Staggered-Width Tires
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2014 BMW M235i
Staggered-Width Tires
Hello again everyone!
Sure has been a while since I've started a new thread, but I was talking with a friend who had a 2009 E350 with ///AMG Sport Kit and had staggered width tires since it was rear-wheel drive. Currently I'm running new Michelin Pilot MXM4 all-seasons that measure 245/40/R18 rated up to 149 MPH. I'm guessing this width is pretty standard? Anyone else running a lower aspect ratio tire?
So my primary question is, are staggered width tires possible on 4-Matic models - assuming I run wider rear tires - or do I risk damaging the transfer case due to uneven forces on the front and wheel drive lines (though I know that E550 4-Matic has a 45:55 torque split under normal conditions)? Thanks.
Sure has been a while since I've started a new thread, but I was talking with a friend who had a 2009 E350 with ///AMG Sport Kit and had staggered width tires since it was rear-wheel drive. Currently I'm running new Michelin Pilot MXM4 all-seasons that measure 245/40/R18 rated up to 149 MPH. I'm guessing this width is pretty standard? Anyone else running a lower aspect ratio tire?
So my primary question is, are staggered width tires possible on 4-Matic models - assuming I run wider rear tires - or do I risk damaging the transfer case due to uneven forces on the front and wheel drive lines (though I know that E550 4-Matic has a 45:55 torque split under normal conditions)? Thanks.
Last edited by AMGAffalterbach; Aug 8, 2012 at 08:04 PM.
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Its always recommended to be within 3% of stock's diameter (max) regardless of drive configuration. For 4matics, the key is for front & rear diameters to be within .1% of each other (max), provided diviation from stock's diameter is no more than 3%.
Thread Starter
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From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
That's what I had actually read yesterday on another site but those exact figures weren't provided, just examples of configurations. Thank you. So what I am taking from this is that as long as the rolling diameter is within 1/10% of each other (front/back) tire width itself doesn't matter - thus since the tire wall height (as in a 245/40/18) would be different for front and rear to maintain the same rolling diameter - since that first figure is based on the width of the tire, correct?
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Correct. As long as front and rear diameters are the same or close (within 1/10 of an inch), then width does not matter.
For example, stock 4matic size of 245/40-18 is 25.72". So to comply with 4matic, rear staggered size could be 275/35-18 (at 25.58", a bit more than 1/10" less) or 285/35-18 (at 25.85", a bit more than 1/10" more) - both not identical, but close enough.
Once you get to 19" or 20" wheels, then sizes become 245/35-19 & 285/30-19 (these are basically identical at 25.75" & 25.73" respectively) or 245/30-20 & 285/25-20 (235/35-20 & 275/30-20 are identical at just under 26.5" and can be used on stock W211 too).
To put it simply, for W211 4matic (same for W212 4matic as well) rear staggered tire needs to be 40mm wider than front (add 40 to first number) while aspect ratio needs to be "1 size" lower than front (subtract 5 from the second number).
For example, stock 4matic size of 245/40-18 is 25.72". So to comply with 4matic, rear staggered size could be 275/35-18 (at 25.58", a bit more than 1/10" less) or 285/35-18 (at 25.85", a bit more than 1/10" more) - both not identical, but close enough.
Once you get to 19" or 20" wheels, then sizes become 245/35-19 & 285/30-19 (these are basically identical at 25.75" & 25.73" respectively) or 245/30-20 & 285/25-20 (235/35-20 & 275/30-20 are identical at just under 26.5" and can be used on stock W211 too).
To put it simply, for W211 4matic (same for W212 4matic as well) rear staggered tire needs to be 40mm wider than front (add 40 to first number) while aspect ratio needs to be "1 size" lower than front (subtract 5 from the second number).
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Awesome explanation, thank you so much. I plan to keep my front tires at 245/40/18 but is it possible to run 285/35/18s (or 275/35/18s) in the rear without any modifications to accommodate the extra width?
Last edited by AMGAffalterbach; Aug 20, 2012 at 10:17 PM.
