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Coilover spring rates for wider wheels

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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 02:45 PM
  #1  
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Coilover spring rates for wider wheels

I'm ordering coilovers in the next few days and to get it right, I need to know what king of spring rates I should inquire about for running wider wheels.

Going to be ordering Stance coilovers and running them with 245 on 10.5 +15 and 225 on 9.5 +15.

I've never bought coilovers before and after being convinced yesterday not to buy shocks, that's the way I'm going.

Obviously I don't want to waste $1400 lol

Thanks in advance!
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 10:49 PM
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I agree with you. I have also been told to get the coilovers before the wheels and tires. Wish i could give you some information. Have you seen tiltmode43 posting for the group buy for powertrix coilovers? So far they have been amazing coils for both 300z and 240 alike. He will have the specs on them in the next couple weeks or so. You may want to wait and see what the results will be before buying the stance coils. If the powertrix coils turn out not to be goodthen the stance is what i am looking at getting as well
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 01:02 PM
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Haha yep I'm in the same boat was looking to get Stance then saw the group buy for the powertrix so now I'm just waiting on the info
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 01:05 PM
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From: Between Cones
Anything more than 10K front 7K rear will be way too harsh for daily driving

If you go stance, make sure they send you 200mm rears as some kits may ship out with the shorter 175mm springs
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 01:27 PM
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From: Caput Mundi
Since you're going for the ugly stretched look get the SOFTEST rates available. You're going to have no sidewall nor sidewall flex so the coilover will have to do all the work.
Also make sure that the coilovers are valved to accomodate for the spring rates you're getting.

I'd say 8k front and 6k rear tops
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 01:57 PM
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You shouldn't have to decide coilover rates based on your wheel setup. When it comes down to it, if you're going to run aggressive fitment, make proper clearance for compression - don't bandaid potential rub with spring rates.

On a similar note, I wouldn't recommend the softest rates either. No real reason to go excessively in one direction than the other.

Effectively, your wheel setup won't really matter so much in choosing rates. Do some searching on what others have gone with, and have been happy with, and decide accordingly. Good luck!
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 02:41 PM
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From: Caput Mundi
Originally Posted by tiltmode43
Effectively, your wheel setup won't really matter so much in choosing rates. Do some searching on what others have gone with, and have been happy with, and decide accordingly. Good luck!
You may want to specify "for a show car" here. Wheel setup (amount of grip, width, rolling diameter) are all variables that must be considered when chosing spring rates and valving.
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 02:43 PM
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From: Between Cones
Originally Posted by bse50
Since you're going for the ugly stretched look get the SOFTEST rates available. You're going to have no sidewall nor sidewall flex so the coilover will have to do all the work.
+1 on this. Totally missed the sizes in the OP. Too hard of a rate and you can kiss those tires goodbye real soon
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 02:47 PM
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225's on a 9.5" wheel is what all the cool kids do I guess...
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by TopGear8
225's on a 9.5" wheel is what all the cool kids do I guess...
aww. i guess i'm not cool.
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 03:26 PM
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Yeah I put a 295 on my 9.5" wheel what was I thinking...
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 03:28 PM
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From: Between Cones
Originally Posted by TopGear8
225's on a 9.5" wheel is what all the cool kids do I guess...
Haha, but I'm sure you are well educated in your car enough to know not to bang a 90 for kicks on those
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by bse50
You may want to specify "for a show car" here. Wheel setup (amount of grip, width, rolling diameter) are all variables that must be considered when chosing spring rates and valving.
Given the tire sizes, I think it's pretty clear this is more of an aesthetics thing, rather than having any sort of performance goals, thus all variables need not be considered. I'd venture to say that for the average weekend warrior there are more important things to focus on than "amount of grip, width, rolling diameter" - picking an all around reputable coilover setup with factory specs and focusing on other driving aspects would net greater results. For more serious applications, I'd agree that you are right though




Why are many saying softer rates will *save* the tires? Softer rates will have a negligible, if not no, effect on the tire life. The more important, and more likely thing to happen here, would be wheel damage rather than tire damage. The spring rates will not have any noticeable effect on the tire life, and I highly doubt any difference on wheel damage as well.

No need to get into the stretched tire debate - yes it's silly, yes it's stupid, yes the world may implode from running tire sizes outside the manufacturer's recommended specs. Those who go this route hopefully know what they are in for though.

