[andy7684]

Hey Guys.
I've been monitoring the forum for a couple years now and have a question again.
I am in the need of new tires for my 76 450 slc.
Currently I have an old set of Michelin MXV4 205/70r14 95H on the original wheels.
About the only tires available from a major manufacturer in the size are basically made for minivans. I have looked at Vredestien Sprint Classic in V speed rating, but it appears they aren't available locally and pricey.

I have been looking at possible replacing the wheels and found these on Craigslist.

Mercedes wheels and tires
I have four wheels and tired for sale from a Mercedes Kompressor. They fit a 16 rim. They are 5x 112 Bolt pattern. The tires are in great condition, with plenty of tread left. The rims are in great condition too.

They appear to be off a C230. I believe they are 16 inch, 7 inch wide, with 37mm offset. I have plugged in the numbers in a couple of the websites referenced in the sticky's, but the offset is on the high end.
Any thoughts if they will fit my model? My suspension and bushings are in good/new condition.
This is my daily driver and not completely sold on the looks of some of the "period correct" wheels. Although a BBS basketweave does look good on some cars.
I appreciate any advise you can give.

 

[andy7684]

Picture

Everybody likes Pictures, right????
Not the best one, but gives an idea of what I am starting with....

 

[rowdie]

If they are ET 37 you would need 10MM spacers and appropriate length lug bolts. 7" width on the 107 is ET 25.

 

[andy7684]

Thanks rowdie.
Is 10mm pushing a limit or should I be fine?
Texted seller to get more info.

 

[nobby]

10mm is .4 of an inch.

I would think that should be ok.

But you will need longer bolts and preferably hub centric spacers.

There are a couple of wheel savvy members here that can verify.

Fonzi and Vic..............clean up in aisle 5.

 

[Fonzi]

If they are ET 37 you would need 10MM spacers and appropriate length lug bolts. 7" width on the 107 is ET 25.

10mm spacers will cover up the entire centering portion of the hub. It is also too thin to have enough metal to replicate a hub. In short, that's a bad spacer size for almost any car.

15mm hubcentric spacers will work on the back of all 107s. 15mm hubcentric spacers will work on the front of a 1986-1989 107. Nearly no spacers larger than 5mm and smaller than ~25mm will work on the front of a 1971-1985 107.

So in short, don't buy those wheels and do something bad to your 107.

Edit:
If 25mm hubcentric spacers work with the cone shaped hub on the gen1 107s, then these wheels could work very well with extra long lugs and hubcentric spacers for 7x16 et12. There's nothing really wrong with that. Edit: you don't have a front lip spoiler and should be ok with that offset with a 25mm spacer.

If you are willing to chance $40, buy these and let us know if they fit the front hubs. http://bit.ly/14S4H1A

 

[andy7684]

Appreciate the feedback.
So Fonzi, you are saying that the wheels definately will not work with 10mm spacers. Good to know and wont try it as I definately don't want to do bad things.
However, the wheels will work with the 25mm hubcentric spacers. As Long as that 25mm hubcentric spacer works with the coneshaped hubs????

I'm already having the heads out for a valve job for BIG $$, what's $40 more?
Could I get these spacers at a wheel/tireshop?

I'm trying to get this figured out before my trip to Kansas City next week, where the wheels are located. BTW, still waiting on a return text from the seller to get exact details, but fun learning this info and reading previous threads.

 

[Fotografa]

Even if you get them on and working, they will still look ugly to my eyes.

There are many other period correct wheels that will fit without spacers.

Personally, I think your car looks great with the 14" factory alloys on it.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[andy7684]

Ideally, I'd keep the factory wheels and put new mhvx Michelin 95h tires. Unfortunately, the only options I have now in that size are minivan tires. Some period wheels look good to me like the basket bbs. The others look too "eighties" for my taste-Lorinser and 560 chrome. I would like to try out a more modern wheel that isn't too big (16"max) and see how it looks. I also think wheels have a different look on the slc than a shorter sl.
If I can get a decent deal, I can try them. If bad, sell to someone else.

