Opinions needed regarding wheel choice

[petermansell]

I’ve got to either get my wheels refurbished or buy a new set. The trouble is I’m really drawn to deep dish alloys and don’t know if this is sad.
I’ve had the original 18 amgs and 19 amg IVs (but did not like the ride) and now have 18 VIs (this sounds lot buut I have had the car 5 years) – but what do people think of wheels like iforged or billet?

I just loved the look of Scorcher's 19s but, as I said, don’t want to go above 18s personally.
So what would you go for? (The only constraints are that I won’t lower the car but like the wheels to fill the arches and set the car off well).

 

[tudu]

I’ve got to either get my wheels refurbished or buy a new set. The trouble is I’m really drawn to deep dish alloys and don’t know if this is sad.
I’ve had the original 18 amgs and 19 amg IVs (but did not like the ride) and now have 18 VIs (this sounds lot buut I have had the car 5 years) – but what do people think of wheels like iforged or billet?

I just loved the look of Scorcher's 19s but, as I said, don’t want to go above 18s personally.
So what would you go for? (The only constraints are that I won’t lower the car but like the wheels to fill the arches and set the car off well).

I have 18" Mandrus Reganmeister deep dish (3" on a 9.5 rear), and to be honest they are a pain to keep clean. As they are temporary to my AMG III's being refurbed, and like you will stick with 18's. However, i was also hesitant to lower my car but since i have done the look is so much better and the ride is awesome. Unfortunately, with 18's i think you will still have a gap between arches and the wheels.

 

[kjay]

I have the 18' AMG IV Reps. So they'd obviously be my choice.
You didn't say wether yours are staggered? They need to be for it to 'look' right.
The only problem I had with mine was with some pitting on the rear pollished lips. I had the lips refurbed, but I'm not happy with the finnish. Maybe Stats007 could do them properly? - He has some good feedback from the forum.

The only constraints are that I won’t lower the car but like the wheels to fill the arches and set the car off well.

You really need to lower the car to 'fill the arches'. I've got the Eibach springs on mine, and the gap to the front arches is still too big. Next week I'm fitting even lower springs (-45mm) to close the gap.
Just depends on how obsessive you are.
.

 

[ollieclk]

The AMG ones without the bolts for me, a nice clean wheel...

 

[renault12ts]

So you're looking for your fourth set of wheels in 5 years. Yep it actually does sound a lot.
But no matter. Always remember that the rolling diameter of your wheel tyre combo should always remain as near original as possible. Therefore, whether you lower the car or not the gaps above the tyre will remain the same for whatever combo you go for. A larger or smaller wheel will not determine whether you lower the car or not, because you will get a lower profile tyre for the larger wheel.

 

[whitenemesis]

As renault12ts, if the rolling diameter is the same, as it should be for correct gearing, then the gap between the arch and tyre will be the same and in fact the distance betweemn the arch and rim will be less!!

That said I can't deny that going up in rim size does make the gap look bigger

I wish some one could post up some pictures of the same rim style in different diameters on the same car so I could just see what's going on!

 

[petermansell]

Thanks all for your input.

The reason for not lowering the car tudu is that I have less that 5mm ground clearance when driving in an out of a garage I use daily - see picture - so can't lower the car without risking scraping bodywork.


Yes Kjay my wheels are staggered – 8.5 at the front and 9.5 on the rear with 19 inch wheels I has 265/30/19s on the rear and 235/35/19s on the front and now the 18s have 265/35/18s on the rear and 235/40/18s on the front.

While, of course, I agree with you renault12ts and whitenemisis about the rolling radius - I filled the arches a little by using (TUV approved hub centric) spacers 10mm on the rear and 3mm on the front and this has worked well because it brings the wheels nearer the arches and closes the gap (the arches have been rolled to deal with any bodywork snagging issues.)

But don’t you think that different style wheels change the whole style of a car?

There are two reasons I have changed the wheels so much 1) I went to 19th for the look but didn't like the ride and 2) I needed a second set of 18s when I had the first set refurbished.

PS I looked up the Mandrus Reganmeister – very nice .....

 

[tudu]

Thanks all for your input.

The reason for not lowering the car tudu is that I have less that 5mm ground clearance when driving in an out of a garage I use daily - see picture - so can't lower the car without risking scraping bodywork.


