Euro_Ricer

First - I did search. Nothing relevant came up for me.

Would like to get some thoughts on a squared vs staggered wheel setup and the effects on handling characteristics. To be more detailed - would it make a difference in recommendation on an NA motor vs 350-400 supercharged car? Has anyone had both and what is it like?

HawkeyeGeoff

Your square setup will give you overall more grip.

Adding grip to the front will also change the dynamics of the car for the rear.

Basically going from smaller tire up front to same tire up front = rear will be more tail happy. Higher limits of grip though. Most people end up throwing a front sway bar or rear wing on to negate this effect.

Supercharged you already know the answer....you're going to want as much rear tire as possible. Depending on what you're doing I'd have different recommendations. Street = staggered for more safety, Track = Square for most overall grip and tune it from there. That's just my opinion though. I run a 255/40/17 square all the time with a wing.

TsukubaCody

Your question is no different from tons of others on square vs staggered.

Hawkeye makes things very clear.

Midnightdennis

I'm sure you searched first.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...setup-1067071/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...hread-1160938/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...tagger-971484/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...setups-956642/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...ggered-856688/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-un...ggered-924933/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...setup-1185618/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-fo...ng-fi-1078319/

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...treet-1021980/

etc etc etc

HawkeyeGeoff

I guess I was feeling generous this morning.

B serious

I mean, handling at the limit is really something you'd want to explore by having the internet describe it to you.

As soon as I made the switch, I slowly put my car back down from the jack stands. It immediately started yelling and bucking and oversteering wildly in the garage.

So I was wearing a full cowboy getup. And I jump on top of it and rodeo it in. Like I'm yelling "WoooaAAAhhh girlllll" and trying to calm it down but also show it who is boss.

The song "like a rock" is playing. I'm smoking Marlboro reds.

Or...no....wait...

....that was an old Chevy Silverado commercial....

s2000Junky

Depends on how you tune the suspension which can do a lot to utilize the tire balance you have front to rear and what your driving style is in general. But the s2k can fit more rubber in the rear in general with typical stock fenders mods, so if you tune the suspension around maximizing the available space you will end up with a staggered set up and more total grip then a non staggered set up.

I run 255/315 stagger currently. I love the cars handling balance, stability and total grip with this set up. Would never consider going back to a 255/255 275/275 non staggered set up from this.

Chuck S

The Honda engineers were idiots to use a staggered wheel/tire combination on the S2000, the setup kills the car's performace. Everyone knows square handles better. That's why performance versions of cars like the Corvette, Mustang, Camaro, various Dodges, and even Formula 1 cars use the square setup.

-- Chuck

Midnightdennis

This is gold

TsukubaCody

Formula One cars use the tires they use because of the series' rule book.

In 2009 Acura started running a square tire setup on their LMP prototype. On some tracks, it made up for their other deficiencies against the all conquering Audi/Peugeot.

If only Honda/Acura knew wtf they were talking about.

(Oh yeah, Audi & Peugeot made the switch too after seeing the gains to be had)

It is almost like, Honda didn't build the car for outright performance & focused on other stuff as well and for those looking for performance gains there is something left on the table.