Staggered Wheels

[suttonb3]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a staggered setup on a car? I understand the basic idea on drag cars, but why do people us it on an AWD car? Is it safe to use on one? Here's a potential setup, any input as to whether it's safe, tires will rub, anything that a newb like me should know would be appreciated:

1999 A4tq stock (non-sport) suspension
Front: 18x8 42mm offset 225/40/18
Rear: 18x9 35mm offset 255/35 18

Thanks in advance!!

Ben

[Howard Hughes]

To me staggered wheels only really look good on cars that have fender flares to constitute the wider wheel.




A TT would be perfect for a staggered wheel setup., you get the idea.

[godzilla]

Other than appearance, there's no real reason to put staggered wheels on an all wheel drive car.

You'd do it on a rear wheel drive car to provide a larger footprint for the driven wheels.

[suttonb3]

Thanks guys, I thought it was probably just an asthetic thing. The reason I bring it up is because I've found a brand-new set just like the example I gave in my first post with the tires mounted and balanced for $1,100 vs $289/ea for the wheels alone on websites like tirerack.com (sorry Oscar!) or rimstop.com. So to save myself several hundred dollars I'd be willing to go with that setup as long as I wasn't going to do any damage.

[suttonb3]

No other input on this topic?

[A4_Andre]

i dont really like staggered setups... i like consistency with my wheels

[SuperbSantorin4]

I am running staggered 18x8 18x9, but the reason I am doing it is to get a bigger lip in the rear. I couldn't put a 3inch lip on an 8inch wide wheel, so I bumped it up to 9 inch wide to give me another inch or so of lip. Its all preference. But just make sure your suspension isn't TOO soft and your not TOO low in the rear otherwise you may have problems with that 255. By the way I would double check the offsets that you have listed just incase before purchasing.

[Starting]

isn't there more oversteer/understeer with a staggared setup. idk thought i heard that somewhere

[SuperbSantorin4]

Yeah I've heard it too, but honestly I've gotten loose with my stockies and these. I'm sure most people don't even feel a difference. Of course I the wheel set up I have isn't for tracking so I don't see it as a performance loss, even if it did affect steering.

[almaster666]

Originally posted by Starting
isn't there more oversteer/understeer with a staggared setup. idk thought i heard that somewhere

i am bringing this thread back even though it is quite old
to say that you are more likely to get understeer with staggered... i think

[Quattrocket]

I have a staggered set-up, just for the looks though. I havent noticed any under-steer issues, my rear-diff is fine and it wont cause any problems. Trust me, and dont let anybody tell you other-wise. Ive asked the dealer and there isnt a big problem with running it. I have 18x9 inches wide in rear and 18x8 in front.

[ExpLlclT]

SuperbSantorin4's car is awsome i didn't think you could fit 18x9's ? how big can u get without modification last time i looked under rear wheel i wcouldn't fit my finger behind an arm of somekind don't no what it is ?

[almaster666]

Originally posted by Quattrocket
I have a staggered set-up, just for the looks though. I havent noticed any under-steer issues, my rear-diff is fine and it wont cause any problems. Trust me, and dont let anybody tell you other-wise. Ive asked the dealer and there isnt a big problem with running it. I have 18x9 inches wide in rear and 18x8 in front.

what size tires?

[Quattrocket]

225 40 18 front
235 40 18 rear
and there is 0 rubbing. I dont think you could go much wider thatn that though.

[Quattrocket]

heres my favorite pic to whore out.

[almaster666]

hmm, thats cool

so far as the rubbing goes, my gf's dad had 245/40/17s which didnt rub but defintely dont handle as well as 225s

i wanted to put 265s in the rear on my camaro, but thats besides the point

[almaster666]

its this one: