Author Topic: 15 inch wheels on a 280SL (Read 18540 times)

TR · « **on:** January 21, 2005, 14:05:46 »

I noticed on the Mechatronik website that they are using 15 inch wheels and hubcaps. Choices for 14 inch tires seems to be in steady decline, but there are still pretty good options for 15 inch performance tires.

Has anyone tried swapping out their 14 inch wheels & hubcaps for 15 inch ones?

I'm wondering which 15 inch steel wheels, of the type that would accept MB hubcaps, might be the best.

Tom in Boise

rwmastel · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2005, 22:03:33 »

I know that MB made 15" alloy wheels that did not take hub caps. These were the same in style as those found on the 280SL and on most W123 chassis cars, but they are larger. I think they were made for the 300SE? These are probably relativly rare and expensive. Another interesting 14" wheel option is the one mentioned in this link:

www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=1014

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

Douglas · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2005, 22:43:59 »

Yes, Rodd is correct about an OEM 15" bundt cake alloy. It was available, but is a rare find today. I believe it was found on some higher-performance varieties of the R107 like the 500SL.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

hauser · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2005, 22:48:53 »

Here's a 113 with the 15' wheels.

Download Attachment:

280with 15inch wheels.jpg
27.63 KB

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

TR · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2005, 00:19:42 »

Gents -- Thanks much. But I'm thinking of a standard-style steel wheel that will accept a standard-style painted wheelcover. However in a 15 inch size rather than the normal 14 x 6 steel wheel.

I believe the old 600 limos had 15 x 6.5 inch wheels (w/painted wheel covers). But those wheels seem to be rare, not to mention expensive. I wonder if there are other alternatives/sources?

What I'm trying to do is maintain the standard 280SL look, but take advantage of the much larger selection of 15" tires. Maybe end up with, say, ultra-high performance 205/65R15 tires, perhaps even with 3/4" whitewalls added...And with painted wheelcovers.

Tom

hauser · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2005, 00:55:05 »

TR, if they are out there Karl Middelhauve would know. www.mbgrand600.com

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

TR · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2005, 07:59:03 »

Hauser -- Good idea. I'll try contacting him.

Thank you.

Tom in Boise

jmela · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2005, 12:20:07 »

One of the 109 boards offered up p/n 126 400 28 02 as the solution to the 15" question. These are readily available from MB for about $150-175/per. I couldn't get a p/n out of MB Classic for the 15" paintable wheel covers, if they are still available.

I'm assuming these are steel wheels requiring a hub cap cover and not the stock 126 wheels. Perhaps someone with access to MB's parts catalog could verify this as well as the compatibility of these wheels with the 113 platform.

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2005, 13:13:32 »

15 inch wheels as fitted to Classic Center 230SL Rally Replica.
Believe tyres were 185x15 Dunlop Sport ?8

Download Attachment:

230rally.JPG
52.48 KB

65 230SL
68 280SL

TR · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2005, 14:39:40 »

Gents -- Encouraging...thanks. And please keep the ideas coming!

pagode.info · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2005, 03:05:50 »

New orig. Merc 15" hubcaps of the
same style are still available non-
painted at a price of 49.-- (aprox.
66.- US §) each. I just have or-
dered 4 of those last week for a
somebody doing the big 600 Merc.

Tom

www.pagode.info

TR · « **Reply #11 on:** January 24, 2005, 07:30:28 »

Thank you Tom. Now if those 15" hubcaps mount on the 15" steel wheels (which jmela mentions), and they in-turn fit properly on the 280SL, then we just might have a winning combination.

Jmela, we'll be following up shortly on that 15" wheel part number that you so kindly posted.

Tom in Boise

rwmastel · « **Reply #12 on:** January 24, 2005, 08:20:19 »

quote:
Originally posted by TR

Thank you Tom. Now if those 15" hubcaps mount on the 15" steel wheels (which jmela mentions), and they in-turn fit properly on the 280SL, then we just might have a winning combination.

Tom,
If you want the 15" wheels for the performance (narrow side walls for better handling, better selection of performance tires), then why do you want steel wheels instead of alloy? The light weight alloy wheels will provide better acceleration and will allow the suspension to work better over a rough surface.

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

TR · « **Reply #13 on:** January 24, 2005, 09:53:34 »

Hi Rodd -- A key reason I'm looking at 15" wheels is that a much broader selection of tires is available. This seems especially true if one wants an H-rated tire (so far I've only found two in the 205/70R14 size: the Firestone Affinity LH-30, and Sumitomo HTR 200).

Also, my personal preference is the look of the standard painted hub cap / wheel cover over that of the alloy wheels. On Tom Sargeant's web site ( http://www.geocities.com/tomsargeant/Restoration.html ) he has a couple of excellent photos that do fine job of comparing the look of wheel covers & whitewalls with alloys & blackwalls. I took a little poll of family & friends and the wheel cover & whitewall arrangement won hands-down. Everyone was wow'd by Tom's website & his car.

Different subject. Some years ago, maybe 7 or 8 yrs, I bought a set of chrome trim strips for the hardtop. I remember those came from a very pleasant fellow in Ohio. Might that have been you?

jmela · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2005, 10:07:53 »

quote:

Jmela, we'll be following up shortly on that 15" wheel part number that you so kindly posted.

