Quick Q on Staggered vs Non Staggered Setup

[KoukiMnster]

Hey Zilvians,

Was wondering what you would recommend for a serious road racer. I am just about to get into a S14, coming from a completely different world(AWD). Always loved these cars, but have a few newb questions:

What is the maximum tire/rim combo(with offsets please!) people usually do with the fenders rolled/pulled(I think I'll be staying on the KA for a while, eventually going KA-T), without stretching tire etc. Would you recommend overfenders??

Do people usually run a staggered or non staggered setup? I was wondering which one would induce more under/oversteer.

I think that's it for now...if I have anymore I'll be sure to post up, and if you have any advice to throw my way, please do!

-MNSTER

[bb4_96]

Hey Zilvians,

Was wondering what you would recommend for a serious road racer. I am just about to get into a S14, coming from a completely different world(AWD). Always loved these cars, but have a few newb questions:

What is the maximum tire/rim combo(with offsets please!) people usually do with the fenders rolled/pulled(I think I'll be staying on the KA for a while, eventually going KA-T), without stretching tire etc. Would you recommend overfenders??

Do people usually run a staggered or non staggered setup? I was wondering which one would induce more under/oversteer.

I think that's it for now...if I have anymore I'll be sure to post up, and if you have any advice to throw my way, please do!

-MNSTER

It's a personal preference. Look in the wheel fitment thread and find what you like best/can afford

[ghambino]

All things equal, a staggered setup will likely induce more understeer. A square non staggered setup is the best way to go. You can't go wrong with a 255/40/17 on a 17x9 setup. Get the lightest wheel you can afford, but don't get a wheel that is light at the expense of strength. You can always go with a larger wheel and tire combo, but I personally think you'd be wasting money because it sounds like you're just starting out. An offset of +30 up to +35 should be OK. I don't think flares are necessary until you get into 275+ territory???

Star Specs, NT05s, and RS-3s are great street tires to start with. I would stay away from R comps for now.

[mattack69]

All things equal, a staggered setup will likely induce more understeer. A square non staggered setup is the best way to go. You can't go wrong with a 255/40/17 on a 17x9 setup. Get the lightest wheel you can afford, but don't get a wheel that is light at the expense of strength. You can always go with a larger wheel and tire combo, but I personally think you'd be wasting money because it sounds like you're just starting out. An offset of +30 up to +35 should be OK. I don't think flares are necessary until you get into 275+ territory???

Star Specs, NT05s, and RS-3s are great street tires to start with. I would stay away from R comps for now.


^^ werd. 275's in the rear might need a slight pull mine did.

[KoukiMnster]

255/40ZR17 would that work on a 9.5 rim? Reason I ask is I might want to go bigger in the future(tire size)

Thanks for the input guys!

[User Name:]

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/166563-maximum-tire-rubber-fitment-thread.html

terr derr. should give you some pretty good ideas

[Wake]

as for fitment but it doesnt help at all with his track questions.

[User Name:]

it seemed as though his main question was towards fitment so thats why i linked that.

as for the track questions, its been a while since ive been in that thread but i was pretty sure there was some track related discussion along the lines of what he was asking.

if not, sorry for wasting the OPs time for answering part of his question.

[Def]

Don't run a staggered setup - it's horrible for our cars. The front is always heavier than the rear, so why would you put wider tires on the rear? Especially with only a stock KA or mild KA-T - understeer city even on power.

17x9 255/40-17 all around is my recommendation. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and that's what I run right now. 255/40-17 will work on 17x9.5s just fine. I wouldn't go with 275/40-17s, the sidewall starts getting too large and the tire too tall to work on our cars.

[Om1kron]

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/166563-maximum-tire-rubber-fitment-thread.html

terr derr. Should give you some pretty good ideas

best answer, lock thread.

[bejota180sx]

Don't run a staggered setup - it's horrible for our cars. The front is always heavier than the rear, so why would you put wider tires on the rear? Especially with only a stock KA or mild KA-T - understeer city even on power.

17x9 255/40-17 all around is my recommendation. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and that's what I run right now. 255/40-17 will work on 17x9.5s just fine. I wouldn't go with 275/40-17s, the sidewall starts getting too large and the tire too tall to work on our cars.


i was thinking on running something similar to that but on a 18inch wheels, what offset are u running on the x9 wheel? if i remember correctly u run stock body right?

[pandaroo]

Don't run a staggered setup - it's horrible for our cars. The front is always heavier than the rear, so why would you put wider tires on the rear? Especially with only a stock KA or mild KA-T - understeer city even on power.

i was always under the impression that front heavy cars oversteer more because because weight on the tires = grip and more weight/grip on the front means the rear will slide out first because it has less weight/grip outback. which would mean you need more tire in the back to compensate for the wieght. correct me if im wrong because thats how it has been explained to me and i just wana know the trufe .lol

[UNITEDMASTER]

^^^^^ NO more weight on front will cause tires to loose grip,if said weight is not controled properly by suspension set up & driver inputs.So you will get push at the front because said weight & small tire just cant cope with it i& you have exceeded the tires limit. There is a limit to when weight over the tires = grip. This is more true for the rear VS the front because remember your asking alot from the front tires & especially under trail braking/heavy braking & turning at the same time.

To the OP, I would suggest ,try to get a square set up . Then you can start with the same size tire all around then tune the suspension. Then when you think you have found the balance, increase the rear size in search of outright grip on corner exit/power down,note youe should be using minimal rear camber(put all the tire on the ground).

But all this depends on how well your car rotates(turns the corner),cause sometimes you will want to run the same size rim all around but with different size tire front to back.

And actually a slight push/understeer is prefered in high speed sections because it is predictable VS a car that wants to come around on you especially in high speed areas.

[Def]

i was thinking on running something similar to that but on a 18inch wheels, what offset are u running on the x9 wheel? if i remember correctly u run stock body right?

Did have +17's, they rubbed in the rear even with a pretty good pull(1.5" or so). Keep in mind that's rubbing at 1G+ lateral at over about 70-80 mph.

Now I have +35 RPF1's and run a 15mm spacer up front. Might go with a really small spacer like a 3 mm in the rear just to get a little more track there, but they fit fine and no rubbing which is nice.

[Def]

i was always under the impression that front heavy cars oversteer more because because weight on the tires = grip and more weight/grip on the front means the rear will slide out first because it has less weight/grip outback. which would mean you need more tire in the back to compensate for the wieght. correct me if im wrong because thats how it has been explained to me and i just wana know the trufe .lol

No, the more weight you put on a tire, the less grip it makes PER UNIT WEIGHT. As in, 100 lbs on a tire might give 100 lbs of lateral grip, put 200 lbs on it, and you'll get 190 lbs of lateral grip, 300 lbs = 280 lbs etc. etc. So you have less lateral grip to move each pound as a side gets heavier and heavier. That end will also have more inertia, so it will be less likely to want to change direction.

This is exactly why FWD Hondas understeer even before they put the power down.

[pandaroo]

^^ok gotcha. thanks for clearing that up for me fellas!

[slowboy]

This is exactly why FWD Hondas understeer even before they put the power down.
thats the damn truth