New wheels....
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Standard fit on sport models but surely AMG wheels were never "Standard"?
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MercedesBent
Active Member
Just bought 2 185/55/R15's for the original wheels last week...will they fit?
also will there be an issue if I keep one of those size as the spare (as is at the moment)?
also will there be an issue if I keep one of those size as the spare (as is at the moment)?
Please check that tyre size, it looks wrong to me, 55 is a smaller sidewall than I would expect to see on a 185 tyre destined for a w202, 185/65/15 might be a better fit.MercedesBent said:
I worked out the tyre sizes to suggest by adding an inch of extra tyre width over the rim width. 185 is about the same width as the wheel giving zero protection at all from kerbs etc, might even expose the edge of the rim depending on the tyre and wheel style.
I think there is a ridiculously skinny steel wheel from 1993-95 which was previously fitted to the 190E, that would have taken the 185 tyres. Might have been for winter use. I think I stumbled on that in the EPC a while ago while looking for winter wheelsWill said:
Alex Argent
Active Member
These look to be exactly the same wheels as mine. FYI, they may have a ref # of HWA 202 4000102 stamped inside. The ET is 37, as was my old 'standard' wheels.
Firstly, I am in total agreement as to what has been said before on this thread concerning tyre sizes. I had some existing nearly new 195/65/15's removed from my old standard alloy 'Elegance' wheels and transferred to these AMG's. ATS advised that they would "just squeeze on", therefore there is no way 185's would be suitable. The correct size for these wheels is 205/60/15's, although I was also told that it is possible to use 215's, but not advisable.
The second issue is far more important, and I submitted a thread recently on these pages outlining the problem. See here:
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12311
Briefly, all the wheels installed perfectly at the time I had them fitted and caused no problems at all. That is UNTIL I fitted new brake pads a couple of weeks back. The new, thicker pads move the brake calipers outwards to its maximum travel, and - you've guessed - the calipers foul the wheels
!! The only way around this is to use spacers (I managed to get away with 5mm), however that also means using longer wheel bolts which amazingly I found extremely difficult to get hold of (I tried 3 different stealerships - ended up getting them from 'Need For Speed' - see link on other thread).
Having said all of this, they do look really good, certainly a major improvement on the range of standard MB wheels, better still if you're on steel!
My spare is steel (usual MB cost saving exercise I assume), and a different profile (but same size tyre) altogether. There are several references in the drivers manual and on the wheel itself regarding the use of the supplied shorter wheel bolts that MUST be used with the spare.
Hope this helps.
Ciao,
Alex
Firstly, I am in total agreement as to what has been said before on this thread concerning tyre sizes. I had some existing nearly new 195/65/15's removed from my old standard alloy 'Elegance' wheels and transferred to these AMG's. ATS advised that they would "just squeeze on", therefore there is no way 185's would be suitable. The correct size for these wheels is 205/60/15's, although I was also told that it is possible to use 215's, but not advisable.
The second issue is far more important, and I submitted a thread recently on these pages outlining the problem. See here:
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12311
Briefly, all the wheels installed perfectly at the time I had them fitted and caused no problems at all. That is UNTIL I fitted new brake pads a couple of weeks back. The new, thicker pads move the brake calipers outwards to its maximum travel, and - you've guessed - the calipers foul the wheels
!! The only way around this is to use spacers (I managed to get away with 5mm), however that also means using longer wheel bolts which amazingly I found extremely difficult to get hold of (I tried 3 different stealerships - ended up getting them from 'Need For Speed' - see link on other thread).Having said all of this, they do look really good, certainly a major improvement on the range of standard MB wheels, better still if you're on steel!
My spare is steel (usual MB cost saving exercise I assume), and a different profile (but same size tyre) altogether. There are several references in the drivers manual and on the wheel itself regarding the use of the supplied shorter wheel bolts that MUST be used with the spare.
Hope this helps.
Ciao,
Alex
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These are stock wheels though, fitted as standard to sport models. I don't understand how they can foul an otherwise stock setup - except to say that there was no pre-facelift C240 sport and the C230k/240/280 etc have vented front discs instead of solid like the smaller capacity models - is this why the facelift sport models came with a different, 16" wheel as standard?Alex Argent said:Briefly, all the wheels installed perfectly at the time I had them fitted and caused no problems at all. That is UNTIL I fitted new brake pads a couple of weeks back. The new, thicker pads move the brake calipers outwards to its maximum travel, and - you've guessed - the calipers foul the wheels
Both my W202s have come with a spare alloy, so the same bolts are used. There are only two kinds of bolts for a w202 with oem wheels, alloys or steels, that's it. That's why the stealership may have struggled to find appropriate boltsAlex Argent said:
.Alex Argent
Active Member
Shude,
Thanks for that.
I was absolutely dumbfounded when this unforseen problem reared its head, as my thoughts were exactly as yours. I can only summise that there must have been some subtle changes to the brake caliper design on the facelift models. My second thought was that the 'third-party' ATE brake pads were thicker than OEM pads, thereby causing the caliper arm to travel slightly further. However, if that were the case, there should be no way the design of the calipers should even enable them to impinge the wheel - there would surely be some kind of limiting mechanism inherent in the design, which obviously,there ain't! I haven't yet cross-checked with a dealer to see how thick the OEM pads are, but I really do think they would be the same. (If they are found thinner, then I have a very serious issue to address with Euro Car Parts, least of all the time and expense involved in sorting all this out!).
FYI, the V6's all use vented discs as indeed does mine. I also thought the new discs may have contributed in some way to the problem, however I have measured old against new, and they're exactly the same.
