Uhm, auto-x cars have been running these set-ups for a while.

Vbspec who runs a CRX uses a reverse stagger I think 15x7.5 front and 15x7 rear. Not sure of the tire sizes.

Alot of roadracers and Honda Challenge cars use set-ups similiar, so I'm sure it works, just a little more $$$ for tires and wheels.

 

I know autocrossing Neon's have been running larger tires on the front for a while, but I've never heard of the using a larger wheel with the same size tire.

 

i know that the jtc dudes run a wider wheel/tire up front in a f/r car to stop the push.
is that what your geting at?

 

It's a band-aid for not having the flexibility to adjust the suspension geometry the right way. The real way to do this is to get the correct size (wider) tire for the wider front wheels. Anyway, I think it's dumb because if you're going through the effort of getting more front grip, why not match it with more grip on the back? And I dare anyone to say "friction!".. Save it, this isn't a drag setup.

I can see taking away some grip in the back of an already understeering car, but unless there are class restrictions on the type of suspension-adjustment parts you can have, this is pointless. I think this may explain the autocross connection?
Keep the wheel widths the same all the way around and change more important things like castor, toe, sway bars, weight distribution, etc. Until I see the FWD BTCC cars running a setup like this, I really doubt it's merits.

 

SAME SIZE TIRE FRONT AND BACK

WIDER WHEEL UP FRONT

 

oh, ok, thats dumb.

 

The arguement about a stiffer sidewall is stupid. If that was the case, wouldn't performance cars come with stretched tired? Performance tires have incredibly stiff sidewalls as it is. There's no need to stretch them. Try learning the basics of suspension geometry first, then fix your understeer problem the right way. If you're looking for a way to oversteer because it looks cool, buy a RWD car.

 

True, but that doesnt change the fact that FWD is gay. And besides, you can not sacrifice grip and get the rear end to come out with a proper sway bar/spring rate combination instead of "band-aid"ing the thing with a shitty tire size.