W203 wheels on a W204 for winter?

[Westfaliaman]

Hi guys, 1st post!
Just bought my first merc, a 2012 C 220 cdi executive se, thinking ahead for the winter months I have been offered an as new set of genuine W203 winter alloys & winter tyres,size 7J x 16 ET 37, with 205 55 16H 91 tyres, I am assured they will fit my car. On checking my owners manual it quotes suitable winter wheels as 7J x 16 but with an ET of 43, am I right in thinking that the difference in ET of 6mm will be ok, and that the wheels will simply be 6 mm further out in the wheel arches, any one else running 203 alloys on a 204?
I'm also assuming the lower than normal speed rating on the tyres , H, is ok as on winter wheels?
Thanks in advance.
Sam

 

[Jonesy161]

I really do get confused about comments regarding winter tyres/wheels, please let me know your thought patterns on changing to winter kit, because as far as I'm concerned in the uk, we don't really get a winter. That is, a winter where driving conditions dictate that you need to swap rubber.

Am I wrong.

 

[Westfaliaman]

Thanks for reply Jonesy, was merely asking a technical question so only expecting a response on whether the wheels would fit or not, not expecting to explain the virtues of fitting winter tyres.
In fairness, if we have a mild winter you are probably right, but if we have a severe winter there is no doubt winter tyres perform better than summers at temps of 7 degrees or below, and with the merc being rear wheel drive the more grip the better. Personally I live on a country road which is ungritted over winter, and during the severe winter 3 years ago could only get my car to within half a mile of home for a period of a week due to ice/ snow, so feel winters will benefit me. There seems to be a high percentage of members on this forum posting about winter wheels/ tyres so I am not alone in my thinking, but at end of day down to personal choice. Tyres themselves are a consumable so you are still using tread regardless, so the only real cost is the additional alloys themselves, but buying used can keep this cost minimal.

 

[BTB 500]

there is no doubt winter tyres perform better than summers at temps of 7 degrees or below

There certainly is e.g. Continental stated the 2C is the point where their winter tyres start to outperform their summer ones.

But anyway, you can compare W203 and W204 wheel sizes here:

Mercedes-Benz Fitting Chart and Wheel Fitment Guide | Alloy Wheels Direct

Are you sure the 16x7 wheels you have been offered are ET37 and not ET31? The latter is the correct offset for a W203, and is obviously significantly different to the W204's ET43.

 

[Chrishazle]

W203 wheels have 12.5mm bolt holes for 12mm wheel bolts. W204 wheels have 14.5mm holes for 14mm bolts, so W/S203 wheels will not fit onto a W/S204. When I swopped my S203 C270 for our current S204 C220 I had to sell my 203 winter wheels and buy replacements for the 204!

 

[BTB 500]

I had a feeling there was more to it than the offset.

 

[Jonesy161]

Thanks for reply Jonesy, was merely asking a technical question so only expecting a response on whether the wheels would fit or not, not expecting to explain the virtues of fitting winter tyres.
In fairness, if we have a mild winter you are probably right, but if we have a severe winter there is no doubt winter tyres perform better than summers at temps of 7 degrees or below, and with the merc being rear wheel drive the more grip the better. Personally I live on a country road which is ungritted over winter, and during the severe winter 3 years ago could only get my car to within half a mile of home for a period of a week due to ice/ snow, so feel winters will benefit me. There seems to be a high percentage of members on this forum posting about winter wheels/ tyres so I am not alone in my thinking, but at end of day down to personal choice. Tyres themselves are a consumable so you are still using tread regardless, so the only real cost is the additional alloys themselves, but buying used can keep this cost minimal.

Sorry for going slightly off track with your post, it's just that I have never been one who swaps tyres or wheels for winter use, nor do I know anyone who does. It's only since being a member here that it has come into question, hence my comments. I do need tyres so will probably talk to my supplier about pros and cons, don't fancy buying spare 18" alloys though.

 

[Bellow]

Sorry for going slightly off track with your post, it's just that I have never been one who swaps tyres or wheels for winter use, nor do I know anyone who does. It's only since being a member here that it has come into question, hence my comments. I do need tyres so will probably talk to my supplier about pros and cons, don't fancy buying spare 18" alloys though.

There is at least one thread on the subject on this forum. Pages of it - all differing opinions. What you wont find though is anyone who has actually used winter tyres saying they are rubbish.
If you need/want them is a decision only you can make. Best way is winters mounted on steel rims and summer shinies tucked up safe from the salt and kerbs.

 

[Westfaliaman]

Thanks guys, in particular Chrishazle, appreciate the responses, the wheels won't fit the 204 then due to the bolt holes being different.

 

[Chrishazle]

Thanks guys, in particular Chrishazle, appreciate the responses, the wheels won't fit the 204 then due to the bolt holes being different.

Correct, the 203 wheels will not fit - but the 16" Elegance 12 spoke wheels I have for sale will, as they are from my S204!

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/clas.../194074-16-genuine-mb-w-s204-wheels-sale.html

i've changed to 17" rims for my summer tyres, but have a set of 16's with winter tyres, will swop wheels probably end of this month then swop back late March/April. They're better in the wet and invaluable for the white stuff, the C class is well known for being useless in snow without winter tyres!