Staggered Tires

[Tom&Toy]

Hello everyone,
Just a quick question; I recently spoke to a salesperson at Firestone and he advised me that, a staggered tire set-up cannot be used on a M35/M45 sport...I ask you experts can this be done since this was one of my plans I tried the search feature but it mostly covers 20in....can this application be applied on the OEM (19in) sport rims and if so what would be the rear size. Thanks in advance.

Thomas

[Ilya]

Hello everyone,
Just a quick question; I recently spoke to a salesperson at Firestone and he advised me that, a staggered tire set-up cannot be used on a M35/M45 sport...I ask you experts can this be done since this was one of my plans I tried the search feature but it mostly covers 20in....can this application be applied on the OEM (19in) sport rims and if so what would be the rear size. Thanks in advance.

Thomas

Hi.

You want to stagger the OEM wheels? I guess I'm not understanding why?

Staggered usually refers to rear wheels that are wider than the front wheels. Has nothing to do with the tires, although you will likely run different size tires to fit the different size rims.

The OEM wheels are not staggered, so thus, I think, to answer your question...this isn't possible unless you get aftermarket wheels.

As for whether or not staggered is advisable on an M35/M45 Sport...he's wrong. The only time it isn't truly advisable (unless you do a LOAD of research and measure everything EXACT), is on the AWD model (since staggered setups aren't recommended for AWD due to it possibly freaking the AWD computer out).

[wideopn11]

Yeah if the front and rear wheels are the same size then no need to stagger. Sometimes you can go +1 on tire size; for example on my 9" wide wheels stock tire is 245 but I can properly fit a 255 but I would do it on the front and back. As long as you don't have AWD like IlyaKol said staggering is fine with aftermarket wheels. I believe your 19" sport wheels are 8.5" wide.
Now years ago I did put staggered tire sizes on my RX7. The stock size was 225 which I left on the front but I bumped the rear up to 245 which was at the top of what the wheels could fit. I also frequented the track so I went through rear tires pretty quick.

[Tom&Toy]

Thanks for the input guys...i was going to try and run the oem size of 245/40/19 and 275/35/19...what do you guys think? I just like the look but if it doesn't/won't work please let me know. Again thanks...You guys are great!

[Ilya]

On stock wheels? I highly doubt the 19" stock wheel will take a 275.

[vasekvi]

Thanks for the input guys...i was going to try and run the oem size of 245/40/19 and 275/35/19...what do you guys think? I just like the look but if it doesn't/won't work please let me know. Again thanks...You guys are great!

On stock wheels, thats gonna look funny if it even fits at all. But the M is set up as a balanced car. A staggered setup is going to cause you to understeer. Unless you are pushing an extra hundred horsepower you may have failed to mention..

[mexillis]

You can run that set up. I've seen people run 275 on a 8" wide rim. You will have some bulge but it will be added rim protection if anything. Look at other platforms, Pontiac, Chevy, jaguar and they all run different set ups for the same size rims. Heck the g37s run a 225 on the same 8x5 wheel we have for sport which runs 245. Now aesthetically it might not be pleasing to everyone but that shouldn't matter since it's your car.

[Tom&Toy]

Thanks for the input everyone

[szh]

You can run that set up. I've seen people run 275 on a 8" wide rim.

Yeah ... people like to stretch tires, but it is dangerous to run tires that are way outside the correct range for a given wheel width. You could easily have a tire bead come off the wheel. If this happens at highway speeds, you will be dead in a heartbeat!

People think that running a much wider tire on the same set of wheels will increase grip, handling, etc. This ain't necessarily so ... to maintain the same load rating, you need to maintain a good safe tire pressure. Then the tire will change its aspect profile and the tread edges will actually be off the ground more on the inside and outside ... resulting in reduced tread contact patch with the ground. Exactly the opposite outcome as you thought would happen!

Bottom line: use a tire whose recommended wheel width range is consistent with the wheels you have - not exceeding the range by more than 0.5" either way.

Regardless, if you still want wider tires, then buy wider wheels too (making sure that things still fit your particular car, of course! )

Z

[calidoso]

Is it possible to run 225/45/18 Conti DWS tires instead of the normal 245/45/18 tires on stock 18" Rims?

[szh]

Is it possible to run 225/45/18 Conti DWS tires instead of the normal 245/45/18 tires on stock 18" Rims?

In theory, they would fit from a size perspective - although speedometer would be incorrect a little bit since the rolling diameter is 26" (with rev/mile of 802) rather than the 26.7" (rev/mile of 778) of the 245/45-18.

However (and this is a big however in my mind), the load index of the 225/45-18 is 91 and this is far too low for our M's to be safe! You need at least 94 to 95 ... or preferably higher to avoid internal belt damage when the sidewall flexes, etc!

For example, the Continental DWS 245/45-18 has a load index of 100.

If you really want a narrower tire than 245/45-18 for some reason, the 225/50-18 would work. This has a load index of 95 and a rim width range of 6 to 8". As I recall, the stock rim is 8.0", right? If the stock rim width is 8.5", then this is slightly off, but usable.

Z

[Larz]

SZH is absolutely correct!
The Ventus S1noble2 tires I had installed are load rated at 99W (treadwear-500 traction-AA temp-A). They are 255/45/18 - the dealer told me thisn is the MAX safe width for my wheels. Don't just make sure they 'fit' your wheels. Make sure they are going to be SAFE. The last thing you need is for a tire to fail you on the motorway at 80mph. I BRIEFLY (about 90min) drove these tires (within a pack of 3 other cars) at speeds between 100-110mph whilst on a 20-hour road trip and they handled no differently than at normal motorway speeds. My excuse: traffic was pretty much nothing, weather was clear, roads were perfectly smooth and flat, and I was just curious how these tires would get on at high speeds. It's NOT how I normally drive. My curiosity was satisfied and I have never driven at those speeds since, nor will I. I'm too valuable to regularly take that risk and it was NOT a safe idea in the first place.

[Tom&Toy]

Would the 255's give the slighty larger apperence on the back tires and be safe?