Does anybody know if you can install staggered wheels on 2004 E500 4MATIC
(AWD) without having problems with all wheel drive. I would like to install
8.5’’x20’’ ET32 with 245/35-20 at the front and 10”x20” ET42 with 275/30-20 at the back. Does anybody has those sizes installed on E500 4MATIC ???
One of the suppliers told me that you can not run staggered wheels on all wheel drive
E500 because all four wheels have to have exact same circumference and with different
tire sizes front to back you can not have exact match. Does anybody know if this is true ??

Thanks,Drazen

 

not recommended at all.

 

Don't do it-you have nothing to gain, but risk damaging your all wheel drive geometry. If you wanna run fatter and /or taller tires on the back, go to another car.

Kevin

 

First, 20's will ruin your ride and look silly.
Second, those tires are way to wide.
Third, if you stagger the traction pattern on both ends of the car is different and the 4matic system won't know this and you will defeat the purpose of the system.
Fourth ,those tires are taller than the oem rolling diameter and would be turning about 40-50 fewer revs per mile less,throwing off your speedometer,making the effective rear gearing taller thus making the car a slug off the line.
Fifth,even if you spent the money to properly install 20's $$$$$$$$$major modifications to all the suspension,you would need to lower the car in order to make it look anything but silly.Check on the price of lowering an 04 4matic,no one makes the springs or shocks.So custom work to the tune of thousands of dollars would be required.
Install some nice 18 inch rims with the proper offset.Inquire at tirerack.com for suggestions or go buy an 02 E55 you would be better off and probably enjoy it more.
ohlord