 

[rocky raccoon]

Instead of 16"

15" OE or replica wheels will fit the car without spacers and also offer many more tire options.

 

[petesmga]

What's wrong with mini van tires ?

 

[Fonzi]

I thought I heard people talking about discount tire having a special or clearance on 205/70/14 or 195/70/14


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[rowdie]

I don't get the mini van comment. While V and even H rated tires are more difficult to find you don't really need them. There are no autobahns here. 85 MPH is the highest legal speed limit in the US. Do you regularly travel between Austin and San Antonio in your SLC? Even the readily available 205/70/14 will handle that.

 

[andy7684]

Pete. Funny pic! Nothing really wrong with "minivan"tires, but I don't want them for the same reasonsi have an old Mercedes as a kid hauler instead of a minivan.
I should be more clear that I want a performance tire and not a touring tire designed for minivans according to the manufacturer. Performance tires usually have higher speed ratings and different build. They corner and handle differently with stiffer sidewalls. although I don't always go fast I do like to zip around the backroads of the Ozark mountains.

 

[petesmga]

Not that your going to my extreme but I just went from 205-70-14 to 245-50-16, (only because those tires came with the rims I bought), and the car rides and handles much tighter and more refined. A world of difference.

 

[tdoriot]

Mercedes 98 AMG Sport Rims 18x8
Will these work on a 73 ?

 

[Fonzi]

Mercedes 98 AMG Sport Rims 18x8
Will these work on a 73 ?

To make them "work" you will need to end up with an offset between about 11 and 24. So 20mm spacers would make them work.


But why?




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[Fotografa]

But why?

I'm with you there!

 

[tdoriot]

I have those although 8's and 10's offset on my 600. Love the look. However, they may be too modern for the 73. My ultimate would be those oz wheels that Pearson Has on the black 107. You being the wheel king, help me find a set

 

[Fonzi]

I have those although 8's and 10's offset on my 600. Love the look. However, they may be too modern for the 73. My ultimate would be those oz wheels that Pearson Has on the black 107. You being the wheel king, help me find a set

They aren't cheap. There are guys who spend tons of time tracking down the rare wheels when they come up cheap, refurb them a little bit (or as much as needed to make them ready-to-mount) and charge a lot more for them. I may fall into that category to some degree, but not like some of these other guys that amaze me the way they find wheels all over the country, buy whole cars just to get the wheels, find mechanics to replace or remove wheels and then ship or have A shipper/trucker pickup the wheels from a seller that isn't willing to mess with shipping. It's a full time hobby. Then in the end, supply and demand dictates the price on a well advertised set of wheels.

I've seen times when there were three sets of AMG OZ three piece wheels on the market. Sure, some where around $3000, but others were under $2000. So if you really want those wheels, set aside $2500.

In the end, after messing around with all the wheels, I appreciated the hubcaps on my 1973. It was the right thing for the car. The handling was better with sticky summer tires on 8x16 et11.

I really want to dump those momo penta wheels I have in 8x16 et11 (which can fit a 560sl front brake calipers).

I honestly can't decide which wheels I like best of everything else if have left after that:
- three sets of bbs rs (rs009 8x16 et11, rs133 8x16 et21 I plan to alter to 8.5x16 et16 and will fit a 560sl, and a staggered 16" set)
- Lorinser LO 8x16 et11 and 7x16 et23 staggered set (a wider 8+9 set going to Pearson)
- bbs RA 8x16 et11 and 7x16 et23 staggered set (two sets, one going to Kevin Kemper)
- rial mesh / weave in 8x16 et11 (recently excited because I just today got three correct center caps which are very hard to find. I've had rial caps that fit, but aren't correct.)
- gen1 Pentas in 8x16 et11 (saving for the option if creating a 280slc AMG clone)
- Fondmetal mesh / weave 8x16 et11 and 7x16 et21.5 that came with the SLC convertible and I will never separate from the car.





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