wheels/hubcaps

[n/a]

I recently purchased a 1967 230sl. I bought it from my existing mechanic who replaced the original wheels with chrome spokes. Where should i go for original wheels/hubcaps? Anyone want a set of spoke wheels?

[JimVillers]

Fourteen inch wheels are very common from many recyclers (used on many Mercedes in the mid 60's).  Hub caps and trim rings are available from a number of "normal" W113 suppliers (K&K, Bud's, Miller's etc).
Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, 190E 2.3-16 Kompressor, MGB 5-Speed

[Amanda]

Thanks Jim (I had basically the same question as David).  Please forgive me if this sounds ignorant, but I've never had to get different wheels/rims for a car.  When you mention that you get get 14 inch wheels from a recycler, does that mean that basically any 14 inch wheel to which a hubcap can be installed will work?

Amanda
1966 230SL
Manual
Red/Tan
Los Angeles

[Ricardo]

Hello Amanda
Not meaning to answer for Jim, but these are MB type rims that have the right kind of "bumps" to hold the original style hub caps. They were available on several different MB models of the era however,  so finding good used ones shouldn't be too difficult and if you spend a little more time you can find 14" aluminum (black painted)wheels from 123 chassis of the same era, that have a series of 1" dia. holes around the inner edge and still allow the correct hub caps and beauty rings to be used, but with a significant weight saving.....
There have been several discussions regarding wheels, so if you do a search here, you should be an expert in no time  
Hope that helps
Ricardo

[vincesy]

david,

67 230sl?  i thought the 230sl were replaced by the 250sl by 1966.  

have you considered the alloy wheels?  someone was selling a set of 5 on craigslist last week for $300, i thought about it too long.  i think the hubcaps look good and so do the alloys.

i've been to a few junkyards the last few weeks (looking for a metal oil filler cap) and i've seen plenty of the steel rims and hubcaps but not the alloys.

good luck!
vincent

[n/a]

I hope I haven't made a newbie mistake but just purchased everything from Van Dijk Classic SL Specialist in Germany. Brand new hubcaps, new chrome rings and clips and used steel wheels in good condition.
About to begin my search for tires. I believe i am going to go with 205/70/R14's.  Any thoughts? Should I go for the extra 40 in width (Kind of like the way a fatter tire looks). Van Dijk Classic SL Specialist recommended Michelin  185 or 195/70 R 14. All advice welcome. If it's not a 1967, by the way, I'm not going to Motor Vehicles to change the title...

[n/a]

correction to may last post - i meant 20mm extra width...

[bsimaz]

There has been lots of talk about tires here.  Do a search and you'll find plenty.   I think 205's are a little too big.  I think they start rubbing the fenders when turning.

Bill Simaz
'66 230sl
Back on the Road

[n/a]

thanks very much for the help

[Vince Canepa]

The original tire size is 185-14.  A common replacement size that gives the same diameter (and thus preserves speedo calibration and overall gearing) is 205/70-14.  I have 205/70-14 and have not experienced rubbing.  Both sizes are getting very hard to find.  There is a thread titled "Tire Nirvana" with a lot on the subject.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[cascadia]

I just spent about 5 hours on the web and on the phone trying to find a Michelin with a whitewall in 195/75/14 or 205/70/14.  My local Michelin distributor did a search and found 3 in Tennessee, that's 3 in the entire country.  He said those sizes are getting harder to find and finding them with a whitewall is going to be even harder.  I ended up going with BF Goodrich Control Plus 195/75/14 and found them to be pretty decent with an attractive sidewall.  They're actually being used on a '71 280SE, pic at this link:  www.cascadiaclassic.com/ser20.jpg
Bob

[George Davis]

Cascadia,

a bit off topic, but check out the Events - Seattle Gathering in September.  We could maybe caravan to Bellevue if you're so inclined.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[n/a]

If you go to www.tirerack.com and search by tire, entering 205/70/14, a decent variety of tires come up (20 i believe) and a bunch are whitewalls. There is actually a very small note by the picture of the tire saying that the blackwalls are shown but that they are available in whitewall.... hope this helps...

David M. Burrell
1967 230sl Light Ivory

[KevinC]

I purchased Bridgestone Turanzas for my car from TireRack and am quite pleased. I had understood that 195/75/14's were closest to the original Firestone Phoenix so that's what I have.

My car is also a 1967 230 SL. It was built in October of 1966. They produced the 230 to the end of 1966 but don't forget the car model years change before the calendar year...I believe that it was around September back then. I am sure that you will start seeing 2007's on the road soon, if not already. In all likelihood, your title is legitimate as is.

Don't foget the "search" function on this site. LOTS of this information as been discussed a time or two in te past.

-Kevin

Download Attachment: MB bs_turanza_lst_ww195-75-14.jpg
15.02 KB

For even more fun, check out our data bases and match up your vehicle ID to the production month...

http://http://www.sl113.com/data/prod_month.asp

Kevin Caputo
Boca Raton, FL
1967 230 SL Automatic
670 Light Ivory
113 Bronze/Brown MB Tex

[n/a]

Thanks very much Kevin. My car was produced in December 1966 - as you suspected. Great resource.

David M. Burrell
1967 230sl Light Ivory

[bsimaz]

Thanks, I have a January '67.  And all this time I thought I had a '66.  One of the last too,  only 26 cars from the end of the run.

Bill Simaz
'66 230sl
Back on the Road

[KevinC]

Cool.    A '67 230 SL actually produced in 1967. From the database table, looks like only 95 produced. Talk about rare!

Need to change your sig now. Maybe we should start a 1967230SL site?  :mrgreen:

quote:Originally posted by bsimaz

Thanks, I have a January '67.  And all this time I thought I had a '66.  One of the last too,  only 26 cars from the end of the run.

Bill Simaz
'66 230sl
Back on the Road

Kevin Caputo
Boca Raton, FL
1967 230 SL Automatic
670 Light Ivory
113 Bronze/Brown MB Tex