Hi guys,

I have a 2002 x-type 3.0 AWD, i currently have 18X8 Elbrus wheels with 225/40/18 tires, i got to buy tires pretty soon and a guy from here is selling a staggered set can you guys help me find out if this set will work for my car, will the rear tires fit my rims? THANKS IN ADVANCE

FRONT 225/40/18 (what i have right know)

REAR 255/35/18

OR STAGGERED TIRES IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR OUR CARS?

 

I'm not an expert but I've been driving AWD vehicles for 10 years, If you have different sized tires (some claim even different tread patterened same size) you put extra strain on the transmission and transfer case...the computer calculates wheel travel and sends power as needed if you have different sizes the computer can't adjust

 

A quick check on tirerack.com reveals that they are within 1/10" in overall diameter
Front-25.1"
Rear- 25.0"
in that sense there shouldn't be any cause for concern
Can't speak on the tranny/TC strain, but I feel that it's no different that normal wear, front to rear that someone who doesn't check his tires very often would endure...
HTHs
Gary

 

Zep, as a general rule, you can have some mis-match going on since the tires will turn at different speeds when making a turn. The trick is that you can only have but so much difference between things start to get ugly. This is especially true with your 2002 and the transfer case that it has compared to the later transfer cases without the viscous coupling. The general rule is 2-3% difference in wheel speeds. So, for straight line, having slightly different wheel sizes is not going to matter. The question comes in when you are say making a sharp turn. Is the addition of the tires turning at different speeds due to turning in addition to the wheels turning at different speeds from the different size tires going to be too much. hard to say. Too many variables in there to make a definitive Yes/No answer.

As for fitting the tires on the rims, I think you may find that the 255's will be a little tight for on the 8" wide rims. It will be close. The big thing is due to the limited sidewall you are looking at, you have to make sure that you have the tire matched to the rim.

As for fitting into the wheel well, I think you may have issues. I know my 235's are really close in the front and rear. Adding another 10mm to the front may be just enough to be a problem without other modifications to make it all work. Exexpat would be a good one to explain what would need to be modified to make sure the wheels worked with no rubbing. He has done that work to his car.

 

Do you know your offset?

 

offset: 42mm
according to this tire size comparation:

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
225/40-18 3.5in 12.5in 25.1in 78.8in 804 0.0%
255/35-18 3.5in 12.5in 25.0in 78.6in 806 -0.2%

they should be about the same, but like thermo said i don't know if im goint to get problems with the tranny and tc.

 

I don't think the ET42 is a high enough for a 255. I could see an ET52 working. I have corrected ET46 on 20x9.5 with a 225/30/20 now and just barely avoid rubbing + my sidewalls are stretched at a 45 degree angle, but I am quite a bit lower than even H&R lowering springs.

 

FYI.... I just put on 245/35-19 tires on my car today. On the drive home the sidewalks have shredded a bit of the tire and the lip of the well is sticking out. My previous tire was a difference of merely 10mm (235/35-19). It turns out that really is the largest tire size you can put on this vehicle without any modifications. Now I need to figure out a way to roll the sidewalls or stretch them outward. If anybody has some direct experience with this please help. In my area there at barely any custom wheel shops. I miss Miami, I could do anything there.