Hi guys,

It's time to change my rims as my stock tyres are wearing out.

I'm thinking of getting Enkei GTC 19".
Front: 42offset 235tyres
Rear: 42offset 265 tyres (theres also a 22offset as well, will that be better)
Tyres that has been recommended to me are Kumho, my friend who owns the tyre workshop said it's good enough for me (I don't track, but I like to drive fast)

Will this be a good setup?

here are the reasons why i am considering staggered setup
1) I'm thinking of supercharging the car in about 6months time. From what I've read on the forum, staggering will help to keep the added torque down.

2) It is only a couple of hundred dollars more expensive to go staggered

3) I've liked the staggered setup for a really long time (though I haven't seen one on an rx8 where i live. Although most in my city are stockies)

4) I find the car understeers a bit too much for my liking
(PS: I like to drive fast, and I LOVE cornering)

AND HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY I DOUBT THE POSITIVES OF GOING STAGGERED

1) I don't want to upset the near perfect 50/50 balance on the car.

2) I've read on the forum that I will actually make the understeering worse (so which one is it exactly? More grip to increase understeer on decrease understeer)

3) i don't yet fully understand how putting a rear sway bar/stabilizer will help to decrease the increased understeer that I will get.

Please help me out, and please bare in mind that I'm quite new to modifying a car and what ever i've written down about my feelings about going staggered are from my research on the forum.

I know i might potentially be starting a new war on staggered VS unstaggered. But i really need some more info to help me fully understand the pros and cons and how to tackle them in order to make a decision.

Thanks alot guys

 

what are the widths of the rims?

Kumho is a brand, not a tire

stagger setup increases understeer, which is why if you want to track or corner fast you stay equal width

welcome to the club

 

I know kumho is a brand... Now that you've mentioned it... I'm not too sure which model within the kumho range the tyres will be though...

That just confirms my initial fear of going staggered... More understeer... Is there a way I can counter this... A rear sway bar perhaps?

Thanks for the warm welcome

 

I reccomend Kumho XS and a Progress Tech front sway bar to decrease understeer

 

Also just remember that tires for 19" will be slim and prices will be VERY high

 

first off: you balance the car with the throttle. you cant just throw it into a corner like an evo and expect it to just take the corner. try putting on more or less throttle and you will feel the car under/oversteer

side note...before you go changing your initial setup get to know your car. take it to an autox event. learn how to drive it. even take a driving school

widest possible on all four is your best bet for superb handling

im running kumhos...great tire for the money, not the best but if you are on a budget its a good tire. i have the ecsta spt

 

there's a reason this thread is sticky
---> https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/so-you-think-staggered-tires-wheels-great-idea-50607/

 

Good point. The best thing to do is go to an autox or two stock. Next step is to get some grippier tires. Then fine tune with suspension add-ons.

 

Go with 19 x 9.5 with a +42mm offset all the way around. It will maintain the balance of the car and it will look good. You would also be able to rotate tires which is a plus. Even if you get a supercharger or turbo the rear tires will still be the same as the ones in your staggered setup so what would be the point. If you add the same size as you want in the rear to the front you will also have better handling and will more than likely be able to stop better with more rubber on the road.

If you still find it understeers more than you like it then you can add a stiffer rear sway bar or go to a smaller front sway bar. There is alot more you can do, but those would probably be the cheapest and what I would start with.

 

A stiffer front bar will increase understeer

 

Oh... And the width of the rims are 8.5" fornt and 9.5" rear

 

aw shiet did I get 'em mixed up? My bad

 

I've read that thread..: but I still wanted a clear answer

 

so how would I go about decreasing the understeer if I choose to go 9.5" all around.... if the car still understeers with the wider tyres that comes with the wider rims....

I know this might sound lame.... but what is offsets and what pros and cons does it bring???

I roughly know it.. but don't fully understand it just yet....

Thanks

 

oh... sorry... i found the answer to my previous question now... (decresing understeer)

I would probably go with 9.5" all round.... but I'm still not sure how to determine the offset.... and the pros and cons it brings....

 

offset is how far the wheel sticks out from the fender. The lower number, the farther it sticks out. This is directly related to what width tire you can run without significant rubbing issues. With a +42 you can run 275's no problem

 

^Offset is how far the back of the Hub is from the Centerline of the wheel. If it is a +50 offset, the back of the Hub is 50mm out from the center of the wheel. If it is a +35mm offset, the back of the Hub is 35mm from the center of the wheel, therefore, pushing the wheel out.

 

Thanks, just didnt know how to properly say it lol

 

The only thing I don't like about the GTC-01 is the available widths and offsets. I am anxious to see how it would look on a RX-8 though. I always see that Tire Rack ad at the top with the VR RX-8 with GTC-01's. Looks pretty good but I doubt that's how it really looks.

 

Why do you want to stagger 235/265, why not 265/275, or 275,285

 

I'm actually doing 245 and 265 right now and I think it would be MUCH better at 255 265.

It's not bad at all but it could be better.