i've been poking around the forums here and i've read several places where people say you can't run staggered setups with AWD sedans...because VDC.

is this just people being misinformed and thinking that staggered means larger diameters front to back? or is there actually truth to the statement? I'm a little confused because VDC senses different RPM's on the wheels which is why you don't want to step out of the 3% difference front to back because the rolling diameters of the wheels are so far apart that the VDC thinks there is slipping occurring.

is there truly something different about the AWD models? i can't think of why the width of a wheel/tire would mess with VDC/Traction control/AWD. sorry if it's been answered more in depth somewhere, but i couldn't find it.

 

U can run staggered on awd. Eveeyone does is. Search is your friend.

 

search is NOT my friend. that's how i found all this "sedan AWD can't run staggered" bull sh¡t. i thought it seemed quite retarded. i couldn't figure out how the car could tell that it had wider wheels.

regardless, thanks.

 

Yep, as long as the diameter is within +/- 3% of the stock diameter there should be no problem and as long as the F&R are within 3% of each others' diameter.

 

As was stated, different widths ok. Different diameters not ok. Sort of!

More important than diameter is revolutions/mile. Due to various factors, same diameter tires may have different number of revolutions per distance traveled. Fortunately, tire rack's site reports this spec on each tire page for each tire size- match them up to within 3% and you are good to go.

 

In theory, RWD-only G (w/Sport Package) benefits from having wider rear wheels/tires (and a Limited Slip differential) for added stability and traction. Putting a wider wheel on the AWD G37 might look good, but won't matter. As stated, there are considerations when going staggered in diameter, however.

Search IS your friend, but you don't have to limit it to this forum. Go deep.

If I had an AWD car, I'm quite sure I wouldn't bother with staggered rims. But look at it this way, at least you can rotate your tires front to back.

 

Me too. I'd be quite happy with 245's or 255's all around with the correct offset and rim width. Rochester is spot on about rotation, which can effectively double the mileage your get from a set of tires, especially if they are non-directional (asymmetric is ok).

Get some Michelin PSS in the right size on good, light wheels. Immediate handling awesomeness.

 

As much as I vaguely feel that it's cool to have wider rear wheels on my 6MT, I'm noticeably more sensitive to the difference in tread wear and what that's going to mean in terms of tire costs.

I'm only a few weeks from buying a set of Bridgestone LM-60's for Winter, which will put me in the position of having two full sets of tires where each corner is unique because of rotation and size constraints. IMO, this isn't a good thing. It is, however, the price I have to pay... because racecar.

(sigh)

JK. I know this is no racecar. Just a pumped up sedan.

 

It's OK. I feel the same way.

What fwd car was it that had staggered tires with the fat ones on the front? Pontiac grand prix GXP?

 

Correct...

 

Yep, Pontiac did that on the GXP. Weird car. IIRC, they had to come up with a special kind of tire in order to compensate for all the torque steer in that goofy design.

 

VDC isn't the big issue and I'm not sure who is stating this. I think most informed members on this forum realize that having a front differential is the main concern, which AWD users don't wish to damage.
You are correct, in that you can run staggered on AWD, as long as you keep the front and rear tires circumferences within the given tolerance.

The potential issues/problems arise when the front and rear become too different in circumference (because can't rotate).
Now the owner is forced to:
a) find a pair of new or used tires that closely match the circumference of a pair on the car with the most remaining tread
b) replace all four tires (dealer recommended )
c) or (usually due to AWD tire ignorance) leave them very unevenly worn and potentially damage the differential. Now you have a warranty claim issue as well. That is...if you still have any warranty remaining on the vehicle.

 

I did...and I really dont care...it looks good...

 

from Tire Rack:

Tire Tech Information - Matching Tires on Four-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Vehicles