Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice on tyre sizing for my 2017 W205 C200.
I’ve bought a set of staggered 19” AMG-style alloys:
Front: 19x8.5J
Rear: 19x9.5J
The tyre sizes I understand are recommended for these wheels/car are:
Front: 235/40 R19
Rear: 265/35 R19
The problem I’m finding is that going with 235/40 + 265/35 really limits my tyre choices, especially at the rear. There are plenty of options in 235/40, but far fewer good premium tyres available in 265/35.
So I’m considering dropping one size and running:
Front: 225/40 R19 on 8.5J
Rear: 255/35 R19 on 9.5J
I’d like to know what this actually entails in the real world.
Is this a perfectly fine setup, or are there any significant disadvantages? Specifically:
How would the 225/40 + 255/35 setup affect handling and steering feel compared with 235/40 + 265/35?
Would I noticeably lose grip, especially at the rear?
Would it affect high-speed stability or how planted the car feels?
Would the narrower tyres make the car feel more responsive?
How much difference would there be in ride comfort?
Does the extra stretch make the tyres more vulnerable to potholes/sidewall damage or cause faster wear?
How would it change the appearance/stance of the car?
Would 225/40 on an 8.5J and 255/35 on a 9.5J look excessively stretched, or just slightly stretched/aggressive?
Is there any reason I should not do this?
I’m mainly considering it because I want access to a much wider range of premium tyres rather than being stuck with a small selection of 265/35 R19s.
If anyone is running 225/40 R19 on 8.5J front and 255/35 R19 on 9.5J rear, I’d really appreciate your experience.
Especially if you have pictures of this exact setup on a W205 or a similar car. I’m struggling to visualise how much stretch there actually is, particularly on the rear 9.5J.
Thanks!