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My 2003 XK8 has the staggered Apollo factory rims 19"x 9" on the rear and 19 x 8" in the front. Can the front 8" wide wheels be replaced with the same size wheel used on the rear (that are 9" wide)? Would they hit the calipers or anything else? Has anyone done this?
I have dented fronts that need to be replaced and I have never liked the concept of staggered wheel sizes on street cars. If I can use the 9" on the front without them rubbing, damaging any components, or causing drive line issues, I might do that. I love the look of the Apollo wheels but in trying to replace the damaged fronts, I am discovering the 8" ones are much harder to find than the 9".
I do know, that while definitely not recommended, the rear tire size will fit on the front rim, and wont rub or cause issues. This was discovered because my former tire shop missed the fact they were staggered and used the same tire size for the rears all around. I actually drove it that way for a little bit before I noticed the slightly odd look, checked closer and saw what they had done. It didn't seem to cause any handling issues and I now have a pair of very lightly used 19" rears just sitting and waiting on me to wear out the ones currently in use. Or put them up front on a pair of 19" x 9" wheels.
Yeah, should be fine. As Charlie noted, the 20" wheels are 9" wide in the front. I have them on my '97 during the summer. Again, as Charlie noted, I would check the offset, but I do not suspect they are drastically different enough to cause issues.
Post pictures... Now, the question for those of us running brembos is: would the rear Apollos clear the front brembo caliper? That would make upgrading from my Hydras a no brainer.
Post pictures... Now, the question for those of us running brembos is: would the rear Apollos clear the front brembo caliper? That would make upgrading from my Hydras a no brainer.
I have to imagine the inner diameter is no different, right? I would be shocked if this didn't work.
I have to imagine the inner diameter is no different, right? I would be shocked if this didn't work.
I don’t know. What I do know is that for some reason, in staggered configuration, the 19” Apollo’s don’t clear the brembos. I imagine it is due to the offset.
I don’t know. What I do know is that for some reason, in staggered configuration, the 19” Apollo’s don’t clear the brembos. I imagine it is due to the offset.
Come on Man! You have a Jaguar XK8 not a Ford Mustang or Pick-up....Why mess with a good thing????The Wheels are Staggered for Handling porpoises...It's called: (Traction)...Why mess with something good? Most Jaguar owners would love to have "Staggered Wheels"! Let it go!
Come on Man! You have a Jaguar XK8 not a Ford Mustang or Pick-up....Why mess with a good thing????The Wheels are Staggered for Handling porpoises...It's called: (Traction)...Why mess with something good? Most Jaguar owners would love to have "Staggered Wheels"! Let it go!
Billy Clyde @ Cinco Ranch
The difference is about an inch. That's barely staggered and I doubt it makes much of a noticeable difference with traction. However, the staggered wheels do provide just as many cons as pros. For that negligible traction and handling you give up by switching to non-stagerred, you more than make up for it with tire longevity. You cannot rotate the tires on stagerred cars. Also, Billy, XK8Rebel stated that he is having a hard time finding the 8J front wheel, but the 9J rear wheel is readily available.
Last edited by giandanielxk8; Apr 13, 2021 at 10:23 PM.
Puerto Rico, My 1998 XK8 Coupe had 17" or 18" "Revolver" Wheel all around....Not much Traction at all!....My 2000 XKR Coupe had 18" Double Fives.....Not much Traction there either plus they rubbed the Front Fender on a rough road ....Then the 2003 XKR Coupe came with 20" Staggered "Montreal's" and I noticed a bunch of difference,: both In Handling and Traction! Now, I have the same set-up on the 2005 XKR Coupe, with the addition of the "R" Package, which has made driving the Car pure pleasure! Maybe you think the "Staggered" set-up won't help much but I certainly can feel it! Even more with the "R" Package.....I'm sorry that XK8Rebel is having a hard time finding replacement Wheels for his XK8 but there are several Repair Shops here in Houston that could refurbish his Front Wheels' , so I sure the same is true in SC......
Puerto Rico, My 1998 XK8 Coupe had 17" or 18" "Revolver" Wheel all around....Not much Traction at all!....My 2000 XKR Coupe had 18" Double Fives.....Not much Traction there either plus they rubbed the Front Fender on a rough road ....Then the 2003 XKR Coupe came with 20" Staggered "Montreal's" and I noticed a bunch of difference,: both In Handling and Traction! Now, I have the same set-up on the 2005 XKR Coupe, with the addition of the "R" Package, which has made driving the Car pure pleasure! Maybe you think the "Staggered" set-up won't help much but I certainly can feel it! Even more with the "R" Package.....I'm sorry that XK8Rebel is having a hard time finding replacement Wheels for his XK8 but there are several Repair Shops here in Houston that could refurbish his Front Wheels' , so I sure the same is true in SC......
Billy Clyde @ Cinco Ranch
Some how I believe the improvement you feel is actually a combination of better tires and larger diameter rims as well as the handling package.
What tires did you use when you had the Revolvers and the Double Fives vs the Montreals? You are comparing a 17” and a 18” wheel versus a 20” wheel. That lower profile tire will contribute to handling more than an inch in width. The Apollos are 19 inch wheels, fitting the one inch wider wheel up front should not have much of an effect handling and it will probably improve the stance up front. Actually, that would mean that his front wheel would be just as wide as your Montreal fronts. I’m not seeing the problem with fitting the Apollo 19’s 9J front rims unless the offset produces an interference.
XK8Rebel, Could you put one of your rear wheels at the front and take a picture to post it here?
Last edited by giandanielxk8; Apr 13, 2021 at 11:28 PM.
Well looks like I am going to have the fronts rims repaired (hopefully drop them off tomorrow). Went down to the garage today and I was going to pull the rear 9" Apollo rear and swap it to the front to see how it fit and take a pic or two for those who asked. Unfortunately things didn't go as planned. BOTH of my hydraulic trolley jacks wound up leaking! I finally got around the side quick enough to slide in a jack stand before the leak down beat me to it and as I was pulling the front right I noticed the impact had actually scrubbed the existing tire on the 8" rim against the wheel wheel liner! Notice the darker scrub on both sides of the shock!
A check with a wheel fitment site showed that the 9" rear with the +35 offset would add about 10.7 mm to the inside of the rim and 14.7 mm to the outside of it, over the +33 offset of the existing 8" fronts. Since the impact had already scrubbed the liner with the 8" wheel, I didn't feel comfortable putting anything fatter up front. And since I still can't find any 8" fronts anywhere, it looks like a repair is my only option, short of completely replacing the Apollos. I really think the Apollos are the best looking of the factory rims that were put on the XK8. I didn't realize how rare these had apparently become. One national place I called hadn't even had one to refinish in the last 7 months!
And to make matters worse, once I pulled the right front, there was a chunk of sidewall about the size of my thumb that was missing! So looks like a new tire to boot! One heck of a pot hole did that!
Best place to find Apollos "Today" would be a "Wrecking Yard" ...There are several that have XK8's and R's....It's amazing what you can find.....Really surprising....and the cost is very reasonable...I just looked @ nationwidear.com....and they have Jaguar Wheels for $149.00....Do some looking around....You might find something really good!
Rear Wheel Size to Front?
