Staggered or square setup?

sojirovskensi · 07-08-2011, 10:38 AM

I know some members go to track often. I am about to buy a new set of rims, and just wondering how many of people prefer staggered over square setup.

TypeOne · 07-08-2011, 12:38 PM

I would like to run a square setup as I do on all of my other cars, but the sizes just aren't flattering in the front or the rear on the Z. At least, in my opinion.

I run staggered, mainly because wheels fit the car much better this way.

I know Mike and a few other guys run the square setups though, so maybe they would share some insight.

Econ · 07-08-2011, 12:39 PM

i like staggered for the simple fact that it looks much more aggressive.

m4a1mustang · 07-08-2011, 12:45 PM

I prefer a square setup for handling, although some cars benefit from a staggered setup (think Porsche 911s which need stagger to help control oversteer).

I feel like the Z has a lot of factory understeer, so I'd definitely avoid increasing the stagger if you choose to stay with a staggered setup.

ChrisSlicks · 07-08-2011, 12:48 PM

He's talking about track wheels here, looks are secondary.

Square has the advantage that it is easier to rotate the car and easy to rotate the tires for equalizing wear. You are giving up a small amount of grip potential to make this compromise but your tires will last a heck of a lot longer. I would probably go with a +30 offset 10" or 10.5" rim.

I have a 30mm stagger on both my track wheels and the street wheels and I have no issue rotating the car the way it is setup currently even with slicks. Some of this is driving style and some of it is suspension setup.

djpathfinder · 07-08-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I prefer a square setup for handling, although some cars benefit from a staggered setup (think Porsche 911s which need stagger to help control oversteer).

I feel like the Z has a lot of factory understeer, so I'd definitely avoid increasing the stagger if you choose to stay with a staggered setup.

Increase negative camber in the front to -1.6 to -2.5. That will eliminate understeer with our staggered setup. That of course means you need to get a SPC front camber kit to be able to make those adjustments.

m4a1mustang · 07-08-2011, 12:56 PM

Yeah, there are a lot of ways to do it. I felt like it's more a combination of the stagger and soft bars, though.

ChrisSlicks · 07-08-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

Increase negative camber in the front to -1.6 to -2.5. That will eliminate understeer with our staggered setup. That of course means you need to get a SPC front camber kit to be able to make those adjustments.

Yep, this is a must. I run about -3.5 in the front, -2.0 rear. I would actually like -1.8 in the rear but I'm maxed out with the current adjusters.

m4a1mustang · 07-08-2011, 12:58 PM

You don't DD your car, do you Chris?

ChrisSlicks · 07-08-2011, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

You don't DD your car, do you Chris?

Not really. My commute is 3 miles at 35 mph, and half the time I take the truck

Yes, all that front camber would kill tires if you do a lot of DD miles, but toe is the real killer. I run zero front toe.

m4a1mustang · 07-08-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Not really. My commute is 3 miles at 35 mph, and half the time I take the truck

Yes, all that front camber would kill tires if you do a lot of DD miles, but toe is the real killer. I run zero front toe.

Gotcha. I'm not a big fan of lots of camber on a street setup, and definitely zero toe.

Red__Zed · 07-08-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Not really. My commute is 3 miles at 35 mph, and half the time I take the truck

Yes, all that front camber would kill tires if you do a lot of DD miles, but toe is the real killer. I run zero front toe.

How is zero toe gonna kill your tires?

m4a1mustang · 07-08-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

How is zero toe gonna kill your tires?

He didn't say it would. He said the -3.5* of camber would wear the inside of the tires out quickly, but added that toe is the real tire killer. Because of this he does not run any toe.

ChrisSlicks · 07-08-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

How is zero toe gonna kill your tires?

No zero toe saves your tires. Too much toe was what I was talking about, some people (especially auto-x folk) run aggressive toe to improve steering response and initial turn-in. Even with zero toe my car turns in like a beast, I've let quite a few people drive it and they all make the same comment. Even with all the camber I still tend to kill the outside edge of the tire long before the rest is worn out.

ChrisSlicks · 07-08-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

He didn't say it would. He said the -3.5* of camber would wear the inside of the tires out quickly, but added that toe is the real tire killer. Because of this he does not run any toe.

07-08-2011, 10:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
sojirovskensi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 287 Drives: 10 Nissan 370z Wh M6 Rep Power: 15	Staggered or square setup? I know some members go to track often. I am about to buy a new set of rims, and just wondering how many of people prefer staggered over square setup.

07-08-2011, 12:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Econ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 2,546 Drives: Fiat? Rep Power: 19	i like staggered for the simple fact that it looks much more aggressive. __________________ 2014 Triumph Thruxton 900 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth 2009 Nissan 370z

07-08-2011, 12:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	I prefer a square setup for handling, although some cars benefit from a staggered setup (think Porsche 911s which need stagger to help control oversteer). I feel like the Z has a lot of factory understeer, so I'd definitely avoid increasing the stagger if you choose to stay with a staggered setup. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-08-2011, 12:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	He's talking about track wheels here, looks are secondary. Square has the advantage that it is easier to rotate the car and easy to rotate the tires for equalizing wear. You are giving up a small amount of grip potential to make this compromise but your tires will last a heck of a lot longer. I would probably go with a +30 offset 10" or 10.5" rim. I have a 30mm stagger on both my track wheels and the street wheels and I have no issue rotating the car the way it is setup currently even with slicks. Some of this is driving style and some of it is suspension setup. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

07-08-2011, 12:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Yeah, there are a lot of ways to do it. I felt like it's more a combination of the stagger and soft bars, though. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-08-2011, 12:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
TypeOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,682 Drives: BSM 370 Rep Power: 1851	I would like to run a square setup as I do on all of my other cars, but the sizes just aren't flattering in the front or the rear on the Z. At least, in my opinion. I run staggered, mainly because wheels fit the car much better this way. I know Mike and a few other guys run the square setups though, so maybe they would share some insight.

07-08-2011, 12:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	You don't DD your car, do you Chris? __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

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