What's the largest combo wheel/tire size for a W124 1987 300TD?

[Tomas]

Can anyone tell me what the largest combo wheel/tire size for a W124 1987 300TD, without having to modify the wheel well of fenders.

[lkchris]

205/60-15, which is about same as 195/65-15

anything else requires body modification according to Mercedes

[Tomas]

What size wheel?

[lkchris]

Just the OE wheel.

See http://mbca.cartama.net/showpost.php?p=63016&postcount=2

[lkchris]

Don't you just love "what is the largest" questions?

This is opportunity to

Ruin the handling of your Mercedes
Achieve body rub problems
Reduce wet and snow traction
Reduce fuel economy due to increased rolling resistance
Pay more for tires, making tire shop happy
Reduce the quality of installed wheels--can't find equal wheels in aftermarket

Unlike Camaros--which you can apparently fix in the parking lot of Pep Boys by hammering on the carburetor--Mercedes are engineered. It's a "system" if you will. Mess with the parts at your peril. Have the engineering resources to validate your changes?

Oh, you can't increase load rating by installing bigger tires if that's the idea.

And, this is a diesel!

[Tomas]

Thanks Kent,

I'm just looking to increase the wheel size to 17" and use the comparable lower profile tire size. Just to get a more updated look & feel. Don't the newer MBZ use 17" with lower profile tires?

Maybe I shouldn't mess with it, but I need to get new tires anyway, so I decided to research the use of larger wheels. I'm trying to determine the pros and cons...

Thanks for your posts.

[lee polowczuk]

in the next week or so...i am taking my 124 30CE up to 16's from 15's I think that will be enough..

[lkchris]

Current E-class (W211) comes with 16-in wheels, sports suspensions with 17-in wheels. 18s are available on AMGs, etc.

Merc publishes W211 suspension modification guidelines for switching from 16-in wheels similar to the installation guidlines for W124s I posted above.

In Germany it's illegal to change the specifications of your car unless there is engineering guidance from the manufacturer and you follow it.

Personally, I'd find the E420 wheels and mount 215/55-16s as in the first document.

They are part number B6 6 47 0087 and just $228 ea here
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=213951

(leave off the B)

ALL approved fitments for larger wheels require wheel well modification and on later cars modification of the plastic cladding.

[Tomas]

Kent,

Thanks again, I'll look into the E420 16" wheels w/215/55-16s...

[Tomas]

Kent,

I hate to bother you, I visited the TireRack website, they have a Borbet 16x7.5 wheel, and they recommend the 205/55-16 tire size. Does that translate to less profile (rubber) than the 215s?

Please forgive my ignorance...

[Dean Yelenik]

You should do whatever you want - everyone else is. Your original tire was 195/65/15 which is a diameter of 24.98 inches. The general rule is that you can go up to 3 percent larger than that without a problem, and perhaps a little more. The formula for tire diameter is (width in mm divided by 25.4) times (profile times 2) plus diameter of the wheel, for example:

(195 / 25.4) x (.65 x 2) + 15 = 24.98 inches

Variation from the 24.98 inches will affect your speedometer and odometer readings accordingly. Tire Rack posts tire diameters if you don't like the math.