215 75 14 tires on Alloys - yes, I searched!

[n/a]

Will 215 75 14s fit? A buddy has a set of 4 new Mich at the "right price". I'm on a serious car budget. I now have 205 70 14s on alloys which I've read lots of posts about. They need to be replaced. Will I be wasting my time with these tires?

Shawn Rock
Philly, PA USA
1968 280 SL 4 speed

[rwmastel]

Shawn,

215/75 will be much taller and have a larger circumference than a 205/70 tire.  To keep things close, I would think you would want a 215/65.  Also, I don't know about the width.  I have not heard of anyone using a tire wider than 205 on our standard rims.  I don't know if there would be any interference with the syspension, body, or exhaust.  I also don't know if the rim would securly hold the tire.  The tire manufacturer should be able to tell you that.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Tom]

Srock,

Here is a post from the Yahoo archives that adddreses this tire size.  It will work, but you may need a spacer and you may have some minor rubbing on turns.  At one point, the pictures of the car were posted.  Maybe you can contact the person for original pictures and post them on this site.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/W113/message/5112

Best,

Tom

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1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown
1994 E320 Cabriolet, Smoke Silver
1999 E320 Wagon 4 matic, Brilliant Silver
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[Bob G]

You might want to research Bollinger's rally 230SL set up 15 inch rims I do not know the make of tire or how wide they were. but I would think that the driving and pounding Bollinger gave that SL the tires handled very well. I beleive there is some story on the car in the Star publication and one of our members might be able to fill us in on any suspension up grades other than HD special springs. But I would like to know is what size and manufactor the tires came from.
Bob Geco

[n/a]

I'll bet they'll hit the fenders on a turn with a dip in it.
tom in CA

[Klaus]

According to Engelen, Boehringer's car had 5 1/2 JK x 13 rims for good roads, and 5 1/2 JK x 15 aluminum rims for bad roads. Tires were old designations (not belted?), 7,50x13 or 5,50x13 Racing, and 7,00x15. Looks like none of them was wider than 190mm. Manufacturer is not specified.

Klaus
1969 280 SL