for those who have run both staggered and non-staggered setups, have you noticed any decrease in gas mileage with the latter? how significant, if at all?

ive been looking at wheels recently and would like to know if the potential impact on gas mileage is significant enough to warrant a six wheel setup - four of the same width, and two of a narrower width for driving on the street / highway.

thanks

 

This is doing to depend on a number of factors. Generally there will be a decrease because you are adding rolling resistance to the car. Depending on the wheel and tire setup you can offset this by buying a lighter wheel or a different compond of tire. Just to be clear generally people do this for the added grip and are usually fine with the decrease in mpg. I will say I can't see a big benefit to running a square setup if you end up going with a tire that is better for economy (not saying that's what you are doing but just thinking out loud).

 

Square sucks. Gas. Lol

 

Square it up with some 800TW 215's all around.

 

^^^ Thats how you show a Prius whats up!

 

thanks for the response. i realize there are a lot of variables which influence mileage, making this topic very ambiguous. i also realize that people, including myself, consider square setups to increase front grip, among other reasons; such as gaining the ability to rotate front-back. just to be clear, i am not considering a square setup for fuel efficiency; i would only like to be aware of any significant decrease, or increase although i doubt this is the case.

from a theoretical standpoint, i think it's impossible to answer my question. there are just too many variables to account for and accurately measure relative to one another; i.e. increased rolling resistance vs. decreased un-sprung / rotational weight. this is why im asking of those who have been both staggered and non-staggered what, if any, change in mileage they have observed.


going a little liberal on grip, arnt we?

 

What do you consider significant? Again it is hard to say but you will see a dip.

 

im not sure. 5 mpg highway? that seems like a lot.

 

The difference is negligible. I never noticed a difference going from stock wheels with 215/245 ZI star specs to various sets 17x9s with 245 and 255s

 

Spend your energy focusing on something else with the car. Yes running more tire up front increases front traction, yes its reasonable to think more tire serface on the ground means more rolling resistance and mileage will change, and so will throwing in another vtec hit on the way home from work

Deciding to run a square set up so you can rotate tires make little sense to me, ive been hearing this a lot lately and not sure who first considered this was important in extending tire life becuase it isn't. All it does is reduce the frequency you have to change the rear tires. Your trading that for needing to replace all four at the same time half as much, the net result is the same cost.