Yes Kjay my wheels are staggered – 8.5 at the front and 9.5 on the rear with 19 inch wheels I has 265/30/19s on the rear and 235/35/19s on the front and now the 18s have 265/35/18s on the rear and 235/40/18s on the front.

There are two reasons I have changed the wheels so much 1) I went to 19th for the look but didn't like the ride and 2) I needed a second set of 18s when I had the first set refurbished.

PS I looked up the Mandrus Reganmeister – very nice .....

I initially tried 235 and the 265 combo on 18's, and got rubbing on the front on tight right and left turns, as with the rears everytime i carried more than one passenger got rubbing on rear wheel arches. However, agree that size combo fills the arches better. Understand the lowering response since having my C55 done i can no longer park it on the driveway as it angles, and as i feared it scrapes on the underside at all different angles i try but i do like the new look and handling which outweighs my parking problem.

 

[C240Sport97]

probably not a good idea having replica AMG wheels on a real AMG

 

[petermansell]

Well - you have all been very helpful.

My refurbisher said he'd need to take my wheels away to do because of the polished face so I have had to choose a wheel. There is just too much choice!

Tudu – I too have gone back to the 255/225 combo for exactly the same reasons as you – the rears could just get away with 265 but the fronts rubbed on each turn.

Anyway I’ve plumped for the Mandrus Regenmeister as it hs got the dish I want and is a reasonable price.

If price were not an issue I would have AMG V1s or forged wheels J

 

[tudu]

Well - you have all been very helpful.

My refurbisher said he'd need to take my wheels away to do because of the polished face so I have had to choose a wheel. There is just too much choice!

Tudu – I too have gone back to the 255/225 combo for exactly the same reasons as you – the rears could just get away with 265 but the fronts rubbed on each turn.

Anyway I’ve plumped for the Mandrus Regenmeister as it hs got the dish I want and is a reasonable price.

If price were not an issue I would have AMG V1s or forged wheels J

The regenmeister is a nice wheel but not to everyone's taste hence, i had my spokes painted gloss black. If you have gone for the staggered set-up 8.5 Front and 9.5 Rear you will notice a difference in the handling especially at the rear. Here are some pics of my Regenmeister's.

 

[petermansell]

Those wheels look great tudo. I think I have made the right choice. I know what you said about the keeping them clean but I do fancy trying a deep dish wheel on the car an dthese have 1.5 and 3 inch dish

I'll keep them silver for now and see how I grow into them.

Yep - I have indeed gone for the staggered setup - but the handling shouldn't change as the wheels are the same size as on the car now (8.5 and 9.5) but back to standard size (255 and 225) tyres.

Pete

 

[tudu]

Those wheels look great tudo. I think I have made the right choice. I know what you said about the keeping them clean but I do fancy trying a deep dish wheel on the car an dthese have 1.5 and 3 inch dish

I'll keep them silver for now and see how I grow into them.

Yep - I have indeed gone for the staggered setup - but the handling shouldn't change as the wheels are the same size as on the car now (8.5 and 9.5) but back to standard size (255 and 225) tyres.

Pete

Can't wait to see the pics. Regards the cleaning they are not that bad just need doing once a week, and lots of waxing should ensure they stay nice and shiny. I had mine on during the worst of the weather and was concerned the salt would damage the chrome, but the effort i put into regular waxing kept them safe.

 

[petermansell]

Well I got my mandrus regenmeisters and new tyres today and am a happy bunny. Here are some pictures. Comments welcome (good or bad!)

 

[V12]

It's not quite clear in your posting...i presume you went for 18's in the end?

 

[greggster]

they look great - i wasn't so sure about your choice initially but they look very very good and not at all boy racer - excellent.

 

[petermansell]

Thanks Greg.

Yes V12 - I kept to 18s (8.5 at the front and 9.5 at the rear) but went back to 225/40 and 255/35 rather than 235/40 and 265/35s I was previously running because of rubbing

 

[tudu]

They really suit your car. The front looks low enough might need the back lowered a bit. Can you take a full side on pic. As it looks now the Regenmeisters make your car look more aggresive - good choice, mine you i would say that, but surprisingly they are quite a nice wheel.

 

[petermansell]

Thanks Tudu - here is a side on picture

I'm pretty content with the suspension/handling set up so wont change this. The next jobs are gearbox oil change; spark plugs and some interior repair work