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[swizzle]

So here's the thing, I have a 2008 335xi and I want to know your thoughts on staggered formation. Have those of you who have done it encountered any problems? Why do it and why you wouldn't do it.

[ChipB]

I would stick with whatever configuration came standard on the car, which I believe is a square setup (equal width front and rear), unless thee is a very specific reason to change. I don't think there would be any significant issue, but the downside of a staggered setup is increased tendency to understeer. The primary advantage of wider rear tires is improved traction under hard acceleration, which for a rear wheel drive car helps in 0 - 60 times. But for all-wheel drive there really is no advantage to the staggared set up, and as already noted actually some detriment in terms of handling. Also - when manufacturer's design the suspension they take into account spring rates, antisway bar stiffness, damper characteristics, as well as front versus rear grip. If you mess with one of these variables without compensating with other variables the result is likely to be detrimental.

However - very few people ever drive their cars hard enough or have the experience to notice any detrimental effect from running slightly wider tires in the rear, so unless you're doing track time it's really maiinly a question of taste and money to get the wider wheels.

[Big_Luss]

I have a 2008 e90 335xi as well and with the sport packages and came with types162, 18x8 225/40/18 front and 18x8.5 255/35/18 and there is no problem at all runing this setup... My winter setup is square 17x7 et35 borbet lv5 with 225/45/17... Just make sure you keep with bmw tire and wheels specs and your good to go

[VTECaddict]

It's fine as long as the over all diameter is the same between the front and rear axles. The only real reason is to do it for looks.

[Pete Schweaty]

I have a 2007 RWD with staggered summer setup 225/40 18 up front, and 255/35 18 in the rear and a square winter setup with 225/40 18 all around. You should have no problem with 255/35's on the rear as the outside diameter is the same as 225/40. The staggered setup gives me a ton more dry traction than the square. Take it with a grain of salt though, since my square setup runs winter tires and my staggered runs OEM runflats.

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by Pete Schweaty

I have a 2007 RWD with staggered summer setup 225/40 18 up front, and 255/35 18 in the rear and a square winter setup with 225/40 18 all around. You should have no problem with 255/35's on the rear as the outside diameter is the same as 225/40. The staggered setup gives me a ton more dry traction than the square. Take it with a grain of salt though, since my square setup runs winter tires and my staggered runs OEM runflats.

Where do you guys get your staggerd setup and how much?

[rorkor]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ritz

Where do you guys get your staggerd setup and how much?

Wheels have a minimum an maximum tire width based on wheel width. Even with square wheels, you ca stagger your tires. If you go to tire rack and look up wheel and tire packages, most of the forged wheel sets have an "optional fitment" selection for a wider rear wheel and tire (example: 18"x8" all around or 18"x8" front and 18"x9" rear). The extra inch of wheel accommodates 30mm more tread width +/- some.

My 286 Star Spoke stock setup is 17"x8" front and 17"x8.5" rear wheels with 225/45/r17 front tires and 255/40/r17 rears. The front wheel can hold up to a 245 width tire where the rears can take up to a 265 width no problem. If I put a 255 up front it would look bad and be a possible hazard but if i downsized the rears to a 245 I would get the stretched look that the guys with the 19"s get so their wheels will fit.

On my track car I have gone square for ease of rotation so I get more use out of the tires but if I had more cash at the ready I would stagger it too. It has 18"x9" all around with 265/35/r18's and I found that setup won't fit an e90 like it does the e36 with very light fender roll.

[rorkor]

OP, seeing that you have an Xi, you may just want to upsize all the way around to get a wider track and larger friction circle. A set of rotary forged 18"x8.5" wheels can get you 245 or 255 all the way around making your ride a concrete eater while reducing mass at each corner making you quicker too. I don't know if your suspension would allow for 9" wide wheels without getting the "poke" look but you may want o search for pic's of other Xi's.

[Pete Schweaty]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ritz

Where do you guys get your staggerd setup and how much?

Mine was OEM, but you can get it from any one of the vendors here. The OEM with sports package came with 18X8 and 18X8.5. As someone else said, you can run different sized tires on the same wheels also.

[e2d]

Staggered setup looks killer.. just my opinion