Mercedes and Ford are two vastly different car manufacturers because Mercedes mostly focuses on designing higher-end premium executive cars while Ford focuses on trucks and SUVs on a more attainable level. As such, the chances of matching wheel measurements between these two are minimal.
It comes as no surprise to many that mounting a Ford F-150 with Mercedes Benz S-Class wheels is rather impossible, and that’s because certain wheel measurements between these two are different. In order for a car wheel to be interchangeable with a different car, it needs to have the same bolt pattern.
Besides the bolt pattern, the wheels in question also need to be of similar size which also includes potential adjustments with the tire size if these are not identical. Finally, you should also focus on the wheel offset as well because wheels with different offset measurements also will not fit between each other.
Given the fact that Ford makes many commercial rated trucks you also need to look at additional wheel measurements such as load capacity, center bore, and the effect different wheels have on your towing and hauling capabilities.
The bolt pattern
Wheel bolts are an essential aspect of overcall car safety because they attach the wheels to your car. This means that they need to match between two cars if you want to change the wheels. Most Mercedes and many other European premium brands use a 5x112mm bolt pattern which means that this is likely the bolt pattern of the Mercedes wheels you are referring to.
On the other hand, most Ford models use a 5×114.3mm bolt pattern which means that if you mount the Mercedes wheels on a Ford, the bolt will not be able to sit perfectly. This can create all sorts of driveability issues and that’s why your Mercedes wheels are not going to fit a Ford even if you manage to bolt them onto the car.
Aspects such as these are crucial for car safety and thus should never be different. Even though there are some companies out there that can compensate for these differences with dedicated bolt adapters, these should be avoided because they will mess up your driveability and safety.
Wheel diameter and tire size
Even if your bolt patterns do match which is highly unlikely given the fact that Mercedes and Ford make entirely different types of cars, you also need to make sure that the wheel diameter and tire sizes are the same.
The wheel diameter is the distance measured across the length or the face of the wheel and different wheel diameters tend to change the way how a car drives. As such, it’s not advisable to change your wheel diameter if you don’t follow it up with correct adjustments in regards to the tire size, the type of car, and wheel offset.
You can change the wheel diameter, but if you do so you need to adjust your tire size accordingly. This means that if you increase the wheel diameter count by a single inch, you need to decrease your tire size by an inch as well.
Also be sure to follow all the other tire and wheel measurements, especially the offset as different diameter wheels tend to require all sorts of adjustments in order for them to perform optimally. If you change the rotational surface of the wheel you also need to readjust your odometer and speedometer.
Wheel offset
If you have access to a set of Mercedes wheels that perfectly match a corresponding Ford both in the bolt pattern department and the wheel diameter/tire size department, you now need to inspect the offset of the wheel before you decide to mount it on the car.
A wheel offset refers to the placement of the wheel mounting hub regarding the centerline of the wheel. A neutral offset wheel is one where the mounting hub is directly in line with the centerline of the wheel.
A positive offset wheel means that the mounting hub of the wheel is pushed outwards to the edge of the wheel while a negative offset wheel places the mounting hub inwards closer to the suspension than to the outer edge of the wheel.
FAQ Section
How important is wheel load capacity?
A specific wheel load capacity is important depending on the type of car it mounts on. If the car in question is something like a Ford F-450 which is constantly being used both for hauling and towing purposes, a wheel load capacity is a crucial measurement that should not be ignored.
If you equip your car with a set of wheels that cant endure the original load capacity required for the car it is likely that your car will not be able to perform adequately, especially while towing and hauling. This can also create many safety issues so be sure to match these accordingly.
How important is the wheel center bore?
The wheel center bore is the machined opening within a wheel that is designed for a perfect fit. This means that if these are mismatched, chances are that your wheels are not going to fit properly. This can cause all sorts of vibrations and tension within the wheel department that can potentially result in huge safety repercussions.
There are specific methods for how one can negate these effects by using specific center bore adapters which need to be thoroughly tested and approved before you mount them on your car. Wheels require absolute precision for your car to behave as it should without sacrificing comfort or safety.
What are wheel spacers?
Wheel spacers are used if you want to mount your car with a set of wheels with a different offset. Wheel spacers are made to countereffect the corresponding wheel offset for the wheels to fit perfectly. These are usually safe if they are manufactured properly and if the installation process is without fault.
However, these are not made to compensate for large wheel offset discrepancies so be sure to only use them for slight adjustments if you want to retain all the original driving characteristics a car offers.
