A wheel and tire configuration using wider rear wheels and tires than the front, common on rear-wheel-drive performance cars to optimize grip balance.
A staggered setup refers to using a different wheel width and tire size on the rear axle versus the front axle, with the rear being wider. The practice is common on performance RWD cars because the rear tires handle both acceleration and a portion of cornering forces while the front tires manage steering and some cornering load. Widening the rear gives more rubber contact patch for acceleration traction and rear-end stability under power.
A typical staggered fitment might be 245/40R18 front and 275/35R18 rear on a sports car. Factory staggered setups are found on Porsche 911 models, BMW M-series, Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and many other performance cars. Manufacturers engineer the suspension geometry around staggered fitment, so the stock car handles exactly as intended.
A practical downside of staggered setups is that tires cannot be rotated front-to-rear, limiting tread life management. The front tires typically wear faster on RWD cars (from steering scrub) while the rear wears faster under power. Some owners run a square setup (same size front and rear) on track days specifically to enable rotation. Directional tires add another layer of complication, as they cannot be swapped side-to-side either.