NCV3 Wheels and Tires

[siswati]

My new wheels - just in case anyone is interested

I knew the look that I was after. Almost had them machined from billet, but I found something that came real close, and a few phone calls, a few translations, a dose of international shipping and VOILA - here they are. It has transformed the look, the offset is aggressive yet refined and I am very happy with my choice so far.

[eendmans]

They look very sharp! What size of tyres do you have? And what type of Michelins are those?

[siswati]

Originally Posted by eendmans

They look very sharp! What size of tyres do you have? And what type of Michelins are those?

Thanks Eendmans. I have watched your sprinter project for some time and I have benefitted greatly from the information and suggestions you have posted regarding the various wheels available in Europe. Thanks for this

I spent a lot of time on the German and other foreign eBay's with Google translator, and image search, culling photos from the net and photoshopping them onto pics I took of my van to see how each wheel would look (had to take about 70 different views of my van to suit the various wheel images I found). This is how I narrowed down the look that I was after.

I wanted a substantial aluminum spoke presence, to offset the substantial slab of silver that my van presents. Thin spokes did not work for my vision, and I also wanted a polished outer rim. This narrowed down the search substantially (apart from the load / PCD / offset parameters)

Wheels are 20"x 8.5" with 35mm offset. They do stick out just a tad too much for my taste, but we could not machine the bolt hole basket any further without compromising the wheel strength. On these I think 40mm would have been ideal. Fortunately I do not get any water spray thrown from the wheels on the side of the van except when turning.

Tires are Michelin Lattitude Diamaris 255/50/20 and have 0.1" difference in rolling radius and my speedometer reads approximately 1% faster than true speed. Tires are XL rated (2271lbs per wheel), and are Y rated (186mph), more than enough for the new ECU which lets the Sprinter get north of 110mph. Ride comfort and stability is SUBSTANTIALLY better than the standard E-rated 16" tires, and there is no more of that dreaded wandering the stock tires are known for. (had exactly the same experience on my old Sprinter going from teh 16" to the 18" rims and better tires)

I will let you know how the wheels hold up - machined and clear coated wheels never hold up as well as painted wheels.

[eendmans]

I understand that you don't have as much problems with the speedo as I did. But my standard tiresize was 235/65 R16 and it is now 255/55 R19. When I need some new tires I will buy the same as you have, the Lattitude Diamaris. I now drive on Michelin Synchros. They are 4x4 tires and make a tad to much noise for my taste. The rubbercompound has also dried and I can see some cracks in it...

A month ago I bought some Michelin wintertires and got back to stocksize but what a difference! I have to hold on the steeringwheel with 2 hands again.

[72chevy4x4]

Originally Posted by siswati

more than enough for the new ECU which lets the Sprinter get north of 110mph

I'm not going to let this slide so easily, please share

[siswati]

Originally Posted by 72chevy4x4

I'm not going to let this slide so easily, please share

Just flashed the ECU - releases another 100HP and 110TQ - best $1200 I have ever spent!!!

You can read here at http://sprinter-source.com/forum/sho...136#post166136

ECU flash had the same affect as my 2002 Sprinter - can still get to 110MPH quite easily in my 2002, but then aerodynamics stops it from accelerating. That 5 Cylinder was quite a beast.

My 2012 Sprinter gets there quicker but also hits a brick wall north of 110MPH

[fireball]

Just noticed these, do you think they would fit?

Size: 18 x 8
Diameter: 18
Width: 8
Lug Count: 6
Bolt Pattern: 6x130
Metric Bolt Pattern: 6x130
Offset: 50
Backspacing: 6.47
Center Bore: 84.1

[siswati]

Originally Posted by fireball

Just noticed these, do you think they would fit?

Size: 18 x 8
Diameter: 18
Width: 8
Lug Count: 6
Bolt Pattern: 6x130
Metric Bolt Pattern: 6x130
Offset: 50
Backspacing: 6.47
Center Bore: 84.1

Not sure which wheels you are referring to but the specs look about right. But make sure you check them yourself.

[patrickmanfred]

Anyone know where I can get these?

[mels]

Originally Posted by patrickmanfred

Anyone know where I can get these?

The picture is the same as posted on this website, try here: http://sprinterstore.com/sprinter_store.htm