Staggered for track?
 

Hey guys,

If I was to run 8.5s f and 9.5s r with a 235 front and 255 rear would this effect my handing enough to notice in terms of understeer? I'm trying to decide very soon, I've read a few other threads and people say only if trying to achieve a nice stance and don't intend on racing, but I'd like a racers opinion.

Thanks.

The car is designed with square tires...

Plans within the next year is to make 400hp, would a square still be the way to go?

It will increase understeer/reduce oversteer. It will alter the balance of the car of course.

Not a fan of it myself. Remember driving an AW11 with 185s on the front and 215's (I think) on the rear (wheels from a MK3 MR2) on track. It just understeered everywhere. Not fun there really, was a tad frustrating. The GT86 doesn't understeer like an MR2 does as standard so I'm sure the effect won't be quite so bad, but more rear end grip will generally mean understeer. You may notice it even more when you lock the diff up.

You can go 265 square if you want. Lots of guys have done it, but you'll probably need coilovers for clearance.

Square setup for the track...that's how the car was intended. Plus, I don't think you'll need extra rubber in back for traction when launching lol

Nick C.

When the STI comes out it will have staggered tires...just like every sports car known to man. I run a 235/255 and don't have any noticeable understeer. I do however have coilovers and sway bars that are adjustable and have it set up pretty good. Feels very natural.

Square.... the fact the car comes square enabling it to rotate around corners says it in itself. Fat rears would induce understeer (or in our case reduce oversteer) so for tracking purposes don't do it at your current power levels

Even if you go up to 400hp one could still argue that square would be fine (assuming you have 9"+ wide tires all around), but at that point I know I'd be going staggered as ~270 ft/tq in a ~2700lb car can lead to some nasty snap oversteer.. something going staggered can help tone down