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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Alloy wheels and tyre discussion
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R60BBA
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by R60BBA » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:36 pm

I am considering getting a set of 18” 8.5 et35 for my Z4C.

Is anyone running a square-set up on their Z4C?

Pros and cons/general feedback over standard staggered set up would be much appreciated.


(My car is used 80% street, 20% track.)
Last edited by R60BBA on Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

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hopz121
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by hopz121 » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:39 pm

What size would you being looking to run OP?

Think you may struggle on the front of a 3.0SI for a wider rim.
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup - Blue
2003 BMW E85 Z4 3.0i - Gone
2008 BMW E90 330i SE - Gone

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R60BBA
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by R60BBA » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:41 pm

hopz121 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:39 pm What size would you being looking to run OP?

Think you may struggle on the front of a 3.0SI for a wider rim.
I just edited my initial post, please refer.
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

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Steve84N
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by Steve84N » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:49 pm

8.5" ET35 is 18.4m further out than standard which is too much.

Aim for 12mm or less.

I got my setup squarer by going down to 245/40/18 on the rear and keeping 225/40/18 on the front as 235/40/18 rubbed lowered on B12 and 10mm spacers.
C63 AMG Estate 6208cc

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R60BBA
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by R60BBA » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm

Steve84N wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:49 pm 8.5" ET35 is 18.4m further out than standard which is too much.

Aim for 12mm or less.

I got my setup squarer by going down to 245/40/18 on the rear and keeping 225/40/18 on the front as 235/40/18 rubbed lowered on B12 and 10mm spacers.
Really? Ahh :?

My alternative is a staggered setup of 18” 8 et35 and 18” 8.5 et38

Which do you think is better?
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

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philbo909
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by philbo909 » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:11 pm

R60BBA wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm
Steve84N wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:49 pm 8.5" ET35 is 18.4m further out than standard which is too much.

Aim for 12mm or less.

I got my setup squarer by going down to 245/40/18 on the rear and keeping 225/40/18 on the front as 235/40/18 rubbed lowered on B12 and 10mm spacers.
Really? Ahh :?

My alternative is a staggered setup of 18” 8 et35 and 18” 8.5 et38

Which do you think is better?
http://www.willtheyfit.com
Use a website like this to see how it changes fitments. You want no further than 15mm out at the front and 20 at the back if you're not drastically changing camber
Sapphire black z4 coupe 135,000miles young

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R60BBA
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by R60BBA » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:16 pm

philbo909 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:11 pm
R60BBA wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm
Steve84N wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:49 pm 8.5" ET35 is 18.4m further out than standard which is too much.

Aim for 12mm or less.

I got my setup squarer by going down to 245/40/18 on the rear and keeping 225/40/18 on the front as 235/40/18 rubbed lowered on B12 and 10mm spacers.
Really? Ahh :?

My alternative is a staggered setup of 18” 8 et35 and 18” 8.5 et38

Which do you think is better?
http://www.willtheyfit.com
Use a website like this to see how it changes fitments. You want no further than 15mm out at the front and 20 at the back if you're not drastically changing camber
Thanks, but would like to prompt that my post is more about the difference between staggered vs square than whether the wheels will fit.
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

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philbo909
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by philbo909 » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:24 pm

R60BBA wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:16 pm
philbo909 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:11 pm
R60BBA wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm

Really? Ahh :?

My alternative is a staggered setup of 18” 8 et35 and 18” 8.5 et38

Which do you think is better?
http://www.willtheyfit.com
Use a website like this to see how it changes fitments. You want no further than 15mm out at the front and 20 at the back if you're not drastically changing camber
Thanks, but would like to prompt that my post is more about the difference between staggered vs square than whether the wheels will fit.
Oh right, but your question was which offset is better?
Staggered - understeer but looks nice and fits
Square - over steer but might not fit on the front
Sapphire black z4 coupe 135,000miles young

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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by rally-chris » Tue Feb 13, 2018 4:43 pm

I run exactly this setup on my coupe, fitted with standard (non M) tyre sizes.
75296FAF-D79B-4A52-89F4-461DB84AC177.jpeg
75296FAF-D79B-4A52-89F4-461DB84AC177.jpeg (461.29 KiB) Viewed 2988 times
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R60BBA
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by R60BBA » Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:11 pm

rally-chris wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 4:43 pm I run exactly this setup on my coupe, fitted with standard (non M) tyre sizes.

75296FAF-D79B-4A52-89F4-461DB84AC177.jpeg

Chris
Just to clarify this is a square 18” 8.5 et35 setup?
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

rally-chris
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by rally-chris » Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:28 pm

R60BBA wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:11 pm
rally-chris wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 4:43 pm I run exactly this setup on my coupe, fitted with standard (non M) tyre sizes.

75296FAF-D79B-4A52-89F4-461DB84AC177.jpeg

Chris
Just to clarify this is a square 18” 8.5 et35 setup?
Yes - 8.5 x 18 ET35 Team Dynamics Le Mans rims. No rubbing problems so far, but the front wheels definitely look wide relative to standard.
5A8FCEBD-AD8A-46E9-BB97-2F94C5DE377C.jpeg
5A8FCEBD-AD8A-46E9-BB97-2F94C5DE377C.jpeg (530.11 KiB) Viewed 2981 times
Chris
08 Z4 3.0si Sport Coupe in Montego Blue

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R60BBA
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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by R60BBA » Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:58 pm

rally-chris wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:28 pm
R60BBA wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:11 pm
rally-chris wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 4:43 pm I run exactly this setup on my coupe, fitted with standard (non M) tyre sizes.

75296FAF-D79B-4A52-89F4-461DB84AC177.jpeg

Chris
Just to clarify this is a square 18” 8.5 et35 setup?
Yes - 8.5 x 18 ET35 Team Dynamics Le Mans rims. No rubbing problems so far, but the front wheels definitely look wide relative to standard.

5A8FCEBD-AD8A-46E9-BB97-2F94C5DE377C.jpeg

Chris
They look sweet mate. :thumbsup:

Do you reckon you could install lowering springs with this set up without rubbing?
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by Wildfire » Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:00 pm

I run 18 x 8.5 et35 square set up. No issues on my Z4C. Fills the front out nicely, it doesn’t seem to affect the handling much, but I don’t really push it.

That said so think I will fit 10-15mm spacers on the rear to “even out” the arch fill.
2007 3.0si Coupe, LED interior lights, Stubby, ZHP, AC Schnitzers, 15mm spacers on the rear. 1993 Modified Pre-Cat TVR Griffith, Ducati Monster 821, MV Agusta F3 675

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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by Steve84N » Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:23 pm

Maybe you get away with it standard ride height but that setup would definitely rub lowered with Eibach springs. I was running standard 8J ET47 front wheels with 10mm spacers and with a 225/40/18 it touched part of the liner ever so slightly until it wore off something tiny like 0.1mm.

Take from that what you will but I also had stiffer anti-roll bars and maximum front camber...
C63 AMG Estate 6208cc

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Staggered vs Square Setup 18”

Post by brillomaster » Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:43 am

not quite a square setup, but I run a 245/35 front and 255/35 rear on 18x8 and 8.5" rims for track work... wider fronts just gives a bit more neutrality to the steering when exiting corners and trying to get on the power - with narrow fronts the car would always want to drift wide on the exit.

oversteer is never a problem in the dry, trackday rubber at a 255 width is more than ample to keep the rears locked down. could still do with a bit more camber on the front though.

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