Staggered Tire Sizes?

Ignarius · 01-02-2008, 10:49 PM

Hey everyone. I'm going to be needing some new tires soon (guy I bought my car from has mismatched and awful ones on the 2) and I figured I'd get a wider set of wheels while im at it....

So, do MKIs need a wider set in the rear? If so, how staggered do they need to be to work well? I'm looking to go 15" wheels in diameter and a 6.5-7inch width.

RePete · 01-03-2008, 12:11 AM

Car came stock with non-staggered wheels and tires, no need to stagger. You can if you want to but I wouldn't go extreme like you can on an MKII. I mounted 205/215 and 215/225 on my SC using staggered and non-staggered wheels, worked very well in the handling dept. in both setups.

Russell the Love Muscle · 01-03-2008, 02:02 AM

I got a set of wheels that sound like would be right up you alley

FS: Turbo, IC, Wheels, Oil Cooler

PearlJammzz · 01-03-2008, 08:28 AM

I would try for a 1'' stagger. Maybe a 205-215 in front and a 225-235 in back. I also wouldn't go anything higher than a 16'' wheel on a MKI.

RePete · 01-03-2008, 02:37 PM

I don't think there is a decent selection of 235s in 15 or 16 w/o the sidewall being too tall.

One of the best handling (and best looking) setups I threw on the SC was 16x7.5 +40 front (215/40) and 16x8 +35 rear (225/40). Great performance, comfy, still lightweight & nimble and that fitment really filled the wheel well too. I only had them mounted for a couple of months so no pics.

E T Haggis · 01-03-2008, 10:08 PM

what about 17's

RePete · 01-03-2008, 10:43 PM

Lots of options for 17s but the OP wants 15s.

Since there's not a whole lot in 15s I'd go 205/50-15 and 225/50-15 rear, that would work well with 6.5" front and 7" rear. It would look great and handle nice, very quiet setup on pothole filled streets & on the highway too.

87mk1gold · 01-04-2008, 12:33 AM

I have a nice set of stock 2002 MR2 Spyder wheels and tires on my 87 MKI. I picked them up as brand new dealer take-offs (somebody upgraded before taking delivery) for $500.

The tires are Bridgestone Potenzas and the sizes are: 185/55R15 front tires, 205/50R15 rear tires, alloy wheels. The rear wheels are 1/2 inch wider than the fronts. I'm remembering this as 6" front and 6.5 rear. They are a perfect fit as to offset- no rubbing and they look great. They are only a couple of pounds each heavier that the stock alloys and tires they replaced and there is a lot more grip. With these tires and stock suspension the car understeers more than it should at full throttle. There is no anti-sway bar on the back and I'm hoping to balance the handling when I install new front and rear bars.

After 2002 the factory stock set up was 185/55R15 front tires, 215/45R16 rear tires, alloy wheels.

I think a 2cm difference between the front and rear tires is plenty (if not too much) to match the difference in the the static weight load. I would warn against tire/wheel combinations that add a lot of unsprung weight to the suspension.

The original tire size was 185/60/14 front and back on 5.5" alloy wheels (I think SC's got 6" wheels). Tire Rack suggests plus sizes of 195/50/15 or 195/45/16 or 205/40/17 for a similar rolling diameter. Anything wider than that is going to raise the center of gravity.

Just for reference the standard tires for a Lotus Exige S are:195/50/16 front and 225/45/17 rear. This is the same as the Sport option for the Lotus Elise and are mounted on 16x6.5 and 17x7.5 wheels. I mention this only because the Lotus is a lightweight, rear engine high performance sports car. The Lotus wheels have the same bolt pattern as our MR2's but the center bore is slightly larger.

Ignarius · 01-04-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E T Haggis

what about 17's

I don't wanna go with 17's simply to avoid unsprung weight. 16's are pushing it...

curvesrgood · 01-08-2008, 07:08 PM

I'm running 16x7's and 205/40's up front and 16x8's and 225/40's in the back on my S/C and I'm non-staggered on the N/A. I just put on the staggered set and am very impressed. Car rides much smoother/better than with the stock wheels and junk passenger car tires.

feral4mr2 · 01-13-2008, 06:13 PM

i know you dont want 17's, just stating the fact that i have 205/40/17 on the front and 235/45/17 on the rear of the lil feral. need to replace the rears with 40 profile like the front, but i got 2 very cheap and unfortunatly they were 45 profile. car handles well.

205 is the widest i'ld put on the front on any of my aw11's, but i like wider on the rear and it doesnt seem to upset the handling of the car.

01-02-2008, 10:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ignarius Cataclysmic and Prolific Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 74 Thanks: 9 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Staggered Tire Sizes? Hey everyone. I'm going to be needing some new tires soon (guy I bought my car from has mismatched and awful ones on the 2) and I figured I'd get a wider set of wheels while im at it.... So, do MKIs need a wider set in the rear? If so, how staggered do they need to be to work well? I'm looking to go 15" wheels in diameter and a 6.5-7inch width.

