Staggering wheels

[Militant-Grunt]

Hey guys, one of my friends bought a 2001 330ci a few days ago, first thing he wants to do is change out the tires. The current tires are 205's all around on 17'' tires, and I believe they're 50mm profile. I was thinking that he should go 225/17/50 up front and 235/17/50 in the back, that or 245s. I have quattro hence I have the same size all around but I rear wheel drive card I imagine the tires are supposed to be wider in the back.

What setups are you guys running on stock 17'' rims?

 

[frolf]

i am running 17x8 wheels, and 235/40-17's all around. His profile maybe 50, but its not 50mm, the first number in tire size is the width in mm, the second number is the aspect ratio, which depends on the width. just think that a 265/50-16 is a much taller tire than a 205/50-16.

Anyways, big fat tires on the back look kick ass, but it does change the handling dynamics of the car slightly. especially given our cars are already dialed in with some understeer.


i'd go for it though, i wish i would've done at least 245's in the back.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Thanks Dan. I think I'll tell him to go for 225 front and 235 back, I'm fairly sure 245s would hurt acceleration. Happened on my friend RX-8 with 255's in the back.

 

[Average Jae]

Matt, i'm all for staggering, but feel a bit weird about staggering front and back with same sized rims. (do pepole do that?)
i run 225 on 18x 8.0 up front and 255 on 18 x 8.5 rims in the back.

i'm not sure if having the difference of 10mm front to back would help too much. also is 10mm enough to make an asthetic difference?
and with same sized tires, even if directional, you can sort of rotate the tires (just front to back, not full on rotate like front/back diagonal) to save some tread wear associated w/ rwd cars. rears typically wear out twice as fast, if not more than the front counter parts from what i've exerienced.

lastly, i'd imagine he's running 17 x 7.0 rims. will it accomodate the 225 width? i'm sure the tire guys can answer it better than i.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Matt, i'm all for staggering, but feel a bit weird about staggering front and back with same sized rims. (do pepole do that?)
i run 225 on 18x 8.0 up front and 255 on 18 x 8.5 rims in the back.

i'm not sure if having the difference of 10mm front to back would help too much. also is 10mm enough to make an asthetic difference?
and with same sized tires, even if directional, you can sort of rotate the tires (just front to back, not full on rotate like front/back diagonal) to save some tread wear associated w/ rwd cars. rears typically wear out twice as fast, if not more than the front counter parts from what i've exerienced.

lastly, i'd imagine he's running 17 x 7.0 rims. will it accomodate the 225 width? i'm sure the tire guys can answer it better than i.

I know for a fact that he has the 17 inch wheels that came with the winter package, tire rack doesn't really give you option on width, id have to call them to find out.

 

[E30m42cab]

I quite enjoy my staggered wheels on my E34... rear wheel drive though. 235mm up front, 255 in rear. I find it likes to wander a bit, but the overall handling is incredible. Like frolf said, be carefull with the side wall ratio, it's not "mm"s.

 

[Average Jae]

i too am all for staggering. i like fat rears as much as the next guy. but given this specific situation i'm not sure if Matt's friend can stagger with same sized rims. esp if he's running on 17x 7 rims. it might be tough to fit 225s, let alone 235s. imo.

if he's getting new rims too, then i'd def say 225/45/17 up front and 245/40/17 or 255/35/17 in the back. (i think that's how 17" ratios work out to be..)