Springs + Tall Tires

[realtorhoff]

Good morning FL5 family!

I posted this on Facebook, but didn't get any great feedback. I want to lower my car, but drive approximately 80 miles per day and don't want to ruin the ride or run in to rubbing issues. My car is currently on TALL tires and I love the fat sidewalls and comfort I get from the Cadillac specific TPC spec Michelin 4S with noise cancelling.

Wheel specs are 19x9.5 +45

Looks like a lot of people are commenting "Spoon" springs, but I have spoken to a handful of Spoon owners and they complain about the saggy look in the rear. I understand it is actually level from the jack-points, but I guess I care more about ride "quality" over just aesthetics. I think I can live with the "sag" if the ride is truly the best.

Sounds like a bunch of guys lowered on the H&R springs love the ride, but some wish it was lower, so I'm truly torn.

My tech said go Eibach or Spoon, but it sounds like those are the two brand he has the most on hand experience with.

Any feedback from those who have tried multiple spring setups is greatly appreciated. Planning on ordering my springs by Wednesday of next week.

Thank you in advance for any advice,

Mike

 

[J_D]

Your tires are 5.1% taller than OEM 265/30/19. I don't think it is wise to go to any lowering springs.
Lowering springs would be the opposite of what you are trying to achieve in terms of comfort as well. Doesn't make sense to lower the car and have taller tires IMHO

 

[realtorhoff]

Your tires are 5.1% taller than OEM 265/30/19. I don't think it is wise to go to any lowering springs.
Lowering springs would be the opposite of what you are trying to achieve in terms of comfort as well. Doesn't make sense to lower the car and have taller tires IMHO

Thank you, but tires can always be changed down the road. The 5.1% doesn’t bother me. The factory tires are terrible. The first week I had the car a sidewall cracked and 2 months later hit a pothole and ruined a wheel. The lowprofile may perform the best on the track, but are not conducive for daily life.

 

[Nothing]

Thank you, but tires can always be changed down the road. The 5.1% doesn’t bother me. The factory tires are terrible. The first week I had the car a sidewall cracked and 2 months later hit a pothole and ruined a wheel. The lowprofile may perform the best on the track, but are not conducive for daily life.

You're probably better off with higher aspect ratio on 18s. The physically taller tire runs higher risk of rubbing with springs, unless you're willing to camber a lot. Finding someone with this setup is your best bet otherwise, but I haven't seen it.

 

[realtorhoff]

Agreed, 18s are the easier route, but 18s look too small on this car IMO. I have a bunch of friends on 18s and their cars look like hotwheels to me.

You're probably better off with higher aspect ratio on 18s. The physically taller tire runs higher risk of rubbing with springs, unless you're willing to camber a lot. Finding someone with this setup is your best bet otherwise, but I haven't seen it.

 

[Nothing]

Agreed, 18s are the easier route, but 18s look too small on this car IMO. I have a bunch of friends on 18s and their cars look like hotwheels to me.

I don't disagree, but you don't have much margin on this car to produce comfort, the car is light and stiff, as it was specifically designed to be. You'll need as much suspension travel, light damping, and sidewall as possible.

Larger cars have it easier due to higher mass/inertia and longer wheelbase.

I hope you find your solution. Maybe try springs and camber and report back how it goes.

 

[realtorhoff]

I don't disagree, but you don't have much margin on this car to produce comfort, the car is light and stiff, as it was specifically designed to be. You'll need as much suspension travel, light damping, and sidewall as possible.

Larger cars have it easier due to higher mass/inertia and longer wheelbase.

I hope you find your solution. Maybe try springs and camber and report back how it goes.

it rides great right now to be honest. I have the DE5 module and I have zero complaints. Guess I will try H&R or Eibach pro-kit and report back.

 

[Brittania]

I think it looks great the way you have it now. Fender gap is pretty well filled by your offset and the beefier tires. If you are happy with how it drives I'd leave it alone, but I know how it is once you have your mind set on something.

 

[realtorhoff]

I think it looks great the way you have it now. Fender gap is pretty well filled by your offset and the beefier tires. If you are happy with how it drives I'd leave it alone, but I know how it is once you have your mind set on something.

