Smooth Ride With 18"s? Possible?

[Xizor]

Hi all,

I currently have a stock R33 S2. So stock suspension and 16 alloys. I plan to get some 18" with 235/18/40 rubber. Now this will make my car, as is, look quite high and silly, correct?

So i will need to do some adjustments with suspension? What are my options? Now please remember, i am not interested in racing, i doubt i will ever take my car to a track, its an everyday normal car but fun and for my to enjoy. I frequent quite bumpy roads, so i do NOT want my car to be really firm and stiff like alot of people's. I do want decent handling but dont want to feel every bump so my dash rattles and my arse bruises. This is important. I want a relatively smooth ride.

And i dont want to spend alot of money.

One option i am aware of is just getting some Tomei progressive springs ($500 fitted) and dropping the car say an inch or so. But yeah how the car handles bumps is my biggest concern.

What can i do?

Edited June 14, 2006 by Xizor

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

I'm afraid not much, the lower the profile the more of the bumps you can feel, and to makes things more bumpy lowering it on aftermarket springs which are always stiffer than factory.

If your after comfort, stock wheels, stock springs, new shocks are the way to go.

[Xizor]

Cheers mate. Think i'll stick to the 17" idea and just buy something. Can i legally throw the 17's on without modifying suspension or shocks?

[scathing]

Its not impossible, but its going to be very difficult. Which means it will cost a fair amount.

So you're going to have to choose when it comes to the cost / benefit ratio, which side you're going to err on if you can't have them both.

Unfortunately most people will take the supposed handling benefits of ultra-stiff suspension or the look of lowered springs over comfort, so there's very little advice from other owners that have achieved what you're after.

Progressive springs are a good start, but you'll need to find shocks that match. Its not impossible, but since no-one else we know of has done it you'll have to figure it out yourself. Which means trial-and-error with various combos until you find something good. Hence the cost, unless you settle for something that's merely OK.....

If Bilstein or Eibach offer something for the R33 they'd be a good start. The Europeans understand the fact that ultra-stiff suspension does not a good handling road car make.

[Xizor]

Yeah i think i will go for 17"s now and get some blistein shocks not long after. Can i legally put the 17"s on without modding suspenion to compensate?

[Xizor]

Just been out to a few tyre and rim places... there isnt really jack shit in 17's out there. They are all narrow rims except for 2 sets of Lenso's i didnt mind, but that was it. And to be honest i didnt like them THAT much because they were polished metal/silver or something... looked pretty average compared to shadow chrome. Oh well, might have to just get 18's after all!!!

[siba33]

hey man iv got 18's with 265/30/18 on the back and 235/35/18 on the front. my suspension is screwed but iv still got a fairly comfy ride. my shocks and springs are stock and my car is a 33 gtst series2

[Sydneykid]

What he wants;

1. 18" wheels, that means low profile tyres

2. Slightly lower ride height

3. Good ride comfort

4. Not overly concerned with handling

My advice via PM was....... the most effective way to lower it, retain acceptable ride comfort and achieve superior handling is by changing the shocks. The Bilsteins in the Group Buy come with additional circlip grooves which enable you to lower it using the standard springs. Around 24 mm lowering (from standard) works very well, and is the most I would suggest.

I post this up for the benefit of others in similar situations.

cheers

[Sydneykid]

Just been out to a few tyre and rim places... there isnt really jack shit in 17's out there. They are all narrow rims except for 2 sets of Lenso's i didnt mind, but that was it. And to be honest i didnt like them THAT much because they were polished metal/silver or something... looked pretty average compared to shadow chrome. Oh well, might have to just get 18's after all!!!

Do some shopping on the web the range of 17" rims is far greater than 18's. What you see in tyre shops is what the manager likes, not necessarily what you like.

cheers

[Xizor]

Been around to stores and online, almost everything in 17" are only 7-7.5 wide... i want wider. Find the odd 8 wide rim but not found any i like. Only ones that i have are expensive import rims which are definitely way outside the budget. Will contemplate finances and whether i can plunge into 18's that i like and new shocks.