01-04-2008, 12:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
87mk1gold Ex Cortina Driver Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have a nice set of stock 2002 MR2 Spyder wheels and tires on my 87 MKI. I picked them up as brand new dealer take-offs (somebody upgraded before taking delivery) for $500. The tires are Bridgestone Potenzas and the sizes are: 185/55R15 front tires, 205/50R15 rear tires, alloy wheels. The rear wheels are 1/2 inch wider than the fronts. I'm remembering this as 6" front and 6.5 rear. They are a perfect fit as to offset- no rubbing and they look great. They are only a couple of pounds each heavier that the stock alloys and tires they replaced and there is a lot more grip. With these tires and stock suspension the car understeers more than it should at full throttle. There is no anti-sway bar on the back and I'm hoping to balance the handling when I install new front and rear bars. After 2002 the factory stock set up was 185/55R15 front tires, 215/45R16 rear tires, alloy wheels. I think a 2cm difference between the front and rear tires is plenty (if not too much) to match the difference in the the static weight load. I would warn against tire/wheel combinations that add a lot of unsprung weight to the suspension. The original tire size was 185/60/14 front and back on 5.5" alloy wheels (I think SC's got 6" wheels). Tire Rack suggests plus sizes of 195/50/15 or 195/45/16 or 205/40/17 for a similar rolling diameter. Anything wider than that is going to raise the center of gravity. Just for reference the standard tires for a Lotus Exige S are:195/50/16 front and 225/45/17 rear. This is the same as the Sport option for the Lotus Elise and are mounted on 16x6.5 and 17x7.5 wheels. I mention this only because the Lotus is a lightweight, rear engine high performance sports car. The Lotus wheels have the same bolt pattern as our MR2's but the center bore is slightly larger. Last edited by 87mk1gold; 01-04-2008 at 01:47 AM.

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01-03-2008, 12:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
RePete Midship Specialty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vantastic, BC Posts: 957 Thanks: 0 Thanked 58 Times in 57 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Car came stock with non-staggered wheels and tires, no need to stagger. You can if you want to but I wouldn't go extreme like you can on an MKII. I mounted 205/215 and 215/225 on my SC using staggered and non-staggered wheels, worked very well in the handling dept. in both setups.

01-03-2008, 02:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Russell the Love Muscle Local Douche Bag Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 580 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	I got a set of wheels that sound like would be right up you alley FS: Turbo, IC, Wheels, Oil Cooler

01-03-2008, 08:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
PearlJammzz Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,140 Thanks: 9 Thanked 70 Times in 66 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	I would try for a 1'' stagger. Maybe a 205-215 in front and a 225-235 in back. I also wouldn't go anything higher than a 16'' wheel on a MKI.

01-03-2008, 02:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
RePete Midship Specialty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vantastic, BC Posts: 957 Thanks: 0 Thanked 58 Times in 57 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I don't think there is a decent selection of 235s in 15 or 16 w/o the sidewall being too tall. One of the best handling (and best looking) setups I threw on the SC was 16x7.5 +40 front (215/40) and 16x8 +35 rear (225/40). Great performance, comfy, still lightweight & nimble and that fitment really filled the wheel well too. I only had them mounted for a couple of months so no pics.

01-03-2008, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
E T Haggis I Like Rusty Spoons Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Deland Posts: 585 Thanks: 61 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	what about 17's

01-03-2008, 10:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
RePete Midship Specialty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vantastic, BC Posts: 957 Thanks: 0 Thanked 58 Times in 57 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Lots of options for 17s but the OP wants 15s. Since there's not a whole lot in 15s I'd go 205/50-15 and 225/50-15 rear, that would work well with 6.5" front and 7" rear. It would look great and handle nice, very quiet setup on pothole filled streets & on the highway too.

01-08-2008, 07:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
curvesrgood three mk1's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NC Posts: 345 Thanks: 7 Thanked 26 Times in 21 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I'm running 16x7's and 205/40's up front and 16x8's and 225/40's in the back on my S/C and I'm non-staggered on the N/A. I just put on the staggered set and am very impressed. Car rides much smoother/better than with the stock wheels and junk passenger car tires.

01-13-2008, 06:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
feral4mr2 ghetto modder Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Western Australia Posts: 128 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	i know you dont want 17's, just stating the fact that i have 205/40/17 on the front and 235/45/17 on the rear of the lil feral. need to replace the rears with 40 profile like the front, but i got 2 very cheap and unfortunatly they were 45 profile. car handles well. 205 is the widest i'ld put on the front on any of my aw11's, but i like wider on the rear and it doesnt seem to upset the handling of the car.