Can I fit 6J x 14" alloys on a 230SL 5.5J x 14"

[n/a]

Hi,

Does anyone know if I can fit the later alloys (6J x 14) on my 64 230SL which has 5.5J x 14 wheels?

If you could email me it would be great - millsa99@hotmail.com

Thanks
Andrew

[ja17]

Hello Andrew,
Yes they will fit just fine. these were an option on the latest 113 cars.  The 6" alloys  were used on many of the lower horsepower Mercedes sedans etc. The larger V-8's, 450-SL's, and "S" chasis cars had the 6 1/2" wide rims. I believe that these fit also, however were never standard equipment. The Mercedes alloy wheels all take longer alloy lug bolts so make sure your car does not have lug nuts. Did the early W113 cars have lug nuts? (probably not).

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[rwmastel]

Big wheel questions:
- Are these 6.5" wide alloys 14" or 15" diameter wheels?
- How wide a tire (205, 215?) can fit on a 6.5" wide wheel?
- Are there any problems using this wide of a wheel (with wide tires) on a 113?
- Are there 15" MB or aftermarket alloys that fit the 113 chassis?

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

[ja17]

Hello Rod,
The 6 1/2" wide alloys are also 14". There are some rare sets of aftermarket original style alloys that were made 15" wide. These are hard to come by. As far as tire width, I bet Pete Lester would know what the maximum would be.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Ben]

I have the 14" Bundt style alloys on my '64 230SL with 195/70x14 tyres no problems.

I think the rim width is 6 1/2 and I have seen these with 205/70x14 tyres no problem. In fact when I tried the alloys they had old 205 on which I drove and they didn't rub. I had already ordered the 195's otherwise I would have gone for 205's

I think the 113 cars with alloys got 205/70x14's as standard.

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

[Douglas]

(Ben, I think you're mistaken about 205s coming from the factory on 113s delivered with alloys. I believe they received the same 185s everyone else got.)

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#018260

[Ben]

Certainly my information and opinions are not definitive but I promise you that 185/80x14 on a 6 1/2J rim is going to look very tall and narrow.

Also the alloys only came on line in late 68/69 and the wider radial rubber was widely available.

Duno who can provide the accurate info but the picture in Meredith book show a late 280SL with alloys and it appears original in every way. It definitely does not wear 185's. The again that cant be conclusive evidence !

maybe someone with a late 280 SL owners manual will have a tyre listing !

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

[Cees Klumper]

My (US) 280 SL/8 owner's manual lists for tires the following info:
Rim size: 6 J x 14 HB
Tire size: 185 HR 14 (with tube)

This topic (tires and wheels) has been covered SOOO many times that I am sure all relevant info is now available in old Yahoo! posts. I have most of these old posts sorted now, and anyone interested in all of that can just drop me an email and I will send them to you.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[rwmastel]

Yes, the original alloy wheels on the W113 would be 6" wide and probably came with 185 width tires.  I'm curios what width tire you could put on a 6.5" wide wheel on a W113 and not have problems with exhaust, suspension, fenders, etc.

If people are putting a 205 width tire on 6" wheels, then I assume you could put a 215 tire on 6.5" wheels.  Has anyone done this on a W113?

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

[Ben]

Actually, correction, the alloys wheels I have are 6J and not 6 1/2J.

I believe the early 230SL's, such as mine, had steel disc rims that were 5 1/2J. The later 230SL's and the 250+280 had 6J wheels.

So I reckon 185 are probably correct for the 6J alloy Bundt wheel too !

Mia culpa ! (Which hopefully means "my fault" or "I'm sorry" or similar ! )  

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