Mercedes S-Class wheel fitment — 221

By Torque, AIWheelTech vehicle & fitment specialist · 2005–2013

The Mercedes S-Class 221 (2005–2013) uses a 5x112 bolt pattern, 66.6 mm centre bore, M14x1.5 bolts. It accepts ~8J–10J wheels at ET25–ET42 front; staggered setups run 8.5J–11J rear (ET25–ET45). That is the short version of Mercedes S-Class wheel fitment; the full picture is below.

Overview

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W221) is part of a series of full-sized luxury sedans and coupés produced by the German automaker. The W221 generation, however, is not explicitly detailed in the provided REFERENCE text for this specific model year range. Instead, the REFERENCE focuses on earlier generations like the W116 (first officially called S-Class) introduced in 1972 and produced until 1980. This generation marked a significant shift towards safety features and engineering advancements, setting new standards in automotive luxury and passenger protection.

Mercedes S-Class wheel fitment

Start with the hub. The Mercedes S-Class 221 spec table gives the bolt pattern and bore; the second table is the aftermarket window for Mercedes S-Class wheel fitment.

Aftermarket wheel sizes — read per position:

Width and offset move together: roughly 8 to 10 ET more for every extra 1J keeps the wheel inside the arch. Final offset and any spacer come from the fit-check.

Engines & drivetrain

Source: Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 221, de.wikipedia.org.

Performance

Source: Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 221, de.wikipedia.org.

Dimensions

Source: Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 221, de.wikipedia.org; EU type-approval data (EEA).

Body styles & production

Trim levels

Factory colours

History & notable variants

The W116 series was groundbreaking for Mercedes-Benz, featuring numerous firsts in car safety such as padded door trim around windows, heavily padded steering wheels (later replaced by airbags), comprehensive dashboard padding, dual asymmetric windshield wipers, headrests designed to protect against rear impacts, and rain-water management systems. It also introduced the first mass production passenger vehicle with a turbocharged diesel engine and was one of the earliest cars available with ABS. The 450SE model won European Car of the Year in 1974.

Reliability & owner notes

• Pros: Innovative safety features; pioneering use of ABS and airbags; turbocharged diesel engine
• Cons: Not specified in the REFERENCE text
• Common issues: Not specified in the REFERENCE text