Purpose of staggered wheels
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 51
Likes: 7
From: Chicago
2019 S560 Sedan
Purpose of staggered wheels
There are several design elements of the S-Class that confuse me as to why they would be included on such a large luxury sedan - for example, staggered sizes of front and rear wheels and tires. What's the engineering purpose of having wider wheels and tires in the rear than in the front on a car like this? For those of you who might have switched from staggered to square wheels, did you notice any handling or other difference?
I always appreciate the knowledge base on this forum. Thanks in advance.
I always appreciate the knowledge base on this forum. Thanks in advance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 431
S600
You have different kinds of wear at the front versus at the back.
The fronts do most of the braking.
The rears do most of the acceleration and all of the power goes through the rear wheels.
So, on a long interstate trip, the rears wear and the fronts almost do not.
So, the stagger is present to balance the wear.
Now on cars with significant rear weight bias (Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren) the stagger is there also for lateral accelerations
The fronts do most of the braking.
The rears do most of the acceleration and all of the power goes through the rear wheels.
So, on a long interstate trip, the rears wear and the fronts almost do not.
So, the stagger is present to balance the wear.
Now on cars with significant rear weight bias (Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren) the stagger is there also for lateral accelerations
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 936
From: New Orleans Area
2015 E400 Sedan
Lots of things on car are there so you will buy it not for any real engineering reason.
Some like the look of a wider rear tire...
What you get is more traction in the rear then you would have with the skinnier tire.
Some like the look of a wider rear tire...
What you get is more traction in the rear then you would have with the skinnier tire.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 254
2014 S550 AMG, 2017 XT5
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 743
Likes: 228
From: Santa Barbara, CA
S550C4, Porsche Cayenne
The combination of wheel width with a lot of torque when on snow and ice is a significant issue. Back in 1971 I bought new Corvette 454 high performance T top. Great car and then I got transferred from the south to Ohio. As soon as the first 1/2 inch of snow fell, the car was almost uncontrollable on even a slight slope with its super wide tires. After the first winter I sold it and bought a Porsche 911.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 527
2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
Staggered wheels are just marketing nonsense, and a particular German obsession (check BMW and Audi models, even my brother's VW Golf R).
The standard-equipment W222 gets square 18" wheels and does just fine. The only thing you give up with a square set up is a tiny bit of traction in the back, which you'd have to be doing track days or going to the dragstrip to ever notice. My previous car was a C350 and I changed it from staggered 18s to square 17s and it rode and handled beautifully that way.
That said, I will stay with staggered wheels on my Porsche 928 GTS, because it is a true high performance sports car and can use greater traction for the drive wheels. But for a 4,600 lb luxury sedan it's all for appearances.
The standard-equipment W222 gets square 18" wheels and does just fine. The only thing you give up with a square set up is a tiny bit of traction in the back, which you'd have to be doing track days or going to the dragstrip to ever notice. My previous car was a C350 and I changed it from staggered 18s to square 17s and it rode and handled beautifully that way.
That said, I will stay with staggered wheels on my Porsche 928 GTS, because it is a true high performance sports car and can use greater traction for the drive wheels. But for a 4,600 lb luxury sedan it's all for appearances.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 4,242
Likes: 629
From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
2015 S63 sedan
I run staggered for my summer tires, and the same width front and back for my snow tires. I don't notice any real difference between the two. You really don't notice much of a visual difference, the smaller width still fills up the wheel well.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 58
Likes: 11
S500 4matic L
down snow 245/45 R19
top R20" 255 / R20 285 down snow 245/45 R19
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
2015 S63 sedan
Mine is an S63, but I also run 19" wheels in the summer because the roads are so terrible up here. Maybe that's why I don't notice a difference between summer and winter wheels.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 578
Likes: 181
From: Half Moon Bay, CA
2016 S550e, 2005 Nissan Xterra 4x4, 1984 300ZX
I personally love the look of the stagger, but this is a big German car standard. I know when I put my 550e in Sport mode and nail it I need every bit of that 275 in the back, I am interested in the 255 and 285 upgrade for my next tires, Mazzy do you get any rubs with the larger tires? I unfortunately only have the 19" but given they are real AMG I ain't changing them.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 58
Likes: 29
From: Southern California
Mercedes S550
Yes, for appearance. They look great. One of the reasons that I do not appreciate the 4wd S550 versions.
With cool wheels, the staggered sizes look magnificent, IMHO, on the S550 (W222) Benz. Especially in black!
With cool wheels, the staggered sizes look magnificent, IMHO, on the S550 (W222) Benz. Especially in black!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,330
Likes: 4,730
From: Maryland
2024 S580
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 527
2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
Next time you walk by a Mercedes in a parking lot ... glance at the tires and see if the front and rears are the same kind. My unscientific observation is that about half the time on staggered wheels they're different, like the E350 I parked next to at lunch today, with Continentals in front and Goodyears in back.
I consider this the direct result of staggered wheel sizes. Since the tires can't be rotated they wear out at different rates and then, for whatever reasons, drivers start to have different types front to rear. IMO, this is an undesirable outcome as running mismatched tires can alter the car's traction and steering behavior in unpredictable ways.
I consider this the direct result of staggered wheel sizes. Since the tires can't be rotated they wear out at different rates and then, for whatever reasons, drivers start to have different types front to rear. IMO, this is an undesirable outcome as running mismatched tires can alter the car's traction and steering behavior in unpredictable ways.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 4,242
Likes: 629
From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
All of the major and many less-known brands sell matching staggered sizes of tires for our cars....19's or 20's. You may not be able to get every single model of tire to match the needed sizes, but there are lots of them out there that you'd would be happy with.....summer or all-season.
If some unknowing dip wad had non-matching front or rear tires installed on their S-class, then the tire technician who did it should be fired.
It really comes down to planning ahead. Most companies can get the matching tires to the shop within a day or two....or sometimes the same day if they don't have the needed size and model in stock.
If some unknowing dip wad had non-matching front or rear tires installed on their S-class, then the tire technician who did it should be fired.
It really comes down to planning ahead. Most companies can get the matching tires to the shop within a day or two....or sometimes the same day if they don't have the needed size and model in stock.
