I just bought a C320 Sports Coupe off the showroom floor, and had to take it as it is, which is to say it has the 16" wheels and tires.

I really like bigger wheels and tires, so can I buy 17 " wheels and get them to fit? Can I do it without costing an arm and a leg?

If either answer to the above is "no," I would appreciate any comments regarding the postitive aspects of running 16" wheels and tires instead of the 17" ones.

The advantages of using the 16's is that you can use chains if you need them, and the ride will be slightly softer.

The optional 17's are 7.5J x 17 ET 37mm. That means 7.5 inches wide, J is the type of rim on the wheels, and the offset is 37mm. You can use 8.5" wide wheels on the front and 9.5 or even 10 on the rear. You will need to use the correct offset for those widths.

The wheels from C's, SLK's, CLK's, and W210 E's are interchangable. There are many, many aftermarket wheels available. One thing to keep in mind is how easy the wheel is to clean. I have a set of 18 spoke semi-lightweight wheels for autocrossing. You can clean all four of your wheels in the time it takes for me to clean one of those.

So is the diameter of the tire unchanged, i.e., lower profile on the 17 " tire so the ultimate diameter is the same? I'm thinking about road clearance, wheel well clearance and speedometer accuracy.

The overall diameter of the 205/55-16's and the 225/45-17's are very close.

I, too, in a position to purchase 17-inch tires to replace my stock 16-inch all season tires for my CLK320

Now, why stop at 17-inch? How about 18-inch? What do you think?

The larger the wheel the more prone it is to bending when you hit a pothole. If your area has few potholes, go for the 18's, but only for appearance or if you need them to clear 332mm brake rotors. Remember that bigger is heavier and each additional pound on the wheels and tires is equivalent to an additional 4 pounds of vehicle weight.

Thanks. I visit Montreal 1-2 times a week and Montreal's road condition is so bad. I was there 2 weeks ago and I damaged one of my front tires in a pot-hole. Luckily, my wheel was OK.

I think I will upgrade to just 17-inch, I have 3 options:
1. All 45 series
2. All 40 series
3. Front 45 series, Back 40-series


Any suggestions?

Many people are going to staggered tires, mainly for the looks. Even MB does it. The 2004.5 C230k Sport Sedan is an example. Two things happen when going to staggered tires. First, wider rear tires will increase understeer. Second, you can't rotate the tires, so they will wear faster.

I don't remember the year of your CLK, but l'm looking at the Tire Rack web page and it says that 2003 CLK's have 205/55-16's on the front and 225/50-16's on the rear. The factory option sizes are 225/45-17 in front and 245/40-17 in the rear. The latter are the same sizes as the C32 and C230k and C320 Sport Sedans.

You can use the staggered setup or use either the 225/45-17's on 7.5" wheels or the 245/40-17's on 8.5" wheels on all four corners. The 225/45's will probably protect your wheels from potholes a little better than the 245/40's. The main question is whether or not you want to rotate the tires.

My CLK320 is a 2004 model.

You said that many people go for the staggered setup because of the look. Does it really show if you have 45-series and 40-series tires?

Anyway, I think I will go with the 45-series all-around. This way, the performance will improve, my car will look better and the tires will last longer.

The difference it width between the 45 and the 40 tires is about an inch. Most car people will notice. The general public, probably wouldn't.

You made the choice I would have made. I like the 225/45-17's on my car and I think they look good on a CLK. Let us know which wheels you buy.

The difference it width between the 45 and the 40 tires is about an inch. Most car people will notice. The general public, probably wouldn't.

You made the choice I would have made. I like the 225/45-17's on my car and I think they look good on a CLK. Let us know which wheels you buy.

To compare the 40 and 45 series, with little increase in performance, I would prefer to stay with 45 series all around.

I am not sure about the wheels yet. The MB original equipment is so damned expensive and I am thinking of some replicas. I am doing some research on it.

Do anyone has any sugguestions on the tires?