Tom - 186 401 00 25 may or may not be the elusive 15' wheel cover. If you're checking numbers you might run that one by those in the know. It's either the 14 inch or 15 variety. Sorry to be so vague -- I hope this pans out.

TR · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2005, 10:38:25 »

Jmela -- Thanks much. I called my MB parts guy this morning. He said that part number (186 401 00 25) is for the center cap only, not the full wheel cover. He was unsure of the number for the steel wheel (126 400 28 02) but is in the process of checking on it.

I'll let you know what I find out.

Thanks.

Tom in Boise

rwmastel · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2005, 15:54:16 »

quote:
Originally posted by TR

Hi Rodd -- A key reason I'm looking at 15" wheels is that a much broader selection of tires is available. This seems especially true if one wants an H-rated tire (so far I've only found two in the 205/70R14 size: the Firestone Affinity LH-30, and Sumitomo HTR 200).

quote:
Originally posted by TR

What I'm trying to do is maintain the standard 280SL look, but take advantage of the much larger selection of 15" tires. Maybe end up with, say, ultra-high performance 205/65R15 tires, perhaps even with 3/4" whitewalls added...And with painted wheelcovers.

I'm no tire expert, but I guess that H rated tires are not high performance, like V or Z rated. Not only are you considering major engine modifications for reasons of performance, but you also said you were looking for "ultra-high performance" tires. I therefor assumed you would want performance wheels as well.

quote:
Different subject. Some years ago, maybe 7 or 8 yrs, I bought a set of chrome trim strips for the hardtop. I remember those came from a very pleasant fellow in Ohio. Might that have been you?

Sorry, not me. I've only been involved with Pagodas since Aug. 2000. Maybe Joe Alexander?

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

TR · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2005, 16:14:17 »

Yes, I did say that. But what I'm trying to accomplish is the "look" as much as performance. The vast majority of 14" tires seem to max out with S (112mph) and T (118) speed ratings...and as mentioned I've only come across 2 in the H (130mph) rating. The 15" tires just offer many more choices, including V & Z.

hauser · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2005, 19:33:40 »

I wonder if the 15" alloy wheels would accept the 15" hubcaps :?:

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

TR · « **Reply #19 on:** January 24, 2005, 20:07:53 »

Hauser -- Now that's an idea I would never have thought of. I'd be surprised if the full hub cap would go on the alloy wheel...but it might be worth checking.

My parts guy is going to get in one wheel that Jmela suggested. He'll give it a look-see to determine if it makes sense for a W113. I don't yet know what the price would be either. However, I'm not particularly interested in paying big bucks for a set of plain old steel wheels.

Who knows? Perhaps I'll just end up staying with 14", but I rather hope not.

I just looked at a photo of your gorgeous 280SL, and those full hubcaps with the whitewall tires look very, very good. What kind of tires are you running?

hauser · « **Reply #20 on:** January 24, 2005, 20:57:22 »

On my car I have aluminum wheels from an early 80's 300 series. I am running Michelin Rainforce (NLA) 195/75/14. When the time comes for new tires I may try the Coker's or the Bridgestone Turanza's.

Do you really think you'll drive in excess of 112 MPH? Is the white wall also a concern? If you're looking for a particular tire and can't find it in your choice of WW width you can have it applied to a tire of your choice. www.widewhitewalltires.com

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

TR · « **Reply #21 on:** January 24, 2005, 22:52:45 »

As a fall-back I am also considering the Bridgestone Tranaza LS-T, which is available in 205/70R14 at a T speed rating as well as with a whitewall. ( http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Turanza+LS-T&sidewall=White+Stripe+.6-1.0 )

But in response to your question, yes, on rare occassion I will open it up (in Nevada or Montana...shhh...don't tell anyone).

My lead mechanic seems to think the 15" wheel with a performance tire would be just the ticket. Personally, I like the appearance of contemporary high performance tires, but as you correctly allude to they don't come in whitewall. I've spoken with a local tire distributor and was told they would honor the tires' warrantee even if I didn't buy from them and a whitewall was added. I've talked to the owner of Diamond Back a couple of times already. He's helpful.

But as mentioned, who knows where we'll actually end up with this? If we can't find affordable 15" wheels that will accept the painted hub cap then quite possibly a set of those 14" Bridgestones.

hauser · « **Reply #22 on:** January 24, 2005, 23:59:01 »

TR, take a look at ebay auction #4522091090. A set of 15" hubcaps for a W124. What you would need here are the wheels to those caps touse with old style 15" hubcaps. Not sure if that would really work or not.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

pagode.info · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2005, 03:51:52 »

One also has to think about the problems
caused by too large tires like broken front
axle lower control arms and leak power
steering boxes.

Tom

Ben · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2005, 04:48:44 »

Was the 600 M100 the only car to use the 15" coloured hub caps ?

The 15" steel wheels should come off any modern MB e.g C/E Class assuming the PCD is the same !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

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Author Topic: 15 inch wheels on a 280SL (Read 18540 times)

TR

Douglas

hauser

TR

hauser

TR

TR

pagode.info

TR

TR

TR

TR

hauser

TR

hauser

TR

hauser

pagode.info

Ben