staggered wheel sizes

[tyler]

I have a 330ci wih staggeed wheel size. Why do they do it like that and whats the advantage/disadvantage from one with same sizes all the way.

 

[frolf]

more meat in the back = better traction.

disadvangtage = ahhhhh, i think suspension tuning gets a little more picky? but i'm not sure what a disadvantage would be. understeer if you car is tuned to shit.

 

[tyler]

thanks frolf. Good you understood what I meant, about "staggered", since i mispelled it. You guys are good!

 

[frolf]

i curretnly have 225's all the way around. this spring i will most likely be running 235/f 245/r. but i think Tom has some catching saying about running over 255 in the rear. hopefully he'll chime in.

 

[vlad]

Disadvantages (at least with my M3);
1. Can't rotate the wheels/tires if you have directional tires.
2. Spare wheel- The car will drive a slightly awkward with the thinner front size wheel on the back, can't use the back wheel on the front.
3. Having to remember two different tire sizes.

 

[Kirby]

Yeah, putting larger tires on the rear may increase understeer. I had an '87 Pontiac Fiero GT. The Factory setup was staggered, I think it was something like 225 front, 245 rear or there abouts. I read that the reason Pontiac did this was an quick easy fix to correct an oversteer problem.

 

[mikev]

2. Spare wheel- The car will drive a slightly awkward with the thinner front size wheel on the back, can't use the back wheel on the front.

not really a problem as you should only be using the spare as a 'get me home' not as an extra wheel. so there will be NO balance issues will there?!?