It's time to get winter tires in Canada. Therefore, I've tried to mount some old W124 (E300) 15" rims. they are the standard 6.5" wide rims with a 49 mm offset. When I took the standard 16" B200 rims (6" wide with 44mm offset) off and put a W124 one in it's place, it 'almost' touched the brake calipers. Can't understand why a 1/2" wider rim with a surely compensating 5 mm larger offset does not give similar clearance to the B200 wheel..... maybe I don't understand the whole terminology with rim widths and offsets... anyone have ideas?
cheers
ps anyone tried to fit older alloy wheels to the B200? what works?
Last edited by guenter : 10-07-2007 at 06:08 PM.
Reason: make clearer
We used to put spacers ( disc of metal 1/2" to 1" wide that fits between the hub & the wheel rim, made of alloy but, but usually requiring longer studs or wheel bolts) on cars years ago to increase the track. I don't know the current position on them these days due to all the safety regulations but it might be worth having a word with a tuning shop as by what I gather from your post you don't need to space the wheel out much. Your tyres would obviously have to have a different profile in order to keep the total tyre diameter the same otherwise your speedo will probably be innacurate.
Tire Rack has some closeout wheels at $79 USD/wheel that fit the B200. I have never heard of Sport Edition. These wheels are 16"x7" with a 45mm offset. They also have the correct 5x112 bolt pattern.
I'm seriously thinking of getting these. Even with the shipping to Canada, the exchange rate makes these a great price and they aren't terrible looking either.
Tire Rack has some closeout wheels at $79 USD/wheel that fit the B200. I have never heard of Sport Edition. These wheels are 16"x7" with a 45mm offset. They also have the correct 5x112 bolt pattern.
I'm seriously thinking of getting these. Even with the shipping to Canada, the exchange rate makes these a great price and they aren't terrible looking either.
That is such a great deal! If I had been able to do it in Dec. 05 I would have.
Mike, What do think of those wheels?
Well steelies are OK because I have two more kids to teach how to parallel park in the next 3-4 years....and so taking the hubcaps off the winter wheels will make me feel a lot better!
We used to put spacers ( disc of metal 1/2" to 1" wide that fits between the hub & the wheel rim, made of alloy but, but usually requiring longer studs or wheel bolts) on cars years ago to increase the track. I don't know the current position on them these days due to all the safety regulations but it might be worth having a word with a tuning shop as by what I gather from your post you don't need to space the wheel out much. Your tyres would obviously have to have a different profile in order to keep the total tyre diameter the same otherwise your speedo will probably be innacurate.
Yes, spacers would work. However, as you say, I've also heard of savety concerns.... can't for the life of me understand what they might be. I've meanwhile looked at the two rims more carefully and although the older ones are 6.5" with a 49 mm offset, as compared to the B200 with 6" and 44 mm offset, one also needs to look at the rim construction. The latter's spokes 'buldge' out quite a bit and generate quite a bit of room for the calipers inside the rim as compared to the old 15" rim... sooo, I've come to realize that rim width and offset ain't everything! I do want to stay with 15" as compared to the standard 16" since the corresponding narrower tyre (195/65 is equivlent to 205/55) should be wayyy better in snow and ice..... not your worry in GB I imagine
Snow what's Snow, seriously though we havn't seen much in our part of the UK for some years now.
Would be interested to know what you guys that have 'real snow' do for road grip, do you use snow chains or studded tyres ?? and what sort of depths do you have to drive in. If we get more than about an inch of snow everything seems to come to a standstill.
How much snow? Well, I've often had to shovel way down to show some surface of our rear deck. I could post pics. but it would be way off subject. Let's say we shovel our roof at least 3 times a winter and after jumping off the roof, we struggle in the deep snow to get back around. When the dumps hit, it's like being at the top of Whistler. We are blessed with winter sports with snowshoeing and x-c skiing all winter! The roads do get plowed quickly and the Michelin Winters work fine. Nothing works well in 12" of snow with the low clearances though. The snowplows use chains when necessary but todays cars don't have the necessary clearances and it would chew up the body in no time.
Last edited by Derek Lecours : 10-09-2007 at 07:14 AM.
That is such a great deal! If I had been able to do it in Dec. 05 I would have.
Mike, What do think of those wheels?
For any Canadians interested in this, please note that these do ship via UPS or Fedex which means you will be faced with brokerage fees of about $50-75 CAD. Also, non-NAFTA made wheels are subject to 6% or 7% duty so you'll have to factor that in. I will assume these wheels are made in Asia at the price they are at. Also you will not be able to avoid the GST/PST.
EDIT:
Turns out Tire Rack ships via UPS with an all-inclusive price for duties, taxes, shipping and brokerage fee. This is the breakdown. Wheels: $316.00 USD Shipping to Quebec: $86.92 USD GST: $20.16 USD (6% appears to be price of wheels + duty) Quebec PST: $26.71 USD (7.5% QC PST on wheels + duty + GST) Duty:$18.96 USD (6% duty on price of wheels alone) Brokerage Fee:$20.00
Total: $488.75 USD
Last edited by santiago0000000000 : 10-09-2007 at 08:31 AM.
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