Staggered wheel swtup

[Royalstorm]

I realize there are previous posts on this but I figured this was the easiest way to hopefully get a quick answer to my question as I’ve struggled to understand some of the nuances to the staggered vs square setup.

I have been trying to understand the potential problems with running a staggered configuration on my AWD 2018 Stinger GT. I have heard some rumorings of problems with drivetrain, differential, etc. Is there any reason to be concerned with the setup below for non-winter driving?

Tires:
Front 225/40R19
Rear 255/35R19

Wheels:
Front: 19X 8.5
Rear: 19 X 9.5

Thanks guys.

 

[SIMONGUEY]

tbh idk. but my wheels are staggered also. 20" and I forgot the rest but the only thing I've noticed so far is that my back wheels are wearing out a lot quicker then the fronts.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Youre basically doing the same thing as the OEM wheel stagger setup, and if youre going to only be running 255's in the rear, you may as well just go 8.5's all around and save a couple bucks instead of going 9.5's in the rear, as 255s will fit on 8.5 just fine.

 

[MerlintheMad]

No troubles at all. That is my exact setup for non-winter driving. You can't go wrong with the OEM tire sizes. And stretching/stiffening the sidewalls a half inch wider in front and one inch wider in the back doesn't alter the OE design for the AWD GT (1 or 2).

 

[StingertimeNC]

I would go with 8 inch wide rims front and 8.5 inch wide in the rear, with the tire sizes you mentioned, as that is the same set up as oem. I went with what you are describing and essentially swapped the OEM tires over to the new wheels, and both front and rear had too much of a stretch IMO. I'm now running the wheel size you mentioned, but 245/40 front and 275/35 tires, and they look nice and juicy!

 

[Redleg94]

I would go with 8 inch wide rims front and 8.5 inch wide in the rear, with the tire sizes you mentioned, as that is the same set up as oem. I went with what you are describing and essentially swapped the OEM tires over to the new wheels, and both front and rear had too much of a stretch IMO. I'm now running the wheel size you mentioned, but 245/40 front and 275/35 tires, and they look nice and juicy!View attachment 67681View attachment 67682

How does the increased overall diameter affect the speedo or odometer? Could I get away with this on an AWD?

 

[MerlintheMad]

^^^OD is exactly the same the tires are just wider.

 

[Redleg94]

^^^OD is exactly the same the tires are just wider.

According to tiresize.com and wheelsize.com, the OD is about 1/2 inch larger, both front and rear.

 

[Royalstorm]

Awesome! Thank you all for the comments. Super helpful!

 

[MerlintheMad]

According to tiresize.com and wheelsize.com, the OD is about 1/2 inch larger, both front and rear.

Am I not understanding the meaning of 40 and 35? Probably. Time to learn something new (we who are not car guys have this learning curve, you see). But this I know: an up to 3% difference in OD will not affect anything.

 

[Royalstorm]

^^^OD is exactly the same the tires are just wider.

Actually this brings up another question: if I switch between 18’s for winter driving and 19’s for summer, does the speedometer need to be recalibrated each time?

 

[Redleg94]

Am I not understanding the meaning of 40 and 35? Probably. Time to learn something new (we who are not car guys have this learning curve, you see). But this I know: an up to 3% difference in OD will not affect anything.

I know that conventional wisdom says that, just trying to understand reality.

To the OP: any issues with being lowered on the taller tires? What offset are the wheels?

I have a set of wheels on the way with the similar dimensions (8.5 front, +32 offset; 9.5 rear, +34 offset)) and considering 3 tire set ups:

1: Stock sizes front and rear - definitely safest
2: The above (245/40 front; 275/35 rear) - 1/2 inch taller all the way around
3: 245/35 front; 285/30 rear - 3/10 inch shorter all the way around

I really wanted to go 255/35 front and 295/30 rear to keep the same sidewall height and overall diameter front and rear. The problem is I don't think that the 255 will fit in the front without rubbing and the 295 won't fit on a 9.5" wide wheel.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Actually this brings up another question: if I switch between 18’s for winter driving and 19’s for summer, does the speedometer need to be recalibrated each time?

OE tires on an 18" wheel have a higher sidewall, so negligible difference from staggered 19".

 

[Redleg94]

Actually this brings up another question: if I switch between 18’s for winter driving and 19’s for summer, does the speedometer need to be recalibrated each time?

As long as the overall diameter is the same, no issues. The suggested 18 and 19 inch sizes are equivalent overall height.

 

[SIMONGUEY]

what do yall think about 20"

 

[MerlintheMad]

what do yall think about 20"

Not for me. The OEM tires are "rubber band tires" enough already.

 

[StingertimeNC]

just chiming back in, I'm not a tire size wizard, but the sidewall measurements are a percentage of the width, so yes, going 275/35 in the rear and 245/40 in the front, (sidewall is now 40% of the 245 width in the front for example) do result in a slightly larger diameter. Based on various speed sensor signs around town I'm traveling roughly 1-2 mph faster than speedo reads at say 35-45 mph range. Basically at highway speeds I figure I may be going as much as 2 MPH faster than speedo reads and drive accordingly. with the extra width and slightly taller sidewall, the car handles and rides great. Pilot sport 4S tires are a beast at the track. very grippy. A little loose until you can get some heat in them, so I drive a little careful around town when the weather is below 60 degrees or so. I also do drive when temps are down to the 20's with no issue, bit I have no need to drive in snow or anything.

 

[MerlintheMad]

just chiming back in, I'm not a tire size wizard, but the sidewall measurements are a percentage of the width, so yes, going 275/35 in the rear and 245/40 in the front, (sidewall is now 40% of the 245 width in the front for example) do result in a slightly larger diameter.

SMH. I knew that, and forgot. Thanks for massaging the little grey cells.

 

[Royalstorm]

Youre basically doing the same thing as the OEM wheel stagger setup, and if youre going to only be running 255's in the rear, you may as well just go 8.5's all around and save a couple bucks instead of going 9.5's in the rear, as 255s will fit on 8.5 just fine.

That makes sense. Curious if you (or others) have any thoughts on the wheel setups on tirerack.com, as the price points per wheel range from $200 to over $700. Is a cheaper wheel risky or a safe bet?

 

[RogueIV]

That makes sense. Curious if you (or others) have any thoughts on the wheel setups on tirerack.com, as the price points per wheel range from $200 to over $700. Is a cheaper wheel risky or a safe bet?

Depends heavily on the manufacturer of the wheel. Best bet is to check reviews before you buy.