100%! 90% of my cars have been lowered, so it’s a bad habit at this point.

 

[Jester04]

Good morning FL5 family!

I posted this on Facebook, but didn't get any great feedback. I want to lower my car, but drive approximately 80 miles per day and don't want to ruin the ride or run in to rubbing issues. My car is currently on TALL tires and I love the fat sidewalls and comfort I get from the Cadillac specific TPC spec Michelin 4S with noise cancelling.

Wheel specs are 19x9.5 +45

Looks like a lot of people are commenting "Spoon" springs, but I have spoken to a handful of Spoon owners and they complain about the saggy look in the rear. I understand it is actually level from the jack-points, but I guess I care more about ride "quality" over just aesthetics. I think I can live with the "sag" if the ride is truly the best.

Sounds like a bunch of guys lowered on the H&R springs love the ride, but some wish it was lower, so I'm truly torn.

My tech said go Eibach or Spoon, but it sounds like those are the two brand he has the most on hand experience with.

Any feedback from those who have tried multiple spring setups is greatly appreciated. Planning on ordering my springs by Wednesday of next week.

Thank you in advance for any advice,

Mike

Just stance it and make the wheels go extra hard with obscene camber. ?

 

[MooMoo]

I love how 18s look personally + tons of tire choice + cheaper tires + you can do 35 sidewall and keep your speedometer accurate.
No experience with lowering but my last car was lowered and yes looked great and it was on nice coilovers so the ride was amazing but having to navigate through bumps and driveways and things was pretty annoying. Lowering springs always a compromise, they make nothing better for the driver, just better for who is looking at the car. However if I did get some I would go with the ones with the least drop, I think those are the H&R which I think drop 1in. Spoon has the reverse rake look + are way overpriced.

 

[realtorhoff]

I love how 18s look personally + tons of tire choice + cheaper tires + you can do 35 sidewall and keep your speedometer accurate.
No experience with lowering but my last car was lowered and yes looked great and it was on nice coilovers so the ride was amazing but having to navigate through bumps and driveways and things was pretty annoying. Lowering springs always a compromise, they make nothing better for the driver, just better for who is looking at the car. However if I did get some I would go with the ones with the least drop, I think those are the H&R which I think drop 1in. Spoon has the reverse rake look + are way overpriced.

Yes, I just spoke with Blackhawk Japan. Apparently the Spoon springs are “made to order” and take approximately 2 months to get. My IS350, Q50 and M2 were all on coilovers. My Mustang had magnaride, so went with progressive springs and didn’t lose any ride comfort or drivability.

The speedo really is a non-issue. I tested the car with @Jester04 and the speedo was only off 1-3mph. Won’t change much, even in the eyes of the law…If you’re speeding, you’re speeding haha.

I agree about the minimal drop aspect. I am now between the H&R and the Eibach pro-kit. Pro-kit is winning marginally as a lot of people seem to be running them and I haven’t read or heard of any complaints.

 

[realtorhoff]

Just stance it and make the wheels go extra hard with obscene camber. ?

LMAO. You can see my history. I’ve never driven a stanced car ????‍?

 

[Jester04]

Yes, I just spoke with Blackhawk Japan. Apparently the Spoon springs are “made to order” and take approximately 2 months to get. My IS350, Q50 and M2 were all on coilovers. My Mustang had magnaride, so went with progressive springs and didn’t lose any ride comfort or drivability.

The speedo really is a non-issue. I tested the car with @Jester04 and the speedo was only off 1-3mph. Won’t change much, even in the eyes of the law…If you’re speeding, you’re speeding haha.

I agree about the minimal drop aspect. I am now between the H&R and the Eibach pro-kit. Pro-kit is winning marginally as a lot of people seem to be running them and I haven’t read or heard of any complaints.

And on the next revision the speedo will be accurate. The beauty of being able to adjust it.

 

[realtorhoff]

And on the next revision the speedo will be accurate. The beauty of being able to adjust it.

Yes sir. I still need to do some logs for you ??‍

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