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PolishEagle
Regular
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: New Jersey
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500; 2002 CLK55 1981 380SL; 2007 R320
Posts: 66
| Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I am wondering if there is a noticeable difference if I switch down to smaller rims?
Anyone on a 463 notice any huge ride difference going from 18's-16's?
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4x4abc
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I did - and its a difference of night and day! |
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Ray G500
Member
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Magungie, PA
Vehicle(s): 03-G500, 03-X5, 09-Cayman S
Posts: 25
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I have both.
I use the stock 18 set up for spring, summer & fall and the 16 w/ MT’s for winter.
If you’re big into “off roading” you’ll probably want the 16’s all the time. If not, then you may not want the 16’s at all. It also depends on the tire you choose. Don’t forget, the 16’s have a different offset that your U.S. 18’s and will shorten your overall width. Since the traction control is already too sensitive, IMHO, this just adds to that problem.
You might be able to get 16’s with the U.S. offset but I’m not sure.
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PolishEagle
Regular
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: New Jersey
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500; 2002 CLK55 1981 380SL; 2007 R320
Posts: 66
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
4x4abc - 3/27/2007 7:12 PM
I did - and its a difference of night and day!
Did it soften the highway ride on the 16's too? I would asume with more rubber them potholes won't make momma frown as much? I know the obvious reasons for offroading and going down rim size.
In this world of everyone wanting DuBs and supersizing their wheels, I would rather ride on more rubber then metal.
I am at the point I need new tires anyway so if 16's will make momma smile........... I am in for it. |
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spots350sl
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2007
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL
Posts: 222
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I switched from 18s to 16s a month ago. I also plan to use my 18s for summer, and the 16s for winter. The ride with the 16s is much smoother (still not S class smooth... but alot better). Plus, the look of the G is much better.... i would stop using the 18s all together, but the tires are ~2.5k miles old... would be a waste...
I have attached pics of my two wheels types... Ordered my wheels from eurotruck in georgia, took two weeks to get them (shipped from germany).
 (wheel.jpg)
 (DSC02369.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 wheel.jpg (148KB - 5 downloads)
DSC02369.jpg (243KB - 2 downloads)
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W5YK
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: San Diego
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500, Unimog U2450,
Posts: 543
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I think this is the single best thing you can do to a G500. It improves the ride noticeably, apart from all the other considerations mentioned by others
I also got mine from Sean at Eurotruck, and it was very quick. |
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03-Gwagen
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s): CLK63 Black Series, 2018 G63, 2016 GLE300d
Posts: 888
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
What is the offsets of the 16's that you are getting from Eurotruck?
Are you using spacers? |
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W5YK
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: San Diego
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500, Unimog U2450,
Posts: 543
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I bought the wheels with part number A 463 401 07 02 from Eurotruck. They are ET63. I didn't use spacers. |
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spots350sl
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2007
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL
Posts: 222
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
My wheels are A 463 401 0702 . ET 63, no spacers. #11 on Haralds site.... http://www.rubicon-trail.com/G-Class/wheels/start.html
Edited by spots350sl 3/28/2007 12:20 AM
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spots350sl
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2007
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL
Posts: 222
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I just noticed, we have the same wheels, whoah!
Edited by spots350sl 3/28/2007 12:18 AM
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03-Gwagen
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s): CLK63 Black Series, 2018 G63, 2016 GLE300d
Posts: 888
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
Thanks. What size tire are you guys using? |
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MarcO
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Irvington, NY
Vehicle(s): G 500 SWB, Volvo XC90 V8
Posts: 835
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
I want to second (third, fourth) the opinion that if you can switch to the 16 inch atik wheel (#11 on harald's site) this is the best combination. I also find the BFG AT KO in 265/70/16 to be phenomenal. Great traction in every situation. Snow, sand, gravel. Ride is much smoother and the noise is not appreciably different. My three 500 all were moved to this combo and all drivers (wife, father and I) loved it. My only unhappiness is that I cannot fit the same combo on the 55. There the brake calipers are too large to allow 16 inchers. I have the Toyo Open Country and like them almost as much but they are not as good as the BFG in snow. Not bad though (285/60/18). |
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KERR
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
while i switched to 16's i went with custom steel wheels. While i cant say the ride from the wheels is better i can say the tires make it a lot more "cushey".. well worth the swap.
