Any 280SL's riding around on 17" wheels?

[Roadstir]

Well, the "deal" I thought I had on the new Dayton wire wheels turned out to be a bust. I'd found a 4 wheel set for a very good price on Craigslist, still in the boxes, and snatched it up quickly. However, my joy turned to sorrow when my tire man informed me that they were 15" rims, not the 14" the seller mistakenly represented. No one to blame but myself.  I'm replacing my older wire wheel set as I want to go tubeless and I can't seem to seal the old ones well enough to hold air.

My question is:

1.  Has anyone seen a 280SL with 15" on her?
2.  What sort of tire size change is necessary to keep the rolling diameter the same as the 14" as I don't want the speedometer getting all hinky.
3.  Any other insight on switching over?  How does it look?  Photos?

Many thanks~

[hauser]

I along with a few others have 15" wheels on my car.  I'm using a MB wheel and full hubcap which looks identical to an original set of 14's.

[Roadstir]

Thanks for the reply, Hauser.  What size tire are you running on it?  Does your speedo work properly now?  Notice any differences since the switch?  Photo?

Sorry for all the questions, but I have to make a decision on what to do soon.

[Cees Klumper]

Roadstir - your tire guy should be able to advise you on the proper tire to go along with the 15 inch wheel; there's also on-line (probably Tire Rack and such) converters that should be able to help. 15 inch plus lower profile tire should make for better handling, and likely more choices aand lower prices in available tires.

[hauser]

My speedo does not work 100% because I have a 5 speed transmission (Getrag).  The tire size I am running is 205/65/15 HR speed rated Michelin Primacy. 

I suggest you make sure that the rear axel is centered before doing this change.  If the rear axel isn't on center you will have an issue with rubbing.

[Peter h]

205/65/15 is correct, almost the same wheel size. You do not need to rebuild the speedometer. I would have taken better 195/70/15, but no good found.  I have also installed the 5 speed getrag, then it's a Problem with the speedo.
The pagoda runs noticeably better and very sporty with the 15 inch rims.
Have fun
Peter

[sandcrab59]

Roadstr
I know a member who has 15" rims and I asked the same question about the speedo.
His reply was, I use my GPS to tell me my speed.
So there is no problem.
If you want to sell those rims let me know.
Tom Mrowka

[Roadstir]

Thanks to everyone who's weighed in on this.  The gentleman who sold me the 14"s swears he used one as a spare on his Jag when he got into a pinch, so that's why one of the four was dirty.  When I took it to Merchant's Tire they tried to mount a 14" Defender GRNX but it wouldn't fit.  Installer told me it was a 15".  Called seller back and he was sure it was a 14" so I took the rim to Sears and waited 30 minutes to have a "technician" tell me it was definitely a 16"!!!  (he took a tape and measured from edge to edge, not kidding)  Thoroughly disgusted, I stopped by a different Merchant's on the way home and showed that tech one of the shiny, new rims.  There, printed on the side was "15 x 7"  Mystery solved.

Peter, thanks for sharing your current tire's #'s.  What is the difference between a 205/60/15 and a 205/65/15?  One is about $12 a tire cheaper.

Hauser, dumb question, but how do I tell if the rear is centered?  Aren't they all?

Since the stock wheels were 14 x 6, would the 15 x 7's affect anything being an inch wider?

Thanks, again for all the help.

[Peter van Es]

Just read all this in detail... http://www.sl113.org/wiki/WheelsTires/Start

[Roadstir]

Thanks all for the advice and links.

After 6 attempts to seal my Zenith wire wheels with Silicone II I've given up.  These wheels will be up for sale shortly.  After having perused wheel/rim websites for so long my eyes glazed over I'm looking at new 17's with a 195/50/17 Michelin GRNX's.  I understand that the factory offset is ET30.  However, the folks at USARIMS have recommended a wheel with an offset that pushes the wheel out for "a fuller look."  I believe she mentioned an ET15 or 20?  (see photo)  Thoughts on the new wheel?

Cees, you're right.  Many more choices in tires.  The 195/50/17 Michelin's are going to cost me about $105 a tire after the $70 factory rebate.  Not that I'll ever use the 90,000 mile warranty...

[Roadstir]

Many thanks for all the good advice and suggestions here!  I finally decided on a set of 15" wire wheels designed from the get go to be tubeless.  Am waiting for some wheel adapters to arrive and then mounting 215/60/15 tires.  65mph on speedo is actually 64.09.  Not bad.

[Raymond]

I will be surprised, (pleasantly) if the 215/60/15s do not rub under the front wheel wells in a hard turn.  Please check back in and let us know your experience.

[Roadstir]

Raymond, check your messages.  Thx

[Roadstir]

After reading Raymond' message I feel compelled to ask for more suggestions on a good size for my new 15x7 rims.  If the 215/65/15's may have a rubbing problem I'd appreciate hearing from some folks on their ideas.

195/65/15's are the same width as my 195/70/14's and only a 1/4" taller.  Should that make any difference?

[Garry]

ROADSTIR

You haven’t actually said what you are trying to achieve with all the wheel and tire size changes. 

What is wrong with just fitting a correct size set of the lightweight alloy wheels and thus avoid all the problems that wrong size wheels and tires bring.

Unless of course you want to just pimp the car then a cool set of flames along the side will also attract the eye.

[Roadstir]

No flames, just changing wheels.  My old 14" wire wheels were designed for tube tires and I'm trying to get away from them after a big blowout.  Plus, tire shop won't mount tubed tires anymore.  I recently purchased another set of 15" chromed wire wheels and am just trying to match a tire on them close to the original.

Factory offset is +30, I understand.  Had to purchase 1.25" adapters to match the bolt pattern as the new wheels were on a Jag.  Offset on new wheels is 5.5"