Tire size

[500eguy]

What tire size is everybody running on your 116s? i am curious becuase the tires on my car look wrong...oh and pics coming soon!

[john skene]

Standard fitting on the 350's and 450's is 205/70 VR14, which are not as plentiful as they were, the 215/70VR14 is the 6.9 size, and a few of the standard 116's I see around seem to have this size fitted.

The 280's used a much smaller tyre, 185HR14, with a 3.69:1 rear axle ratio so they rev much faster than the V8's. Believe it or not, but I actually saw a 6.9 fitted with these small section tyres over the Christmas period and they looked small, so your car may have these fitted!!!

Some 116's are also retrofitted with the later model 126 alloy 15 inch wheels, using 205/65VR15. The early 126's used the same 205/70VR14 as the 116's.

[gregdeklerk]

My 280SE is supposed to have 185 /14, but the previous owner has put on 205/14, some say for better road holding. The 350SE is supposed to have 205/14.

Greg

[s class]

Greg,

When I bought my 280SE 10 years ago, it had Goodyear Grand Prix II in 185SR14, which was the correct original fitment.  Handling was absolutely horrible.  Almost immediately I switched to Bridgestone Turanza GR50 in 205/70HR14.  185SR14 and 205/70r14 have almost the same outer diameter - within about 2% or so.  Upgrading to 205's on 280SE's is common practice, and I highly recommend it if your interest in the car is driving, not total concours originality. 

[Mforcer]

225/55-16 on 16x7.5 et17 AMG "Hammer" disc wheels for me.

[Brian Crump]

205/70HR14 Michelin on my 450SE - the original size. They feel quite different from Mforcer's which feels more 'sporty'.
Regards,
brian

[Vad El]

215/70-14 for my 450SEL. But armoured 450SEL....

[Des]

205/70-14 on mine, was the tires fitted when I got it, previous owner told me front suspension had been lowered, which I would believe as there isn't much room for bigger tires,

For me it is ether a case of correct size tires and have the suspension height correct or bigger wheels and correct the suspension height for these.

[john skene]

If you have the automatic height adjustment on your car, you can always adjust the rear height down to match the front (if it isn't extreme) I personally like the slightly high standard ride height.

[Des]

If you have the automatic height adjustment on your car, you can always adjust the rear height down to match the front (if it isn't extreme) I personally like the slightly high standard ride height.

Yeah...however I really don't see the need for a 6.9 to be any lower than standard, I can push the car through courners faster than the recommended speed with easy, I don't see a limitation in the cars handleing, well not on the road anyway.