[W126 Coupe] 18 inch

[Jonathan Hodgman]

Interesting...  I find the cars I have here on 16's to be even more
compliant...granted, all the 16' equipped I drive are on stock springs.
Also, I'd wager road quality down here is a good bit better then up your
way..one things i did notice was Quite bad w/ the 18's was tram lining...we
do get a lot of 'ruts' in our roads from all the truck traffic and
horrendous heat.   I'd often be dragged around @ intersections..very
disconcerting.  My g/f who always serves as my non-biased ride-o-meter
always grumbled in a 126 w/ 18's.

The weight of the 18's was also another consideration...an 18X8 Aero II w/
rubber weighs in around 55-56lbs....that's a LOT heavier then this
suspension was originally designed to deal with, thus making it harder for
it to respond efficiently/quickly.  The one set of 18's I found were OK were
my set of BBS RS GT's, but those rims were 18.5 lbs...even lighter then a
15' Aero!!

In chatting with a number of people who have forgotten more about suspension
then I'll ever know they always give a basic rule of +2 is as far as one
should go on wheel size...AMG even agreed only offering up to a 17:)

My time on track has told me that 17 is a Great place to be...keeping up w/
3 series in high and low speed transitions made me a believer.  Granted,
I've stiffened up my suspension as Much as I can w/o going to custom
shocks/springs etc..

Break from melting over...back to work!

Jonathan

On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 8:45 PM, Paul Samarin <pauls at sbcglobal.net> wrote:


> I concur.  I really miss my SEC.  It had 18x245 in front and 18x275 in back

> and the last tires I had on it before I totaled it (at 1 mph, by destroying

> the hood, both radiators, etc., with the tow hitch of the SUV who stopped

> unexpectedly), were Z rated or nearly so.  It was firm but not punishing.

> Wish I had room for another one, but meanwhile I'm enjoying the R129...

> Paul

>

> On Jun 3, 2008, at 5:30 PM, Dick Spellman wrote:

>

> Or run it on marshmallow covered roadways coming soon to a city near you.

> I don't know Jonathan, my 16's on the SE run pretty rough and that with all

> new suspension rubber front and rear and renewed diff rubber when I did the

> rear transverse arms.  On the other hand the sec with 18 275's in the rear

> and 18 255 in the front runs really darn smooth.  All I did there were H&R

> comfort springs with the lowering and desired rake, new nibbs, and I think

> that's it.  Anyway, if there is a formula for aggressive looks, good

> cornering and a nice ride all in one neat package I think the sec is it. Now

> back to our regularly scheduled programme.

>

> Dick

>

> Jonathan Hodgman wrote:

>

> better run H rated tyres or it will be rather punishing!

>

> Jonathan

>

>

> Paul Samarin

> pauls at sbcglobal.net

>

>

>

>

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> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>




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1991 560 SEC Full Euro ECE
1991 560 SEC 226Hp/271ft/lbs:)
1989 560 SEC AMG (N.Amer 250/295)
1986 560 SEL AMG 6.0L 32V
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