Last edited by tiltmode43; Apr 12, 2011 at 06:10 PM.
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 06:18 PM
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From: Between Cones
Originally Posted by tiltmode43
Given the tire sizes, I think it's pretty clear this is more of an aesthetics thing, rather than having any sort of performance goals, thus all variables need not be considered. I'd venture to say that for the average weekend warrior there are more important things to focus on than "amount of grip, width, rolling diameter" - picking an all around reputable coilover setup with factory specs and focusing on other driving aspects would net greater results. For more serious applications, I'd agree that you are right though




Why are many saying softer rates will *save* the tires? Softer rates will have a negligible, if not no, effect on the tire life. The more important, and more likely thing to happen here, would be wheel damage rather than tire damage. The spring rates will not have any noticeable effect on the tire life, and I highly doubt any difference on wheel damage as well.

No need to get into the stretched tire debate - yes it's silly, yes it's stupid, yes the world may implode from running tire sizes outside the manufacturer's recommended specs. Those who go this route hopefully know what they are in for though.
all i meant with my tire comment was that if you decide to whip autocross twisties in your back yard you may roll on the stretched side wall lol
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 06:52 PM
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I'd like to be a fly on the wall and watch some poor smuck try and mount those 245 on 10.5" wheels and the 225s on 9.5" wheels. That ought to be fun and when he's done it'll ride like a truck ... no make that a tractor ... with those coilovers and the 50 psi needed to get the tread flat on the gound!
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by TopGear8
Yeah I put a 295 on my 9.5" wheel what was I thinking...
What offset are you running? I'm currently running a 275 on my 9.5 and a 255 on the 8.5. Sound like I could go to 275 on the front and 295 on the rear.

Sorry for the thread jack
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by paimon.soror
all i meant with my tire comment was that if you decide to whip autocross twisties in your back yard you may roll on the stretched side wall lol
Hehe, wasn't directed at you, just a little general preemptive posting to prevent this thread from going down the drain. Alas, I seem to be further derailing it with this post but meh, what else are forums good for?




Spin9k - Depending on the tire brand and how warm of a day it is (lol), you'd be surprised what can be mounted without requiring any additional tools/work
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 08:33 PM
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a little to late for the info, but thanks anyways.

ordered a set of stance last week, stuck with the standard 9k/6k setup.

and yes, i dont track the car at all, and if i ever wanted to, ill put the stock wheels back on.
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Spin9k
I'd like to be a fly on the wall and watch some poor smuck try and mount those 245 on 10.5" wheels and the 225s on 9.5" wheels. That ought to be fun and when he's done it'll ride like a truck ... no make that a tractor ... with those coilovers and the 50 psi needed to get the tread flat on the gound!
the tires are already on the wheels. (thanks to Top Speed Chicago for that)

p.s. they're mounted on RPF1's... TAKE THAT PURISTS (pics in aggressive fitment thread)

Last edited by Munchy; Apr 12, 2011 at 08:37 PM.
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 09:19 PM
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The stance will suit you well for your needs, good choice
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Spin9k
I'd like to be a fly on the wall and watch some poor smuck try and mount those 245 on 10.5" wheels and the 225s on 9.5" wheels. That ought to be fun and when he's done it'll ride like a truck ... no make that a tractor ... with those coilovers and the 50 psi needed to get the tread flat on the gound!
Lot of factors to it, but 225 on a 9" wheel isn't really that bad of a stretch, Emilio (949 racing) has one of the fastest track miatas in the country, they run 225 NTO1's on a 9" wheel.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9kK9N0Cc68&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 11:09 PM
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Originally Posted by renesisjim
What offset are you running? I'm currently running a 275 on my 9.5 and a 255 on the 8.5. Sound like I could go to 275 on the front and 295 on the rear.

Sorry for the thread jack
It's +45 and it's a Hoosier A6 slick. Not a street tire, I would not go above 275 in a street tire on a 9.5" wheel, and would not go above a 255 for a 8.5 in wheel...
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Old Apr 13, 2011 | 02:10 AM
  #23  
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From: Caput Mundi
Originally Posted by tiltmode43
Given the tire sizes, I think it's pretty clear this is more of an aesthetics thing, rather than having any sort of performance goals, thus all variables need not be considered. I'd venture to say that for the average weekend warrior there are more important things to focus on than "amount of grip, width, rolling diameter" - picking an all around reputable coilover setup with factory specs and focusing on other driving aspects would net greater results. For more serious applications, I'd agree that you are right though

Why are many saying softer rates will *save* the tires? Softer rates will have a negligible, if not no, effect on the tire life. The more important, and more likely thing to happen here, would be wheel damage rather than tire damage. The spring rates will not have any noticeable effect on the tire life, and I highly doubt any difference on wheel damage as well.
Tilt I agree with you but since anybody can read i thought that it would be better to specify, that's it. Just because information may or may not be relevant to a weekend warrior I think that spending a couple of words on it is better than omitting

I didn't say that softer springs will prolong tire life, i said that since you lose all of the sidewall and tire shape having a setup that's a bit softer may bring back some of the comfort and safety when riding with such a fucked up setup.
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