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Old 02-10-2012, 12:31 PM   #1
cwarfield0824
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Default Staggered Wheel Setup Questions!

I'm doing a staggered setup of ESM 004's 17x8 in the front and 17x9 in the rear. I know in order to do this correctly you have to have the same rolling diameter for each wheel so you don't screw up the differential. I'm thinking about doing 215/45's on the rear, and was wondering is anyone knew what size I could run on the fronts. My friend mentioned I might be able to do 195/45 in the fronts. But I'm looking for second opinions. Thanks in advance!
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Old 02-10-2012, 01:31 PM   #2
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215 will not fit on a 9" wide wheel. I mean, it will fit, but it won't be of any use being stretched so much.

CN:
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Old 02-10-2012, 01:38 PM   #3
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245/40s all around. Maybe 235/40s.
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Old 02-10-2012, 02:15 PM   #4
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I did forget to mention that I do want stretch in them. And 215/45's aren't that much of a stretch, http://www.tyrestretch.com/9_215_45_...en_512.jpg.php
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Old 02-10-2012, 02:16 PM   #5
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It's going to be a gamble trying to get 2 different size rims and tires mounted to be exactly the same diameter. Even the same size tire from different manufacturers is going to have different out diameters.

My suggestion would be to get the same rims and tires, but get the offset of the rear rim in a smaller offset. That way you're getting the same size wheel and tire, but you still have the staggered look. There was a brand called AXIS that made rims like this called the "Maxxis Lip". They had a bigger lip in the back than the front to simulate the staggered look.

Another option is to run some spacers in the rear to poke them out some more. Essentially this is reducing the offset of the rim.

Or, weld the center diff and take out the front axles and then the wheel diameter doesn't matter. It'll be RWD at that point. There's a lot more to it than that, but you get the idea.

Good luck with it, and post some pictures when you get started on it.
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Old 02-10-2012, 03:01 PM   #6
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225/45 and 255/40 is a near perfect match. 832 revs per mile on the 225/45 vs 830 revs per mile on the 255/40s
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Old 02-10-2012, 03:15 PM   #7
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Don't go staggered. The downfalls have been proven over and over and over and over.
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Old 02-10-2012, 03:26 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DOMIN8R View Post
It's going to be a gamble trying to get 2 different size rims and tires mounted to be exactly the same diameter. Even the same size tire from different manufacturers is going to have different out diameters.

My suggestion would be to get the same rims and tires, but get the offset of the rear rim in a smaller offset. That way you're getting the same size wheel and tire, but you still have the staggered look. There was a brand called AXIS that made rims like this called the "Maxxis Lip". They had a bigger lip in the back than the front to simulate the staggered look.

Another option is to run some spacers in the rear to poke them out some more. Essentially this is reducing the offset of the rim.

Or, weld the center diff and take out the front axles and then the wheel diameter doesn't matter. It'll be RWD at that point. There's a lot more to it than that, but you get the idea.

Good luck with it, and post some pictures when you get started on it.

well, first of all, please stop calling them rims, they are wheels, wheels have rims... second of all it can be done, people have done it, just get the same rolling diameter.
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Old 02-10-2012, 03:40 PM   #9
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Rear staggered setups promote understeer. If anything, put the wider set up front.
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Old 02-10-2012, 04:46 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S53089

well, first of all, please stop calling them rims, they are wheels, wheels have rims... second of all it can be done, people have done it, just get the same rolling diameter.
Thank you! Finally someone that knows they are wheels not "rims" !
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Old 02-10-2012, 05:20 PM   #11
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That's waaaaaaaay too much stretch. If you do decide to stagger against the advice of the forum, you need to run the same size tires on all 4 wheels.
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Old 02-10-2012, 06:05 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
Rear staggered setups promote understeer. If anything, put the wider set up front.
I can safely say that handling is the last thing on his mind.
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Old 02-11-2012, 11:09 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cwarfield0824 View Post
I'm doing a staggered setup of ESM 004's 17x8 in the front and 17x9 in the rear. I know in order to do this correctly you have to have the same rolling diameter for each wheel so you don't screw up the differential. I'm thinking about doing 215/45's on the rear, and was wondering is anyone knew what size I could run on the fronts. My friend mentioned I might be able to do 195/45 in the fronts. But I'm looking for second opinions. Thanks in advance!
First. Don't do it.

