the top, but I'd like something better on this one. I have seen some apparently genuine 17 in MB alloys fitted with 225/45 R17 tyres - question is, is this the right size? Every other E class I have seen with 17 in wheels has always had 235/45 tyres, so will these be the wrong overall diameter?

Grateful for your views - perhaps I should just go for the new Michelins?

 

[CL420]

picture of 17 in wheel

 

[fuzzer]

if its a w210 then 235/45/17 is the correct size all round. if its a w211 then its 245/45/17

 

[greggster]

I have the 245's on my W211 as i was told that is the correct width for the larger wheels, cheers

 

[goldestate]

I have michelins find them noisy

 

[Dieselman]

I have michelins find them noisy

Having got a flat tyre on Friday I put the spare on with a Pirelli on it. It's noticeably noisier then the Michelin's on the other wheels.

As the set of Pirelli's wore down they really did sing, so much that I thought the diff was going.

 

[maddog]

I hated Primacy's on my E320 , i went to Goodyear F1 eagles , great tyres

 

[CL420]

Thanks all. Longevity is my main concern, so Primacys should be ok I am told. But will the 225 alloys fit or be too small. I have done some rough calcs which suggests the overall diameter of the wheel and tyre will be 10mm less than the 215/16 alloy already on there. Does that matter?

 

[maddog]

yes your speedometer will be out

This site should help

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

 

[CL420]

Excellent site - many thanks.

 

[Dieselman]

Why not go for 215/50-17.? This will give a 0.6% size uplift and will stop the appearance of the arch space being too great.

For ref, 225/45-17 gives a 1.3% downgrade and will make the tyres look too small.

 

[CL420]

Thanks Dieselman. UNfortunately that would require new wheels and tyres, which I can't afford. The carbibles site suggests the rolling radius difference is some 4.3mm which he suggests is close enough. But as you say, I'll always know they are actually too small, so they will always look too small to me! I'll have a ponder