Staggered vs. 4matic...Whats the real story!!?
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86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
Staggered vs. 4matic...Whats the real story!!?
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Vancouver, BC
08 C300
cliff note.
1. 4matic is PERFECTLY fine with staggered wheels. In Canada, C300 and C350 4matic comes with staggered, also XI series from BMW.
2. For staggered wheels, it is true that front and rear will get different profile size. BUT it does NOT mean rear will be lower.
eg. 235/35/19 front and 255/30/19 rear.
Side wall size of both tires are roughly the same size. Tire size numbers are propotional.
check below link for additional info.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46
1. 4matic is PERFECTLY fine with staggered wheels. In Canada, C300 and C350 4matic comes with staggered, also XI series from BMW.
2. For staggered wheels, it is true that front and rear will get different profile size. BUT it does NOT mean rear will be lower.
eg. 235/35/19 front and 255/30/19 rear.
Side wall size of both tires are roughly the same size. Tire size numbers are propotional.
check below link for additional info.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 2
From: Wyckoff, New Jersey & Alphabet City NYC
86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
Interesting, so it appears there is some truth to it. In that case, why does everyone fear/stay away from this type of setup? I don't understand all the hype has me thinking I'm doing something that isn't safe ya know?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
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From: Vancouver, BC
08 C300
Personally, I have not heard anybody saying 4matic, XI, or quattro system is ****ed because of staggered wheels. lol
As for safety reason, there are way too many factors that nobody can justify which setup is better than another.
In perfect world (no rain, no snow, sunny all the time) wider tire have more traction. Which is actually good for 4matic because initial power load is 45% front and 55% rear. Of course, power distribution changes when the car starting to slip.
But if the weather is bad (not so much for raining, mostly snowing) thinner tire will have more traction.
Last edited by white46; Oct 29, 2008 at 12:32 AM.
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From: Jet City, USA
'08 W204.081; M 272.948 KE30; Colour Code#792
WHAM!!!
http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html
You've now been handed the Tire Bible. Read on, people.
http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html
You've now been handed the Tire Bible. Read on, people.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 33
From: Vancouver, BC
08 C300
i read over w203 forum.
i just don't get how it can hurt differential in long term either.
4matic constantly transfers different power to each wheels. Having said that, wheel diameter off by few mm? I highly doubt it will cause a problem.
don't worry too much.
i just don't get how it can hurt differential in long term either.
4matic constantly transfers different power to each wheels. Having said that, wheel diameter off by few mm? I highly doubt it will cause a problem.
don't worry too much.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
agree. with a regular center diff, you may wear the spider gear thrust bearings, with 5mm wheel radius difference. but the new 4matic uses a planatary center diff at rear of trans, where all the gears are in motion, all the time, delivering the biased f/r torque split. Having diff front rear dia's has no effect on center diff wear in this case.
Any slight difference in front vs rear tire dia, by oem spec's, will slightly change the F/R wheel speed bias which is likely considered in the wheel speed monitoring as a permissible F/R wheel speed variation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:M...ic_Gearbox.jpg
For the 17" staggered, the extra rear tire width and wheel offset result in the extra tire width being all inward, so outer surface of rear tire is visually the same place as with non-staggered wheels. Rear track is reduced 20mm.
Last edited by kevink2; Oct 29, 2008 at 06:51 PM.
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From: Ontario, Canada
2016 C450 AMG, 2012 C350 4Matic Sport
I don't understand why there are hypes about 4matic with staggered wheels either.
Personally, I have not heard anybody saying 4matic, XI, or quattro system is ****ed because of staggered wheels. lol
As for safety reason, there are way too many factors that nobody can justify which setup is better than another.
In perfect world (no rain, no snow, sunny all the time) wider tire have more traction. Which is actually good for 4matic because initial power load is 45% front and 55% rear. Of course, power distribution changes when the car starting to slip.
But if the weather is bad (not so much for raining, mostly snowing) thinner tire will have more traction.
Personally, I have not heard anybody saying 4matic, XI, or quattro system is ****ed because of staggered wheels. lol
As for safety reason, there are way too many factors that nobody can justify which setup is better than another.
In perfect world (no rain, no snow, sunny all the time) wider tire have more traction. Which is actually good for 4matic because initial power load is 45% front and 55% rear. Of course, power distribution changes when the car starting to slip.
But if the weather is bad (not so much for raining, mostly snowing) thinner tire will have more traction.
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