Staggered setup - does it make much difference?

[dave1814]

Hi all,
Currently I run 8j wheels all round and looking to upgrade.

Does it really make that much difference or matter if I go 8j width alloys again? I've seen these which look a decent price but not staggered.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=221664659961&alt=web...

I will still be running 255 width of tyres on the rear however.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Steve84N]

Different manufacturers run the same width wheel with different tyre widths. The main difference is that the tyre can roll more on an 8J wheel so may feel slightly less precise and scrub the sidewall if you drive it hard around corners.

PS: Generally the maximum recommended width on an 8J is 245...

 

[Newbers]

What actually are you interested in?

I ask because I was planning to post something similar - my interest is whether it is going to make a lot of difference to the handling. I love that the Z4 is a bit tail happy - In a world of conservative understeer and nannying traction control it's great to be be able to kick the back out without going mental (i.e. road speeds).

Does moving to a staggered set up change that?

Incidentally whilst those wheels look nice they are very cheap. Also be careful about the offset. I'm not an expert but I think they are going to sit 8mm further in board than the standard. From memory standard ET is 46mm. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon with better insight!

 

[mr wilks]

The alloys linked would sit a treat with offset of 38 but as Steve points out fitting a 255 tyre on the rear is going to be "baloony" & any spirited driving is going to put extra heat & duress into the sidewalls .

 

[Squiddie]

I went square and like it better.

 

[igeak691]

Is it sacrilege to use 225/40/18s on all fours? I rarely have trouble putting power to the ground with 255/35/18, not sure if dropping to 225 will affect handling/traction really badly. Thinking about getting a square setup 18x8.5, and anything larger than 225 won't fit on the front without rubbing, but I also want to rotate all four wheels.

edit:
just bought em :lol: sportline cs.16 18"x8.5 et35. before anyone says it 225 will work for 8.5 as this is what I have on the Golf R. Now to decide if I want 225's all around the zed also or to stick with the staggered setup.

 

[igeak691]

Anyone? Here are my thoughts.. 225/40/18 all around will allow me to 1. rotate between all four wheels and 2. help edge the car more balanced because it seems to be a little on the understeer side currently with 225/35/18 in the rear. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[ben g]

Not sure tbh. It may he a bit more tail happy.

I had 19x10 rears on my Z4 with 255/30/19 tyres on them. It was quite easy to get the rear end to break traction as the tyre was a bit stretched. Same thing would be true for a 225/40 on an 18x8.5 as there would not be as much 'give' in the sidewall.

Just speaking from personal experience, so don't take what I said as Gospel.

 

[igeak691]

255 on 10" wide rims is a big difference though.. 1.5" increase in dramatic. I have 225 on 8.5's all around the Golf R, and I do see that with the same tire on my z4 (pirelli p zero nero a/s) it is certainly a little stretched on the 8.5's. Unfortunately I don't think 235's will fit reading a couple of peoples' experiences. Would be tempted to since I am now getting ET43 instead of ET35, which might allow me to go 235/40/18 all around.

 

[Squiddie]

To clarify, when I went square I did 245mm, not 225mm.

Should have done more. Plenty more space on my e89 in the front.

 

[igeak691]

Unfortunately on the e85, I believe 225 is the max you can go in the front without rubbing. Maybe you can squeeze by with 235, but 245 won't work for the fronts.

I've got pirellis in 225/40/18 coming and will be mounting them onto sportline 8s 18x8.5 et45 for a square setup. Hopefully the car will be a little bit more tail happy :driving: