W126 500SE alloy wheel change.

[parkman1]

Hi, I am interested in views concerning changing the alloy wheels on my W126 to be able to use newer tyres.

The car has its' original 14 inch Mexican hat rims, but the choice is very limited for new tyres. The rims are 6 x 14, and about the only tyres that fit are either the very expensive, original, type tyres from Michelin, or tyres that are made for vans. There isn't a very big choice outside that.

So I have bought a set of Penta 8 x 16's, and this allows for the fitting of just about any modern type tyre. My preference is Continental Contact as I have these already on an E220.

The reason that I have not rushed out to fit them is that some-one who is doing a bit of work on the car suggested that changing the rims might not be such a good idea, as an 8 x 16 rim was not originally designed to go on the W126.

I know that plenty of people have fitted them, but when I suggested to my guy that I would like to change the front wheel bearing before changing the rims, he said that I would be better not changing the rims at all.

The reasoning is that fitting the bigger wider rim could put quite a lot of extra strain on the running gear, and cause early failure of rear wheel bearing, and front wheel bearings and suspension joints.

So I am in a slight quandary as to whether to change the rims at all now.

I would just be interested in hearing the for or against arguments,

parkman

 

[carat 3.6]

Your looking to fit an 8 x 16 wheel, that's not going to cause any noticeable extra wear to a w126.

 

[coalville126]

16" rims are not an issue, if they're of an appropriate offset? W126 are robust cars and some have been armoured for diplomats & head of states. Imagine how much weight & stress that adds to the running gear.

Personally I'd be finding myself another mechanic if mine came out with something like that.

 

[ianrandom]

Get them on and stop procrastinating And then post pics without delay..

The wheel bearings and everything else down there is hardcore stuff, it will make absolutely no difference.

Good point about the armouring, they end up about 3.5 tonnes sometimes. And can still shift..

 

[WDB124066]

He was probably referring to the offset and yes it is important to have the correct offset otherwise you will set up a moment that was not necessarily intended by the designer...

 

[SG1]

Never heard anything of that sort in my life. Totally incorrect

 

[WDB124066]

Read Engineering.

 

[SG1]

Read Engineering.

WDB, my post was regarding the OP's initial comment about his mechanic, not yours.

You are 100% correct!

 

[parkman1]

Thanks to all the posters, all the views are taken into consideration. Please forgive me if I don't mention people specifically.

I agree entirely about the weight of the car. When I think about it, I probably have the lightest of the W126's as I have an SE. But as mentioned, quite a number were armoured plated, but I do suspect that they would have had different suspension and running gear.

But, having said that, the SEL's with special additions, would have been running with standard equipment.

I used to fit all sorts of wheels and tyres to my cars back in the seventies, and very rarely had wheel bearing trouble. Only if I fitted dumb-ass 8x13 rims to something like a road-going Ford Anglia would it become a bit of a problem, and then the running gear would have to be given some "assistance".

I am going with most of the advice and fitting them, when I get new tyres, next month.

Incidentally, my garage man is a Mercedes major enthusiast, and I understand his view. He doesn't like non-standard equipment being fitted to the older cars, and to some degree I agree with him. But the problem is, I like things like DAB radio so I have one fitted, and not a period Blaupunkt radio, and I want to fit a decent tyre to the car and I can't afford a sent of early eighties AMG Penta's.

I find that when you use an older car you will always run into the argument about keeping it period, and that the value is in keeping everything original. And I do see the merit in that, but I use mine as an every-day transport and therefore I like to have some modern comforts, like the radio.

So, the Penta's it is then.

parkman

 

[ianrandom]

Cool, waiting for pics now...

The armoured W126's only had different springs, nothing else changed. I've seen a number of 420 versions too, also standard running gear.

The only thing you might find, is a little tramlining during if the offset of the wheel and width exacerbate any play in the suspension. Your car is low mileage so I cant imagine you'd find that will happen. I get a tiny bit on my SE, its done 150k miles though and its barely noticeable, happens during braking if there are ruts etc.

 

[parkman1]

Ian, what size rim and tyre did you fit ?

As the W126 forum has gone I can't check on previous discussions.

parkman

 

[carat 3.6]

Ian, what size rim and tyre did you fit ?

As the W126 forum has gone I can't check on previous discussions.

parkman

17 and 18" alloy's are quite normal, I know one that run's a 19" staggered setup without any issues.

225.40.18 is a very common size to use on a 8" wide rim, just adjust the tyre profile for going bigger or smaller in wheel diameter.

 

[parkman1]

17 and 18" alloy's are quite normal, I know one that run's a 19" staggered setup without any issues.

225.40.18 is a very common size to use on a 8" wide rim, just adjust the tyre profile for going bigger or smaller in wheel diameter.

