Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: this may sound stupid (stagger question)

  1. #1
    wanabe ITR stevo_EF91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Age
    37
    Posts
    1,397
    Rep Power
    19

    Default this may sound stupid (stagger question)

    so i was looking at getting some rims on here for my awd audi

    the wheels are staggered tho 20x10 rear 20x8.5 front

    question is can you stagger an awd car? is it safe ? what modifications can be made to fit a stagger.


    thanks!



  2. #2
    the old man NAIZBST's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    where I shifts with my left hand
    Posts
    7,075
    Rep Power
    33

    Default

    I wouldn't recommend it as it may mess up your trans or diff's

  3. #3
    YOURMOM tnomud's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Coweta
    Age
    52
    Posts
    2,414
    Rep Power
    25

    Default

    Its very hard to stagger an AWD car unless you keep the same size tire, same size width of wheel and simply get a different offset between the front and rear.

    At the end of the day, you want two different tires sized on two different wheel widths with the exact same revolutions per mile on that rims size. It's not entireley impossible, but very hard to find the right combos and still have matching tires and matching wheels.

  4. #4
    IA Senior Member punkr6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    West palm beach
    Age
    59
    Posts
    9,355
    Rep Power
    41

    Default

    bad idea....
    NO ADVERTISING

    -IA MANAGEMENT

  5. #5
    Senior Member HatchHero's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Atl
    Age
    43
    Posts
    1,255
    Rep Power
    20

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by punkr6 View Post
    bad idea....


    agreed



    All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing."

    Two things a man should maintain to the highest degree
    credibility and reputation




  6. #6
    wanabe ITR stevo_EF91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Age
    37
    Posts
    1,397
    Rep Power
    19

    Default

    thats what i thought.. thanks for the info!



  7. #7
    Senior Member sprix!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    1,362
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    I wouldn't recommend it. The width isn't so much of a problem as is the differing overall diameters (even from running similar tire sizes). With a sensitive all wheel drive system that Audi uses, it would cause issues down the road.If you really want the staggered look, and don't want to mess up your car or anything, there are a few companies out there that make wheels that have a staggered look but are actually the same dimensions front and rear.
    G37s 6MT/coupe

  8. #8
    Blah.... rollininstyle2004's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    NYC/ATL
    Age
    37
    Posts
    2,347
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    Audi's quattro is fine with staggered setups.

    Keep the overall rolling diameters close to the same and you will be fine. I know dozens of people that have done it on Audis and been perfectly fine. I plan on doing it on mine as well.

  9. #9
    Senior Member sprix!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    1,362
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rollininstyle2004 View Post
    Audi's quattro is fine with staggered setups.
    I know you know a lot about your cars, and I have seen a few of them around the site, but I find this statement problematic. Most awd systems are designed to have all four wheels and tires to have identical overall diameters. If he goes to the trouble of installing staggered wheels with staggered tires- he will end up with differing overall diameters. If he installs staggered wheels with matching size tires, he will likely end up with differing overall diameters. The only way to be certain there is no damage to the system is by installing identical dimension front and rear wheels and tires. Sure, there won't be overnight damage, but I don't think that your statement is accurate.
    G37s 6MT/coupe

  10. #10
    Blah.... rollininstyle2004's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    NYC/ATL
    Age
    37
    Posts
    2,347
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sprix! View Post
    I know you know a lot about your cars, and I have seen a few of them around the site, but I find this statement problematic. Most awd systems are designed to have all four wheels and tires to have identical overall diameters. If he goes to the trouble of installing staggered wheels with staggered tires- he will end up with differing overall diameters. If he installs staggered wheels with matching size tires, he will likely end up with differing overall diameters. The only way to be certain there is no damage to the system is by installing identical dimension front and rear wheels and tires. Sure, there won't be overnight damage, but I don't think that your statement is accurate.
    Correct, which is why I said as long as the overall rolling diameter is CLOSE to the same front and rear you will not see any problems.

    Take this setup for example.

    Front: 19x8.5 w/ 235/35/19
    Rear: 19x9.5 w/ 275/35/19

    Front has an overall diameter of 25.476''
    Rear has an overall diameter of 25.496''

    That means the difference between front and rear is roughly 0.08% in overall diameter. Running different brand tires front and rear in the SAME size (which people often do when replacing just the front or just the rear) could account for more of a difference as all tires are a little different. Uneven wear could account for more of a difference.

    I am not saying to go run extremely difference sizes front and rear, but I have read that as long as they are within 1% of each other (which as proven above is very easy to do, and very easy to make them damn near identical) the car will be fine. Staggering as you know changes the width, keep the diameter the same and you will be fine.

    I am sure some will still disagree, however, I personally see no problem with it and know people who have done years on properly done (which again is key) staggered setups on AWD cars, Audi especially with no problems.

  11. #11
    Senior Member sprix!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    1,362
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Well, the overall diameter you posted is likely the diameter of the uninflated tire. The characteristics of the tire deviates when you mount it onto a wheel. I would suspect that it would be a greater variance than the one you posted. Nothing immediately detrimental, but still a variance. You are also correct, however. I suppose we are splitting hairs.
    G37s 6MT/coupe

  12. #12
    IA MEMBER YokotaS13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    saudi arabia
    Age
    40
    Posts
    5,297
    Rep Power
    27

    Default

    as long as you are withing likw 2% iirc of rolling diameter, any make/model should work (i havent found any that need a super tight tolerance of tire)

  13. #13
    YOURMOM tnomud's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Coweta
    Age
    52
    Posts
    2,414
    Rep Power
    25

    Default

    Just a thought to also consider, a wider tire and wheel will hold more air. Larger amounts of air will expand and contract at different rates and alter that .02%........

    It might be minimal, but something to keep in your backup files.

  14. #14
    IA MEMBER YokotaS13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    saudi arabia
    Age
    40
    Posts
    5,297
    Rep Power
    27

    Default

    then use nitrogen...

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
About us
ImportAtlanta is a community of gearheads and car enthusiasts. It does not matter what kind of car or bike you drive, IA is an open community for any gearhead. Whether you're looking for advice on a performance build or posting your wheels for sale, you're welcome here!
Announcement
Welcome back to ImportAtlanta. We are currently undergoing many changes, so please report any issues you encounter with the site using the 'Contact Us' button below. Thank you!