W203 winter tyres and steel rims sizes

[flwtcher7751]

Hi
Another post about fitting steel wheels with winter tyres
It is a C220 CDi 2006 model, without as far as l know sports brakes - how will l be able to tell? The front calipers are red in colour
I am loathe to fit winter tyres to the existing alloy rims because the mantra is usually the narrower the better for winter tyres.
The existing tyres are 225/45 R17 91W front with 245/40 R16 91W rears
I am considering fitting R16 rims with 205/55 R16 fronts and 225/50 R16 rears
As l will be getting these from a WWW supplier delivered l need to be sure that these will fit the car (their own website says they will) and that it is a better option than getting winter tyres fitted to the alloys
If l get them seperate l can then have the alloys refurbed over the winter.
I will greatly appreciate any advice from anybody who has done either of the two options. Thinking of Pirelli Scottzero Series 2 or Goodyear Ultragrip 7+ tyres
Thanks for your time

 

[x332race]

For what it is worth, I have the same size 17 inch rims. I got a couple of matching 7.5 x 17 rims and fitted 225/45 R17 Vredestein Quatrac 3's

These were great during the snow last winter, even getting me past with ease a number of 4x4s fitted with summer tyres on hills (they were surprised)

Your front calipers must have been painted at some stage...MB sports calipers are grey with white writing on them. You should know whether or not you have the sports pack fitted to your car and this should be noted in the list of options at the rear of your service book.

 

[flwtcher7751]

Thanks for your advice
I have found out they are sports brakes, hence will stick with 17 wheels
Have found out that on the 8.5J rears l can fit 205, 215 or 225 all 45 profile
It is my wifes car, and as my sons E280CDi was bad in last years winter, hence these tyres
I will post the outcome, and look for a second set of wheels for next year

Thanks again

 

[x332race]

Thanks for your advice
I have found out they are sports brakes, hence will stick with 17 wheels
Have found out that on the 8.5J rears l can fit 205, 215 or 225 all 45 profile
It is my wifes car, and as my sons E280CDi was bad in last years winter, hence these tyres
I will post the outcome, and look for a second set of wheels for next year

Thanks again

Seems like a plan.........I would stick with 225 all round if I were you.......these performed well on my C270

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks for your advice
I have found out they are sports brakes, hence will stick with 17 wheels
Have found out that on the 8.5J rears l can fit 205, 215 or 225 all 45 profile
It is my wifes car, and as my sons E280CDi was bad in last years winter, hence these tyres
I will post the outcome, and look for a second set of wheels for next year

Thanks again

Seems like a plan.........I would stick with 225 all round if I were you.......these performed well on my C270

I have 225 45 17 winter tyres fitted to 8.5-inch wheels, which is as narrow as I'd go. I think 205 will be a touch too narrow. Even the 225s have a hint of Euro-style stretch!!

 

[clk270]

I'd stick with 225/45/17 all round - at least with a single size, you can rotate tyres fron t to rear each winter (as recommended).

 

[Shude]

I have 225 45 17 winter tyres fitted to 8.5-inch wheels, which is as narrow as I'd go. I think 205 will be a touch too narrow. Even the 225s have a hint of Euro-style stretch!!

You're running the C32 on non-staggered sizes with no problems? If so I may consider this if I pick up a CLK55.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

You're running the C32 on non-staggered sizes with no problems? If so I may consider this if I pick up a CLK55.

All fine. The handbook recommends 225s all round or 205 front and 225 rear.

It also suggests running 7.5j rims all round (as 225 is about as narrow as you'd want on an 8.5j wheel), but mine are fine on the 8.5j standard rears. Just appear a little more stretched. But you wouldn't notice if you didn't know.

Really pleased with mine.

 

[Shude]

It also suggests running 7.5j rims all round (as 225 is about as narrow as you'd want on an 8.5j wheel), but mine are fine on the 8.5j standard rears. Just appear a little more stretched. But you wouldn't notice if you didn't know.

I'm a lot happier now I've read this

 

[lancebond]

Ive got an 03 c220cdi and currently have 225/40r18 on (don't really like the alloys tbh on when I bought it)

Could I buy 4 225/45r17 steel wheels and fit them to the car?

 

[clk270]

Ive got an 03 c220cdi and currently have 225/40r18 on (don't really like the alloys tbh on when I bought it)

Could I buy 4 225/45r17 steel wheels and fit them to the car?

You'll be lucky to find steel wheels in 17" sizes. Unless your car has the big front brakes of the sport model then you ahould be able to fit 16" steel wheels.

 

[Shude]

You'll be lucky to find steel wheels in 17" sizes. Unless your car has the big front brakes of the sport model then you ahould be able to fit 16" steel wheels.

There is a 17" steel wheel on the EPC but it appears to be more of a "space saver" than anything else.

A scruffy set of 17" alloys would do the trick if 16" won't clear the calipers.

 

[lancebond]

i don't think i have sports brakes on it tbh

went onto mytyres.co.uk and put in my reg, they reckon that the car can fit a set of 195/65r15

seems a little small to me...

 

[Muppetz]

I'm just triple checking here, on a W203 sports edition with the larger (than the front) 17" rear wheels can we fit 225 / 45 / R17 winter tyres replacing the 245/40's ?

I think I've read this, and other posts, and it should be ok, but I thought I had better ask!

It's for my old car which the wife now has and I'm thinking about the winter tyres just for the rear to help get up the hill out of our road onto the main roads (last year when it was my car I had no chance to get out if even a very small amount of snow!)

 

[momomo]

Yes the 225/45's will be fine to replace 245/40's. I am guessing you have a staggered set up 7.5 and 8.5 rears.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I have 225/45 winter tyres fitted to the 8.5j rear wheels on my W203 (in place of 245/40summer tyres) and they're fine.

 

[Muppetz]

I have 225/45 winter tyres fitted to the 8.5j rear wheels on my W203 (in place of 245/40summer tyres) and they're fine.

Cheers, have ordered some Avon Ice Tyres for the rears on the wifes car

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

No problem.

When I first thought about fitting winter tyres, I also thought of going for rear only, but everything I read suggested having same front and rear to avoid instability.

If you can stretch to a front set then it would be a good idea, as it will aid braking (as that's mostly on the front axle) and streering too.

 

[Muppetz]

No problem.

When I first thought about fitting winter tyres, I also thought of going for rear only, but everything I read suggested having same front and rear to avoid instability.

If you can stretch to a front set then it would be a good idea, as it will aid braking (as that's mostly on the front axle) and streering too.

The difficulty we have is living at the bottom of a series of hills, once we get out onto the main road we are fine, but at present we can't get up the road out of our little estate

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That's like us. We're a few hundred yards from a main road which is always clear enough to drive on, but it's up/down hill to get there.

Even getting off the drive was impossible in the W203 with summer tyres.