Second. If you do, you need to learn how tire sizes work. If you think a 215/45 and a 195/45 have the same diameter, you have no idea. Read This. Then use this

Third. Don't do it.
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Old 02-11-2012, 01:19 PM   #14
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You know it's bad you see any number under 215 that is going on a wheel wider than stock.
If you actually do run this setup, have fun with your extremely poor handling.
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Old 02-11-2012, 01:26 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soulless View Post
You know it's bad you see any number under 215 that is going on a wheel wider than stock.
If you actually do run this setup, have fun with your extremely poor handling.
LOL! plenty of people run stretched tires. get used to it.
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Old 02-11-2012, 01:30 PM   #16
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I'm really tired of seeing "rims".


Go get a ****ing el dorado with some ****ing 22's, then you can call them rimzzzzzzzz.


Second, staggered- horrible idea. You will never get the OD's the same no matter what.


I'm also terribly tired of stretched tires. If you are poking enough to stretch you have already ruined your scrub radius, not to mention made your great handling car a turd.
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Old 02-11-2012, 01:59 PM   #17
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This thread is hurting my brain. Mostly the OP though, thinking that 215/45 and 195/45 are the same rolling diameter.

However, someone explain to me why two different sized tires can't have matched diameters. Or, better yet, try to convince me that every Subaru running around has front/rear tires that actually DO have matching diameters. I know they're the same size, but think about it: If you inflate all your tires to the same pressure (as most owners will do, regardless of the door placard), then the heavier front end will compress the front tires more, resulting in a smaller rolling diameter. You could also look at how many cars are overdue for a tire rotation. Since our cars chew their front tires down faster than the rear you could easily have 3 or 4/32" difference in tread depth (which is a radial reading, so double it for diameter - 8/32 = 0.25"). If our cars were THAT sensitive to variances in wheel rotations our transmissions would be falling out every couple weeks.

I give you an example: The Nitto NT05 in 275/35 and 245/40/18. The 245 has an OD of 25.59", and the 275 is 25.63". Are you going to tell me that 40 thousandths of an inch difference in OD is going to hurt something? Really?

I'll also say that using tire size calculators are a good starting point, but one should consult the manufacturer's spec sheet for the final word.


Quote:
Originally Posted by cwarfield0824 View Post
I'm doing a staggered setup of ESM 004's 17x8 in the front and 17x9 in the rear. I know in order to do this correctly you have to have the same rolling diameter for each wheel so you don't screw up the differential. I'm thinking about doing 215/45's on the rear, and was wondering is anyone knew what size I could run on the fronts. My friend mentioned I might be able to do 195/45 in the fronts. But I'm looking for second opinions. Thanks in advance!
Your friend is an idiot, and you need to learn how tire sizes are measured. Read the links the friendly moderator provided and educate yourself.
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Old 02-11-2012, 02:05 PM   #18
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Well that rant was entirely pointless, considering Subaru's stated tolerances have been posted 10,000 times on here.
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Old 02-11-2012, 02:11 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris.is.awesome View Post
not to mention made your great handling car a turd.


Stock Bugeyes are not "great handling" cars.
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Old 02-11-2012, 02:14 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post


Stock Bugeyes are not "great handling" cars.
Correct, but it does not take much to get them in check.
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Old 02-11-2012, 02:15 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Byzantium View Post
Well that rant was entirely pointless, considering Subaru's stated tolerances have been posted 10,000 times on here.
All well and good, I'm just trying to point out that people generally don't think for themselves. They see the word "staggered" and instantly switch to "OMGWTFNO!!! Subaru's are AWD and everyone knows AWD needs the same tires or your transmission will assplode", without ever thinking about why or why not this is a correct statement.
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Old 02-11-2012, 05:51 PM   #22
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You'll probably have just as much luck convincing a vato that his lowrider isn't mechanically correct as these types of posters...
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Old 02-12-2012, 11:27 AM   #23
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i wish some people would just shut up and not post.
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