Staggered vs. 4matic...Whats the real story?
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From: Wyckoff, New Jersey & Alphabet City NYC
86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
Staggered vs. 4matic...Whats the real story?
Help me out guys. Is this really unsafe?19x 8.5 in the front 19x9.5 in the back on a 4matic car. What if anything can be done to make this a safer setup? Apparantly having different sizes can mess w/ 4matic. How much is really the question and what if anything can be done to make the situation better? I understand the idea, but at the same time, I have a set of staggered right now on the 4matic, drove in some bad rain the other day and really didn't have a problem. What gives? Any info would be helpful but please know what you are talking about. I've asked this a few time it ends up that members start fighting over who is right and what is right and nothing really gets resloved. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I was once told this:
if you do staggared you need to make sure the profile on th rear tire is lower. (35 front and 30 on the rear tire) Does that make any sense? Help me out guys.
I was once told this:
if you do staggared you need to make sure the profile on th rear tire is lower. (35 front and 30 on the rear tire) Does that make any sense? Help me out guys.
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From: NJ
'08 E550 4Matic
It's really not a good idea to run staggered on an AWD car. Ideally you want the front and back to rotate at the same speed. You'll never be able to achieve that with a staggered setup, you can come close by running different tires on the back. Use this tire calculator to find out what tires to use.
The awd system will work just fine with a staggered setup but you risk damaging the differential in the long run.
The awd system will work just fine with a staggered setup but you risk damaging the differential in the long run.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I wonder if the new C-Class 4 matic is a little different. I remember a thread in the W211 section a while back where the poster called MBUSA to ask if he could run a staggered setup on his E500-4Matic. They said no, and if you do, we will not honor the warranty for any drivetrain related issues.
Not verbatim, but something to that affect.
I recommend you call MBUSA and see what they say.
Not verbatim, but something to that affect.
I recommend you call MBUSA and see what they say.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
I wonder if the new C-Class 4 matic is a little different. I remember a thread in the W211 section a while back where the poster called MBUSA to ask if he could run a staggered setup on his E500-4Matic. They said no, and if you do, we will not honor the warranty for any drivetrain related issues.
Not verbatim, but something to that affect.
I recommend you call MBUSA and see what they say.
Not verbatim, but something to that affect.
I recommend you call MBUSA and see what they say.
if you call or email MBUSA of course that's what they're going to tell you. 1. because they don't really know either and 2. they're run by legal monkeys that will scare you into buying parts only from the dealership, so the MBUSA can make money when they sell parts to the dealership.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
the 4-matic's not any different on the new C vs other line-up.
if you call or email MBUSA of course that's what they're going to tell you. 1. because they don't really know either and 2. they're run by legal monkeys that will scare you into buying parts only from the dealership, so the MBUSA can make money when they sell parts to the dealership.
if you call or email MBUSA of course that's what they're going to tell you. 1. because they don't really know either and 2. they're run by legal monkeys that will scare you into buying parts only from the dealership, so the MBUSA can make money when they sell parts to the dealership.
Either way, it's probably worth a call just to see what they say. And make sure to mention the new C-Class as Frank stated.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Yes, but if they currently offered a vehicle in 4matic flavor with a staggered setup (new C-class) they'd know, right? And you'd think they would disseminate that information accordingly, no?
Either way, it's probably worth a call just to see what they say. And make sure to mention the new C-Class as Frank stated.
Either way, it's probably worth a call just to see what they say. And make sure to mention the new C-Class as Frank stated.
most of the time people that answered your call have no clue. they're just there to answer your call for the sake of answering.
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 280
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From: NOR-CAL
Benz and Beemers
These cars also have OEM staggered fitments and AWD
BMW X5
BMW X3
I think as long as the overall diameters of the front and rear tires are the same, it should be ok. Please correct me if I am wrong.
BMW X5
BMW X3
I think as long as the overall diameters of the front and rear tires are the same, it should be ok. Please correct me if I am wrong.
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CLK63 Black Series
Staggered widths should not matter. Staggered diameters will cause the computer to think the rears are slipping since they will be rotating slower than the fronts.
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From: Paradise (a.k.a. Austin, TX)
'09 S63 AMG
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Colorado
05 E500 4matic, 08 ML320CDI
Yesterday I spoke to my local Service Manager and one of his Master Service Techs... I asked if running a staggered tire/wheel setup would cause issues with my E500 4-matic if I kept the tires Overall Diameters the same or very close, say 1/10 or so... Both said there should be no problems with the systems and both said there won't be any warrantee issues (mines a CPO)... If you use the manufacturers specs for their tires, you CAN find staggered setups in 17's, 18's and 19's (245/40, 275/35 ) where the tires OAD's are dead equal... My stock 245/45-17's are 25.7" tall according to the manufacturers specs but on the car with unequal air inflation in them, they measure considerably less... I think just following the recommended air inflation guides will cause the OAD's to be unequal front to back...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 333
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From: Colorado
05 E500 4matic, 08 ML320CDI
Ended up ordering and mounting a set of staggered 19's in 235/35-19 F on 19x8.5 and 275/35-19 R on 19x9.5 ET35... Mounted them last night and drove to work this AM in freezing rain, sleet, snow with no problems... The ESP and ABS systems seem to be working OK evident by them kicking in several times in slipperery intersections... No problems, no strange noises, no complaints from the cars systems at this point after 50 miles... The tires as Potenza RE960 AS's and seem to hold the road much better than the stock RE950's which are a summer tire in 245/45-17...
Last edited by sdunham; Nov 20, 2008 at 11:55 AM.
