A staggered fitment is also referred to as a staggered application. Basically it means that you are running different sized wheels on the back of the Mercedes Benz vehicle than the front. Usually a staggered wheel fitment refers to wider wheels on the rear of the vehicle, for example 17" on the front and 18" on the rear. Running wider Mercedes Benz wheels on the drive wheels means more grip on acceleration and from an aesthetic perspective, it means larger lips.
The offset is the distance from the mounting face of the wheel, where it mounts against the wheel hub, and the center line of the wheel's width. It is a vital technical aspect of your wheel and your car.
Currently the Mandrus Mannheim and Simplex wheel styles in 22X10.5 have the largest lip in the Mandrus range at a staggering 3.5".
With regular care and regular road conditions, Mandrus offers a two-year finish warranty on its wheels with chrome and painted finishes. Mandrus provides a five-year structural warranty for wheels it manufactures that are structurally unsound because of a manufacturing defect caused by Mandrus that makes the wheel unfit for its ordinary purpose. Damage or issues with wheels manufactured by Mandrus that are not caused by, or the result of, a manufacturing defect by Mandrus are not covered under the warranty.
Some Mandrus wheel designs such as the Rivage Alloy Wheels and the Carthage Alloy Wheels have been enhanced utilizing a CNC milling technique. CNC (computer numerical control) milling machines are used to perform complex drilling and contouring operations to enhance the design of these wheels. Take a look at a closeup image of these wheels and notice the milling grooves that flank the spokes and central contours of this wheel, giving it a machined artisanal look.
Many Mandrus wheels for Mercedes Benz including the Arrow wheel and Rotec wheel are manufactured using a highly advanced production technique called Rotary Forging. The rim of the wheels is forged at high pressure while the wheel is spun at high speed. This alters the molecular structure and enhances the strength of the alloy. The benefit is a much lighter weight than a regular cast wheel. Most importantly, the weight saving is in the outer rim of the wheel which dramatically reduces rotational mass and enhances vehicle performance.
Driving is a simple joy, and many expand that passion with the exhilarating thrill of racing. Gone are the days when most racetracks were limited to professionally tuned racing vehicles. With the expansion of car clubs, and driving schools, many drivers are now able to expand their knowledge of high-performance driving with their street cars. Using stock or limited modifications, drivers can now race on tracks driven by many top professionals. While logging laps, it is typical to assume the increased wear on suspension components, brakes, tires etc. Often forgotten are other crucial parts that wear, like the vehicle wheels. Wheels will actually fade over time as well!
The wear on the wheels and the vital importance of them for driver’s safety is often overlooked. Most race teams will scan and inspect their wheels throughout the race weekend. Typically the hours on the track are monitored as well, with periodic stress tests being performed on the wheels. Upon inspection, race teams will determine if the wheel is fatigued, determine if it is past its prime and remove and replace the wheel. The disadvantage for the “weekend racer” driving enthusiast is that these checks and balances are not performed. Because wheels are not thought of as critical components, they can fail over a period of time, mainly because of the higher G-Forces and higher impact on the wheels from the grind on the racetrack.
Understanding the stresses involved on a wheel is vital to grasping the difference between your daily commute, and a hot lap around the track. Daily driving can account for minimal stresses over the rotational cycle of a wheel, while on-track use can increase the level of stress over shorter periods of time. You may ask what this added stress from track driving is.
During normal street driving wheels will flex when going through a corner. Combine that with standard street tires, and the flexing of the wheel can be minimal. Now add DOT approved competition tires, which are virtually similar these days to the racing tires of yester-years. Competition tires now are much stiffer, and provide much more grip, which in turn creates much higher lateral G-forces than regular street use tires. Race tires also transfer more of the stresses and flexing of a turn directly to the wheel. Cutting the apex of a turn on a track compared to a slow roll around a street corner greatly adds to the fatigue of a wheel.
Now also add the limits you push when driving on the track - cutting those corners ever so tight, sometimes pushes you up the edge curbing, or trips on the track rumble strips. Mandrus gets a little loose on the track too, spinning out and maybe experiencing an over-run off the track. Add in the extreme temperature changes from braking, going from S-turns to hairpins, the constant fluctuations from ambient temperatures to the extremes of brake heat. All of these forces from the track greatly increase the rate of wheel fatigue.
One last factor involved in wheel fatigue is the rate at which a wheel and tire combination are mounted and dismounted. Many street tires have a longer life expectancy in comparison to DOT legal competition tires which degrade faster. Depending on the frequency of track days, the replacement rate of the tires can be more frequent.
It is important to understand that track use or engaging in racing will void any warranty on a Mandrus product.
Wheels are an important safety feature of your vehicle and the wheel checks performing pre and post track can greatly reduce the event of wheel failure. Over time if cracks or damage go unchecked, they will create weak spots. These weak spots end up getting exacerbated by more heat and the G- forces of track driving which can lead to complete wheel failure.
Being proactive about inspecting your Mandrus wheels will help prolong their life and keep you shaving seconds on the track.