Hi, I think my garage man just believes in originality, so he suggested either staying with the 14 inch Mexican Hats, or getting 15 inch ones.

I am going to use the 8x16 Penta's anyway.

I just have to get a few jobs done to the car first, and then I will get new tyres fitted.

Many thanks for all the replies.

parkman

 

[ianrandom]

Ian, what size rim and tyre did you fit ?

As the W126 forum has gone I can't check on previous discussions.

parkman

Parkie, I am using 225/50/16, as recommended back in the day when the wheels were sold new with the cars. Although, it did depend on suspension, whether the lowering package was there or not. I think 225/55/16 was the option if you didn't have the lowering kit fitted.

In truth I would recommend 225/55/16 for your car I think. With standard suspension I think that would work best.

 

[coalville126]

+1 on what ianrandom said above. I've experienced this myself. 50 series tyres can look lost on cars with standard suspension.

The gap between the arch and tyre is huge (by today's standard) making it look like a SUV / saloon crossover. Not a good look.

 

[parkman1]

Parkie, I am using 225/50/16, as recommended back in the day when the wheels were sold new with the cars. Although, it did depend on suspension, whether the lowering package was there or not. I think 225/55/16 was the option if you didn't have the lowering kit fitted.

In truth I would recommend 225/55/16 for your car I think. With standard suspension I think that would work best.

Ian, that was what I was anticipating. I think that perhaps yourself may have already suggested that size earlier, on the W126 forum.

I will look for a local price on this size for Continental Premium Contact tyres.

I have to get my sunroof cassette replaced first. There is an occasional leak from it, and I want to get it sorted out before anything unpleasant happens. I am getting a Mercedes restoration guy on the south coast to fit a complete new sunroof cassette, which will take care of the problem.

Biggest problem is the drive from Liverpool to the south coast, and then getting the train home, and of course the reverse journey when the job is done.

After that, I can fit new rims and tyres

parkman

 

[parkman1]

Hi, I was just looking through some files on my laptop in relation to tyres for the W126, and I notice that I had copied an e-mail from some-one who used a totally difference setup.

I vaguely remember the post, the chap is using Lorinser rims, from the 1980's, and which were, I believe, an option for the W126's. He said that he found that the 225 x 55 x16 gave a very poor ride and he fitted 225 x 65 x 16 and it improved the ride enormously, due to the higher side wall.

I wonder whether 225 x 65 will fit under the wheel arch though, without problems.

Has anyone else tried this size ?

parkman

 

[ianrandom]

What total diameter does that make it?

Mine doesn't ride harshly, maybe the tyre manufacturer makes a difference. I'm on Continental Premium Contact I think.

 

[parkman1]

Ian, you may be right about the manufacturer. I read a few tyre reviewsand one chap with a BMW 5 series estate put on Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue, and he said that the ride is very comfortable, due to the fact that the Pirelli has quite a soft sidewall.

I have found that the Continental Contact suit my e-class, with 8.5 x 17 optional Mercedes rims, very well. They have the edge reinforcement for kerbing, but they still let the car ride well. I also have the Airmatic on the e-class, and it is very comfortable.

I was going to buy Continental for the W126, but I am tempted by the Pirelli's. I always, and I mean always, used to buy Pirelli for my previous, modified cars, because for production tyres I found them by far the best for fast to lunatic type driving [when I was much younger].

I changed a set of P6's on a Volvo 240, that was using twin 50 DCOE Dellorto carbs, and a race cam and slipper pistons, to NCT Eagles and the road noise was very much worse. The P6's ran very quietly in comparison, and I did about 6 or 7 thousand miles on the Eagles and then went back to Pirelli.

So, that's it then, one set of Continentals, and one set of Pirelli's, changed around every Saturday before going to Asda

Lastly, I don't know what the diameter would be, if using a 65 ratio tyre, as opposed to a 55 tyre. I suppose it would be 10 mm higher, but perhaps some-one else may know.

parkman

 

[parkman1]

I don't think that I ever finished this thread, so I am giving the final results !!!

I fitted 8x16 Penta rims in the end, with an offset [if I remember correctly], of 11.

I then put on Continental 8x16x55 tyres, which are a nice handling tyre.

I found that the 8x16 Penta rim sits out on the front. of the car, but doesn't at the rear. In fact, it seems to be the same as the original 6.5x14 in the distance that the wheels are, under the rear wheel arches.

I finally got it about right by fitting a set of hubcentric 10mm wheel spacers, from Mtec in Tamworth [ Vehicle Components Supplier - Tamworth | Mtec ], with 39mm thread 12x1.5 wheel bolts. The standard bolts are 29mm thread length, and when you order the spacers Mtec automatically add the extra length required to the wheel bolt for you.

Now the car looks better balanced all round.

parkman