Good question... I'm running the same wheel/tire combo as you and I have replaced the sways and have no understeer problem. Not sure if that's the reason.
I appreciate the feedback. I have a silly followup question. Are you guys pushing the car to limits on a track where the understeer might be evident or just daily driving? Silly I know, but curious none the less. Also, I'm not trying to be a pain by asking. I'm on the learning curve..... :-)
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Black 2006 GT (Auto)
JLT 2 / Brenspeed 93 Octane Tune
FRPP M-5230-GTA Axlebacks
Black Bullitt DD (18x9's - 255/45)
Mobil 1 5W-20 Oil / Mobil 1 Filter
*********************************
Red 1966 Mustang GT - Manual (Sold)
Black 2003 Mach1 - Manual (Sold)
I appreciate the feedback. I have a silly followup question. Are you guys pushing the car to limits on a track where the understeer might be evident or just daily driving? Silly I know, but curious none the less. Also, I'm not trying to be a pain by asking. I'm on the learning curve..... :-)
All my track driving is in a straight line a quarter mile at a time so I wouldn't notice it there.
Can understeer induced by staggered wheels be corrected by installing new front and rear sway bars?
Hi KV,
Absolutely! Understeer is the main result of running a staggered tire setup. If you are into achiving a neutral handling balance avoid this at any cost possible unless you have a high horsepower car 400-450BHP where the additional rear grip can overcome the performance losses from understeer by allowing you to get on the throttle sooner out of a corner. There ae not many drivers really good enough to consistently take advantage of this feature though and for most people the car is just an understeering pig at the limit. Stick with equal tires all around if handling is your thing.
Cheers!
__________________
'05 Ford S197 Mineral Gray Mustang GT Too many mods to list, check my profile if interested
'95 BMW E36 Cosmos Schwartz M3 Mild restomod project with my teen-age sons
Absolutely! Understeer is the main result of running a staggered tire setup. If you are into achiving a neutral handling balance avoid this at any cost possible unless you have a high horsepower car 400-450BHP where the additional rear grip can overcome the performance losses from understeer by allowing you to get on the throttle sooner out of a corner. There ae not many drivers really good enough to consistently take advantage of this feature though and for most people the car is just an understeering pig at the limit. Stick with equal tires all around if handling is your thing.
Cheers!
Maybe I'm not noticing it now since I'm pushing the 400 rwhp threshold??
From what I'm learning, you are not experiencing it because you are racing 1/4 mile (straight line performance). He's saying you'd notice it, if you were road course racing. IMHO.
__________________
Black 2006 GT (Auto)
JLT 2 / Brenspeed 93 Octane Tune
FRPP M-5230-GTA Axlebacks
Black Bullitt DD (18x9's - 255/45)
Mobil 1 5W-20 Oil / Mobil 1 Filter
*********************************
Red 1966 Mustang GT - Manual (Sold)
Black 2003 Mach1 - Manual (Sold)
From what I'm learning, you are not experiencing it because you are racing 1/4 mile (straight line performance). He's saying you'd notice it, if you were road course racing. IMHO.
True... But I don't even notice it on higher G turns on the street. Or... maybe I'm just used to it?
Can understeer induced by staggered wheels be corrected by installing new front and rear sway bars?
Yes. As you increase rear roll stiffness relative to the front, you reduce understeer. This is best accomplished with adjustable swaybars, such as those from Hellwig, so that you can arrive at exactly the balance you want for your specific situation. A staggered wheel/tire combination is strictly cosmetic. All Mustangs are nose heavy so, from a cornering standpoint you would want, if anything, larger front tires than rear, but that would look weird so nobody does it. Therefore you compensate by shifting roll stiffness to the rear via a combination of spring rate and swaybar rate.
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2009 GT500, Vista blue w/ white stripes, C&L intake,VMP tune, Corsa exhaust, Griggs Racing ST suspension, Saleen Heritage wheels
True... But I don't even notice it on higher G turns on the street. Or... maybe I'm just used to it?
Hi sltwagon,
More than likely you are just not pushing the car hard enough in the turns to reach the point where the front tire slip angle start to be felt. this can be higher than most people are comfortable with if you have mounted dry, ultra-high performance tires. You will know it when it happens because you will be going straight when the steering wheel is cranked over more than the car is tuning.
Cheers!
__________________
'05 Ford S197 Mineral Gray Mustang GT Too many mods to list, check my profile if interested
'95 BMW E36 Cosmos Schwartz M3 Mild restomod project with my teen-age sons
From what I'm learning, you are not experiencing it because you are racing 1/4 mile (straight line performance). He's saying you'd notice it, if you were road course racing. IMHO.
Hi KV,
Exactly what I meant!
Cheers!
__________________
'05 Ford S197 Mineral Gray Mustang GT Too many mods to list, check my profile if interested
'95 BMW E36 Cosmos Schwartz M3 Mild restomod project with my teen-age sons
Well it was a tough decision, but based on my particular application which is daily driving with no 1/4 dragging or road racing in my future, I've ordered 18x9 black bullitt DD all the way around with 255/45's. I love the staggered look, but I don't have, and won't ever have, enough power on this car that I'll need to put it to the ground with fatties out back. I actually could have lived with the staggered setup, but to properly do it, I'd need 285/40's on the rear. 275/40's were tempting, but the overall diameter would be (26.66 inches) a half inch shorter than the front 255/45's (27.17 inches), on an already large rear fender gap. 275/40's are definitely a bonus for dragging due to the affect of a shorter gear. I also considered Roush Forged 18x10's, but that's a lot of $$ for a daily driver with no real racing in my future. IMHO.
Thanks for all the input!
__________________
Black 2006 GT (Auto)
JLT 2 / Brenspeed 93 Octane Tune
FRPP M-5230-GTA Axlebacks
Black Bullitt DD (18x9's - 255/45)
Mobil 1 5W-20 Oil / Mobil 1 Filter
*********************************
Red 1966 Mustang GT - Manual (Sold)
Black 2003 Mach1 - Manual (Sold)
Correcting Understeer Induced By Staggered Wheels 
