sn95 LeMons - Staggered Tires or Not?

[fhlh]

Coming to the experts on Mustang Chassis... yes, I know it's not an s197, but I'm pretty positive some of you in here have road raced the older chassis...

So we have this 1994 sn95 GT, 5.0, 5 speed. My partner and I are in a pissing match over running a staggeered set of tires or the same size all around (I'm voting for a 275/40/17).. I say we should run the same for a more neutral car, he claims we should run skinnier up front for better turn it... and I quote "is there a smaller size for the front we can run? will help the car turn some."

I asked him how he figured this would help the car turn... he besically asks me how much road racing i've done (only Lemons) and tells me he's right, I'm wrong.... that said I'm of the opinion the car will push, especially coming out of the corners on throttle...

He then he points me to this shit ass wiki and claims it's about unsprung weight?? WTF? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_handling#Tires_and_wheels


Now.. I don't think he is correct about any of this when it comes to the sn97 (or any low powered front engined, rear drive car). To his defense, he is a 911 driver (I high powered, low weight racer. GT2 class I believe) . Completely different car altogether i.e. we all know why they need fat tires out back.

Thoughts?

 

[killr3v]

I believe you are in the right. Same size tires all around is best.

 

[Sam Strano]

I'd run the same, not staggered. Why would you want to put smaller tires on the heavier/harder working end of the car?

 

[Sleeper_08]

Listen to Sam.

Look at what they run on the real Mustang race cars.

It also allows for tire rotation when you chew up the fronts

 

[Random Asshole]

I would always run same size tires all around.

But as far as the "Real race cars argument", there are plenty running staggered out there and they have their reasons.

 

[ArizonaGT]

larger rear tires = understeer

 

[Germeezy3]

Porsche's are always staggered which is why he is thinking that way, the Mustang has a front weight bias....it needs as much tire as you can get on the front!

 

[kahmann]

What's the widest tires you guys have crammed up front with stock struts?

 

[Chris B.]

Same size all around.

 

[Liftedbronco]

again, same size.
and i have a porsche with a stagger too. and you know what? its all preference, because you just cure the understeer with suspension setups. but the fact is, at the end of the day, the more rubber you have on the road, the more ultimate grip you have to work with.

HOWEVER...yes, narrower front tires will feel better because theyre lighter and have less tendency to wander on uneven pavement. so at the end of the day, ESPECIALLY on the street, its not like one is bad and one is good. chances are unless you are really into this stuff, youd never even feel the difference.

But now that ive doubled back and made it confusing...im wiht everyone else on the fact that the mustang is very heavy...and front heavy too. so you would need more tire up front than say my 944. Again, there are different ways to skin a cat but id look to griggs. Since im sure theyre played out all the scenarios. Are they running a stagger? no. 275's all around. or larger if you can do it.

 

[Vapour Trails]

Cars that come with staggered tires have their suspension tuning performed with the stagger in mind. I would venture a guess if you reduced the rear tire of a porsche 911 to the size of the front tire, the car would start oversteering. The fat rear tires balance the car out and that is the intention.

Really, your friend doesn't know what he's talking about.

What's the widest tires you guys have crammed up front with stock struts?

Not exactly sure, but I have successfully run 285s in front. I daily drive with 275s all around.

 

[ArizonaGT]

Porsche's are always staggered which is why he is thinking that way, the Mustang has a front weight bias....it needs as much tire as you can get on the front!

Porsches are staggered because they are rear-engined.

 

[Kaldar142]

^ Then why are corvettes staggered if they are front engine? (well "technically" mid engine)

My vette is 285 / 335

 

[Kaldar142]

What's the widest tires you guys have crammed up front with stock struts?

I'm running a 285 and i think i can fit a 295 with the same setup, maybe a 5mm spacer.

Next set of wheels is going to be epic. Minimum of 305 front

 

[fhlh]

^ Then why are corvettes staggered if they are front engine? (well "technically" mid engine)

My vette is 285 / 335

much higher Rear@wheel power and better weight distro than a Mustang?

 

[Sleeper_08]

You might want to look at some of this readng material

http://mustangforums.com/forum/s197-handling-section/400123-reading-list.html

 

[ArizonaGT]

^ Then why are corvettes staggered if they are front engine? (well "technically" mid engine)

My vette is 285 / 335

Factory "understeer" is safer than oversteer.
That car can probably light the rear tires without even trying.
Your rear-mounted trans helps relieve some of the weight burden off the front end.

 

[ArizonaGT]

Everyone's solution to handling on this site is "just add more tire"

Save for maybe SoundGuyDave and Random Asshole

 

[pieperz06]

Coming to the experts on Mustang Chassis... yes, I know it's not an s197, but I'm pretty positive some of you in here have road raced the older chassis...

So we have this 1994 sn95 GT, 5.0, 5 speed. My partner and I are in a pissing match over running a staggeered set of tires or the same size all around (I'm voting for a 275/40/17).. I say we should run the same for a more neutral car, he claims we should run skinnier up front for better turn it... and I quote "is there a smaller size for the front we can run? will help the car turn some."

I asked him how he figured this would help the car turn... he besically asks me how much road racing i've done (only Lemons) and tells me he's right, I'm wrong.... that said I'm of the opinion the car will push, especially coming out of the corners on throttle...

He then he points me to this shit ass wiki and claims it's about unsprung weight?? WTF? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_handling#Tires_and_wheels


Now.. I don't think he is correct about any of this when it comes to the sn97 (or any low powered front engined, rear drive car). To his defense, he is a 911 driver (I high powered, low weight racer. GT2 class I believe) . Completely different car altogether i.e. we all know why they need fat tires out back.

Thoughts?

i think that if you need another driver you should give me a PM i been wanting to build a lemons car for a long time and im in Houston all the time.

 

[danbev07]

anybody notice the new Boss 302 is running staggered rims + tires?