Staggering 9" rear, 8" front handling experience?

[wbradley]

Did a track day last week and found with the extra power of the supercharger I might not be accelerating out of the turns as I could.

Since my PSS tires were kinda done, just ordered 225's for the front 8"W wheels and ordered same wheel as I have in front in 9'W and 245 Michelin PSS for the rear.

So 225/45-17 front and 245/40-17 rear both with -35 offset.

Anyone with a similar setup that would advise against the staggered 1" difference front to rear for handling?

Suffice it to say currently the car rotates a ton so slightly taming it is still OK with me. I can change the order and go 245 square but not crazy about the look in the front with too much poke for a sleeper car. And don't want to change the steering feel.

[Leonardo]

My $0.02


I have used this stagger in 17 and 18 for street. 225/45/17 +245/40/17. 225/40/18 + 245/35/18. Both sizes MPSS.

I have no understeer on the street. Anyway, I had 4 square set ups before going staggered. So, for those that think it "ruins" the car. It does not.

-1.5 front camber & -2.0 rear camber.

I had 245/35/18 all around. 225 front has better steering feel, IMO.

[wbradley]

I am hoping the extra traction exiting corners will outweigh any under steer in terms of smooth transition. Even on Ohlins MP20 6K all around this car still likes to rotate the ass. Hopefully i can adjust my driving style for a smoother in and out of corners.

With my supercharger, the ass is a bit surly in 3rd and 4th so staggering should keep it better planted during hard acceleration.

[NoHaveMSG]

InB4 tire width Nazi's make their presence felt.

Most people run square even boosted. I have seen a couple guys on staggered setups boosted at the track, one with the same sizes you are running but in RE71R's and he was one of the quicker intermediates.

You already have the setup so run it.

[rvoll]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

InB4 tire width Nazi's make their presence felt.

Most people run square even boosted. I have seen a couple guys on staggered setups boosted at the track, one with the same sizes you are running but in RE71R's and he was one of the quicker intermediates.

You already have the setup so run it.

Tire width populist here.... He's got 225's in front, so that's not a width issue -- and it does provide better handling as has been said. He's got a supercharger, so as I've said before, having slightly wider tires in back makes sense with added power, but not with an NA engine and good tires. I didn't want to disappoint you..... You may like the look of wide tires on this car, but it does not improve performance with the possible exception of autocross.

By the way, I also like the aggressive look of wide tires on a car -- I grew up with muscle cars. But I'm not going to try to justify it by saying it performs better. That said, wider tires (245's) with a 35 offset and lowered 1" LOOKS absolutely fantastic on this car IMO. What I'd like to hear from is someone with a turbo who has really good 225's all around on this car. A staggered setup makes theoretical sense with a turbo, but only testing the alternative on a track and measuring times can tell you what is best.

[RJasonKlein]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

My $0.02


I have used this stagger in 17 and 18 for street. 225/45/17 +245/40/17. 225/40/18 + 245/35/18. Both sizes MPSS.

I have no understeer on the street. Anyway, I had 4 square set ups before going staggered. So, for those that think it "ruins" the car. It does not.

-1.5 front camber & -2.0 rear camber.

I had 245/35/18 all around. 225 front has better steering feel, IMO.

I’m surprised to hear that with a staggered setup and less camber in the front than the rear, you don’t have any understeer. My current alignment settings are:

Front:

• Camber: -2.5°
• Caster: 6.5°
• Toe: 0

Rear:

• Camber: -2°
• Toe: 0°

I’m on Maxxis RC-1s and have a lot of mechanical grip, but I wasn’t able to dial out mild understeer until I got to -2.5° of camber in the front. Strange...

[RJasonKlein]

As a follow up to my last comments, I do like the way the staggered setup looks, though - I’m just surprised it doesn’t kill the balance of the car.

[wbradley]

So far sounds like the approval ratings are decent...

[Mr.ac]

You did a track day with MPSS?
I see your problem.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by RJasonKlein

I’m surprised to hear that with a staggered setup and less camber in the front than the rear, you don’t have any understeer. My current alignment settings are:

Front:

• Camber: -2.5°
• Caster: 6.5°
• Toe: 0

Rear:

• Camber: -2°
• Toe: 0°

I’m on Maxxis RC-1s and have a lot of mechanical grip, but I wasn’t able to dial out mild understeer until I got to -2.5° of camber in the front. Strange...

I was thinking the same thing about spring rate with that tire. My Conti's understeer a bit on turn in since I went coils. With my RS3's they feel fine.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by wbradley

Did a track day last week and found with the extra power of the supercharger I might not be accelerating out of the turns as I could.

Since my PSS tires were kinda done, just ordered 225's for the front 8"W wheels and ordered same wheel as I have in front in 9'W and 245 Michelin PSS for the rear.

So 225/45-17 front and 245/40-17 rear both with -35 offset.

Anyone with a similar setup that would advise against the staggered 1" difference front to rear for handling?

Suffice it to say currently the car rotates a ton so slightly taming it is still OK with me. I can change the order and go 245 square but not crazy about the look in the front with too much poke for a sleeper car. And don't want to change the steering feel.

How's the grip in a straight line?

If you're not breaking traction in a straight line, you'll need to shift the grip balance at track out to the rear. One option before changing wheels is the MCS traction mod. It reduces the anti-squat a bit to get more bite in the back end at exit, but won't really change turn in.

If you are breaking traction in a straight line then you'll need more tire in the rear. Whether you go staggered or square will depend on how you want the balance to be.

[Icecreamtruk]

Also, since the option isnt discussed here. You could have stagerred tire sizes on same wheel size (225 front 245 rear on 9" wheel for example).

Im not trying to judge anyone or anything here, but what you may perceive like a lot of rotation might just be power over, which once you harness the power (either by throtle control, stickier rubber, or wider rubber), might turn into an understeer nightmare. A square wheel setup will open more options once that happens.

Just something to consider.

[Sapphireho]

I so want to stagger. I think it would be better with the increase of power.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by rvoll

You may like the look of wide tires on this car, but it does not improve performance with the possible exception of autocross.

I bought wider because I initially intended to autoX the car. You also keep saying a wider tire does not have more performance when it does. It is just that the performance(more lateral grip) does not equal an improved lap time. BTW that boosted car with staggered wheels and RE71R's spent the day behind my overtired mostly stock na car.