2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500 — Base Model
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Base Model came from the factory equipped with 255/45R17 tires. If your vehicle has since been fitted with aftermarket or upsized wheels, your actual tire size may no longer match this factory spec — always confirm against your door placard before buying.
255/45R17
| Section width | 255 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 45% (114.8 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 17" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~26" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~775 |
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What this size means for your Mercedes-Benz SL500
On the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Base Model, the factory 255/45R17 measures about 26″ in overall diameter with a 114.8 mm (4.5″) sidewall, and completes roughly 775 revolutions per mile. Its 45-series aspect ratio gives a low-profile sidewall tuned for sharper handling, common on sport trims and larger-wheel packages. In tire terms it is a passenger (P-metric / Euro-metric) size.
On a vehicle of this age, the Mercedes-Benz SL500 may have been refitted with a slightly different replacement size somewhere in its life, so check the current sidewall — not just the factory spec — before buying.
Mercedes-Benz SL500 tire sizes by year
- 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 255/40R18 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 255/40R18 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 255/40R18 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 255/45R17
- 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL500 245/45R17
- 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL500 245/45R17
- 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500 245/45R17
- 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 225/55R16
- 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 225/55R16
- 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL500 225/55R16
How to read a tire size
A tire size like 225/45R17 breaks down into three parts:
the first number is the section width in millimeters
(the tire's width from sidewall to sidewall), the second is the
aspect ratio — the sidewall's height as a percentage of
that width — and the number after the "R" is the rim
diameter in inches. A letter prefix (P or LT) indicates
Passenger or Light Truck construction; its absence usually means
Euro-metric sizing.
Some trucks and off-road tires instead use "flotation" sizing, like
37X12.50R17 — here the numbers are the tire's overall
diameter and width in inches directly, with the rim diameter last.
Always verify against the tire information placard on your driver's-side door jamb or your owner's manual before purchasing — tire size can vary by factory option package even within the same trim.