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[1nityrider]

So I was at a local discount tires checking out some wheel that I like. I told them I liked it staggered 18x8.5 front and 18x9.5 rear and they tried really hard to discourage me that I shouldn't do it. I told them I know BMW have the xi with staggered wheels. They said yes they know but still say it's a bad idea for the tranny and some other stuff and it got me thinking.
So my question is, is it a bad idea or is there some truth to it or those guys at that discount tire just blowing some steam? Anybody running staggered wheels on their xi that can chime in?

[MonacoBlueE90]

Originally Posted by 1nityrider

So I was at a local discount tires checking out some wheel that I like. I told them I liked it staggered 18x8.5 front and 18x9.5 rear and they tried really hard to discourage me that I shouldn't do it. I told them I know BMW have the xi with staggered wheels. They said yes they know but still say it's a bad idea for the tranny and some other stuff and it got me thinking.
So my question is, is it a bad idea or is there some truth to it or those guys at that discount tire just blowing some steam? Anybody running staggered wheels on their xi that can chime in?

I don't have Xi, but wheel width or specs doesn't matter. You can do 8.5 9.5 etc. Only thing is, that front and rear tyre diameter should be very close to each other.Difference shouldn't be any more than 1%.

Example
225/40/18 front 255/35/18 rear difference is 0.2%
235/35/19 front 265/30/19 rear difference is 0.85%

[shadow191]

If you size the tired properly and keep the rolling diameter difference below a certain range (not sure what it is on BMW, but on my Infiniti it's 2%), you're fine. My E92 is RWD, but my Infinit FX is AWD and I'm running 22x9 and 22x10.5's on it for years now. Not a single issue, no transmission/differential issues, the slip light has never even come on. The car can't tell how wide your wheels are, they just all have to turn at almost the same rate.

[1nityrider]

Thanks, I thought so. I am going for my staggered rims. Can't wait to put them on

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by MonacoBlueE90

I don't have Xi, but wheel width or specs doesn't matter. You can do 8.5 9.5 etc. Only thing is, that front and rear tyre diameter should be very close to each other.Difference shouldn't be any more than 1%.

Example
225/40/18 front 255/35/18 rear difference is 0.2%
235/35/19 front 265/30/19 rear difference is 0.85%

+1

As long as you get the right tire specs, you won't have an issue.