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spots350sl
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2007
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL
Posts: 222
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
Isnt atik #8 on haralds site? #11 (mine) is the amoured G wheel
anyway, my tires are 265/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor (they have snowflake on the mountain)... i will keep them on for about a month then put the 18s back on. The 16s are so much softer though....
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 473
| RE: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
When 16" wheels were hard to get, I found a set with tires on them.
I immediately installed them on my Gwagen.
The ride was noticably better.
The wheels needed some attention and I had a friend in need of a set of 16s on his truck. He paid to have the tires switched and I traded them to him for a small paint job on my house.
I have since had the rims painted.
I am waiting for the 18s to get a little more wear on them before I switch back to the 16s.
If I had it to do over again, I would go directly to Eurotruck and buy 4 new wheels. Sean's prices are a bargin.
Notice: I said I would buy only 4 wheels as the 18 inch spare will not need to be swaped out if you buy the correct diameter tires. |
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SocalAstro
Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Vehicle(s): 03 G500, 06 Audi A3 2.0
Posts: 116
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
Where did you purchase said wheels? I am keeping an eye out for a set.
-Leon
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PolishEagle
Regular
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: New Jersey
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500; 2002 CLK55 1981 380SL; 2007 R320
Posts: 66
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
MarcO - 3/28/2007 8:57 AM
I want to second (third, fourth) the opinion that if you can switch to the 16 inch atik wheel (#11 on harald's site) this is the best combination. I also find the BFG AT KO in 265/70/16 to be phenomenal. Great traction in every situation. Snow, sand, gravel. Ride is much smoother and the noise is not appreciably different. My three 500 all were moved to this combo and all drivers (wife, father and I) loved it. My only unhappiness is that I cannot fit the same combo on the 55. There the brake calipers are too large to allow 16 inchers. I have the Toyo Open Country and like them almost as much but they are not as good as the BFG in snow. Not bad though (285/60/18).
Were did you get the tires from? I went to tirerack.com they didnt have them.
Since you have 3 G's, I have to say you have road tested tires enough for my taste!
Thanks all for once again your input.
I tried to find a local truck with 16's to drive. That truck doesnt live around here! hahaha |
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Iver460
Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Norway
Vehicle(s): '82 300 GD STT Cab (two other Gs in family)
Posts: 291
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
Got rid of your 280 yet? I seem to recall that it had the Atik 16"s.
Why don't you put those on your 500 and take it for a spin? |
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PolishEagle
Regular
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: New Jersey
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500; 2002 CLK55 1981 380SL; 2007 R320
Posts: 66
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
Still have G, not trying "hard" to sell it, and momma not giving me issues.
I wonder, they a direct switch? THink the 280 had spacers................ |
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| Re: Anyone who switched from 18 inch to 16 inch?
The spacers bolt to the hub, not the wheel so they will swap directly. Only thing you need to consider is what tire size you had on the 280.
One thing to consider on getting a matching 16" rims is that then you can do a 5 tire rotation... meaning can have a "fresh" tire on the truck that's always good to do the same thing as your doing when you have a flat... offroad? winter? highspeed highway?
Different companies tires of the same size really aren't the same in size, and as such you need to be a little careful becuase it's been said before that running different diameter tires can cause permanent damage. The threshold point i have no idea. And then you don't have to throw away your spare after so long because it's dried out... pretty soon tires will likely be carrying expiration dates becuase the data is growing that shows old tires catastrophically fail fast. |
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