mtm87tx

i hope i worded that right? i understand why you want a wider rear wheel than front but can someone explain to me why its a better design to have a smaller wheel in the front? like the stock 17/18 combo?

im buying new wheels and im between 18/19 and 19/19 and i dont know what advantage's there are to have a staggered combo?

thanks!

Bill Dearborn

In the case of the C5/C6 it is about styling.

Bill

mtm87tx

so i will be fine with a 19/19 combo or does it look odd?

chuck1026

That is as debatible as the "BSM vs. no BSM", "Auto vs. 6 speed", etc...

I went with a 18/19 setup with CCW. I personally like the staggered look. To me, the slightly bigger rear rim looks very cool.

There are lots of 19/19 guys on here too, even some 18/18's.

Look at more pix and make a decision. Meanwhile, here are some pix of mine .

KidCid

There is a slight technical reason but it can be compensated for. In order for the Active Handling to work correctly, the rear tires need to be slightly larger than the fronts. You can compensate for this with different profiles if you get the same size tires though. I ended up going wiht the 18/19 combo for that reason and I like the looks better.

Patches

I can think of a few possible reasons for a smaller wheel up front. Less mass makes for quicker turning response, less rolling resistance and better aerodynamics. Smaller wheel and tire are easier to fit within a smaller wheel well for packaging and styling purposes. The smaller combo could have made it easier to attain the difference in tire height needed for the traction control function. And, of course, smaller tire and wheel costs less. Here ais my 19/19 setup.

0EG@EnglandGreen

^ Ed, your car looks great!!!

jbondfl

I don't know of any real good technical reasons of why they went that way but the important thing now is that you keep the TIRE size differential. The wheel size now is more a matter of weight (smaller being lighter). I've seen a lot of photos with 17/18, 18/18, 18/19, 19/19 and usually it is more about the wheel style than the size. The only ones I really dislike (in the photos) are the 20's. Keep your tire diameter correct front and back and you won't have any problems with the TC or the AHS

rws.1

Actually a larger front wheel and smaller rear wheel diameter make technical sense.

Having larger front wheels permits lower aspect ratio front tires, with less sidewall flex, it gives better turn-in

Smaller diameter rear wheels permits higher aspect ratio rear tires, with more sidewall flex, it promotes better hook-up....