Had I known of all this prior to buying the wheels, then I would simply have opted for 16" ones (half-an-inch clearance over the caliper would have done the trick!), and forked out for new tyres.
Since changing the discs/pads, I now have a further problem with unbelievable front wheel vibration at around 60mph. I've had the wheels re-balanced but the problem persists. On the return visit, ATS now say the front nearside disc looks distorted
!
Hey Ho, we live and learn .
Thanks for that.
I was absolutely dumbfounded when this unforseen problem reared its head, as my thoughts were exactly as yours. I can only summise that there must have been some subtle changes to the brake caliper design on the facelift models. My second thought was that the 'third-party' ATE brake pads were thicker than OEM pads, thereby causing the caliper arm to travel slightly further. However, if that were the case, there should be no way the design of the calipers should even enable them to impinge the wheel - there would surely be some kind of limiting mechanism inherent in the design, which obviously,there ain't! I haven't yet cross-checked with a dealer to see how thick the OEM pads are, but I really do think they would be the same. (If they are found thinner, then I have a very serious issue to address with Euro Car Parts, least of all the time and expense involved in sorting all this out!).
FYI, the V6's all use vented discs as indeed does mine. I also thought the new discs may have contributed in some way to the problem, however I have measured old against new, and they're exactly the same.
Had I known of all this prior to buying the wheels, then I would simply have opted for 16" ones (half-an-inch clearance over the caliper would have done the trick!), and forked out for new tyres.
Since changing the discs/pads, I now have a further problem with unbelievable front wheel vibration at around 60mph. I've had the wheels re-balanced but the problem persists. On the return visit, ATS now say the front nearside disc looks distorted
!Hey Ho, we live and learn
.
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OP
OP
MercedesBent
Active Member
Hmmmm
Am pretty sure tyres are 185/55/R15's all round
1994 C180 on steel wheels currently.
How do I check what size the wheels are then?
Am pretty sure tyres are 185/55/R15's all round
1994 C180 on steel wheels currently.
How do I check what size the wheels are then?
There might be a part number on the wheel, I can look up oem steelies on the EPC and it will suggest the correct tyres and possibly the dimensions of the rim there.MercedesBent said:Am pretty sure tyres are 185/55/R15's all round
1994 C180 on steel wheels currently.
How do I check what size the wheels are then?
I'm pretty sure those tyres are too small though, nearly 5cm too small in overall diameter for a start!
OP
OP
MercedesBent
Active Member
MercedesBent said:Hmmmm
Am pretty sure tyres are 185/55/R15's all round
:
185/65/R15 oops sorry!!
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MercedesBent
Active Member
Shude said:
So back to the original Q
will the 185/65/15's on the old wheels fit these wheels, or will I need 4 new boots to put on em if I get em?
V12
MB Enthusiast
4 new tyres...
for those that may be interested (unlikely! 
) here are the steel wheel options for W202 models, bear in mind that if yours is a kompressor/v6/amg model then most of these wheels probably won't fit without fouling the brakes.
A1704000202 : disc wheel for winter tyres 7 J x 16 H2
A2024000102 : disc wheel spare 6.5 J x 15 H2 (195/65)
A2104000102 : disc wheel 6.5 J x 15 H2 (195/65)
A2104000202 : disc wheel 6.5 J x 15 H2 (195/65)
A2104000702 : disc wheel spare 7 J x 15 H2 (205/60)
A2034000302 : disc wheel spare 7 J x 16 H2 (code P12)
A2034000002 : disc wheel 6 J x 15 H2 (185/65)
as you can see there *is* one tyre listed as 185/65 but it's on a space-saver or something.
If you value your rims and if you want any kind of grip at all I'd get some new tyres for your little AMGs!
) here are the steel wheel options for W202 models, bear in mind that if yours is a kompressor/v6/amg model then most of these wheels probably won't fit without fouling the brakes.A1704000202 : disc wheel for winter tyres 7 J x 16 H2
A2024000102 : disc wheel spare 6.5 J x 15 H2 (195/65)
A2104000102 : disc wheel 6.5 J x 15 H2 (195/65)
A2104000202 : disc wheel 6.5 J x 15 H2 (195/65)
A2104000702 : disc wheel spare 7 J x 15 H2 (205/60)
A2034000302 : disc wheel spare 7 J x 16 H2 (code P12)
A2034000002 : disc wheel 6 J x 15 H2 (185/65)
as you can see there *is* one tyre listed as 185/65 but it's on a space-saver or something.
If you value your rims and if you want any kind of grip at all I'd get some new tyres for your little AMGs!
Just for reference, the steel wheels that came with my last W202 (1996 C200 Esprit), wearing 195/65/15 tyres fit on the C230 Kompressor (1997 but pre-facelift) fine!
No fouling of any kind (I did carefully check! ), but the only critiscism I could add would be the fact that it was sometimes slightly embarrasing to pull away fast with 195 section tyres on the back! 
Cheers,
Will
No fouling of any kind (I did carefully check!
), but the only critiscism I could add would be the fact that it was sometimes slightly embarrasing to pull away fast with 195 section tyres on the back! Cheers,
Will
Just to add that they were only on the car for a few days! I had just bought the car and didn't fancy driving around on bald tyres (the 17" AMGs that were on it needed new tyres all round)
Rather than buying new tyres for the 17s I opted for a new set of 18" wheels and new tyres!
Will
Rather than buying new tyres for the 17s I opted for a new set of 18" wheels and new tyres!
Will
