browney

Hi,
I was wondering what do you think I should do. I was thinking of either replacing the shocks (with kybs) and puting in polly bushes or getting new rims and good tyres (the current brigestone eagers aren't worn but I don't like them)?

JEC-31

TIRES TIRES TIRES TIRES TIRES!

Those 4 tiny areas where the rubber meets the road are everthing. All your acceleration, all your braking, all your emergency maneuvers and all your just-for-fun quick cornering absolutely depend on the tires.

You could spend $$$ on the super-trickest racing coil-over adjustable racing springs and shocks, but you won't be able to use them to grip the road without sticky tires.
And KYBs? Poly bushings? Almost unnoticable differences compared to sticky tires.

Plus picking out rims is endless fun!

browney

Anyone else have an opinion. Also as far as rims go are 15s or 16s better to make the car handle better (not as worried about looks) while keeping the stock total wheel diameter.

Montrealer

I definately agree with JEC-31,

the tires are going to give you the biggest gain as far as handling is concerned, That is if you buy some good ones.

When I first got into auto-X, I learnt that if you want to go fast, there is certain order in which modifications must be undertaken to inhance your car's performance on the course.

1st:2nd: suspension

3rd: engine

you cant go wrong with good tires. Dont thik there is much to gain from a 16 inch wheel over a 15 because if you have a good tire the sidwall should be stiff enough to compensate.

TheTwinTurboRX-7

tires indeed
get the grip first
then find better ways to utilize it

PaulFitzwarryne

First decide what wheel size tou are going for.
15 inch if you will be driving on bendy roads. 16 inch for mainly strait linedriving. There are a wide range of wheels available in Adelaide depending on your budget amd whether you want steel or alloy. Some $1000 should get you a good set, but remember your spare!

Second decide what tire width you want, 205 is a good comprise but don'' go too far into the sticky compounds if you are worried about rapid tire wear. Some thing like the Yokohama A539 is great, budget to spend $600 plus

Third, go for a total suspension upgrade, shocks, coils, front swaybar and bushes. Have a look on Aus rotary for Albys Virtual Garage and Autostleautomotive who offer a good package based on using Pedders products. Budget for around $1500. A like the KYB sports car shocks instead of Pedders and Koni. If you want to mix and match look at King springs. A stiffer front swaybar is critical to improve cornering.

Fourth try out everything on a test track to discover the handling limits befoe you hit the road.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

ho, wait up guys. if his suspension is original and worn out, putting on some nice sticky rubber is going to kill whats left of it faster not to mention showing all the bad characteristics of a worn out suspension. so here's the idea. do the suspension first. use the lower grip to tune the suspension and get the car handling the way you want, then get the rim/tire package.

nosajwrx-7

That's the order I am doing mine. Suspension, tires/wheels, engine mods, then appearance.

JEC-31

Excellent point, jeremy. I had forgotten the stresses that grip puts on other components. I once had a "friend" kill my FC's clutch trying to smoke a new set of sticky Dunlop 9000s (which, despite saggy stock shocks, DOUBLED the car's cornering power over the old Firehawks, hint hint).
Basically if the old suspension is shot and not roadworthy, it's in direct need of replacement and therefore takes priority. But if it's OK - then tyres tyres tyres!

browney

Yeah, both the tyres and suspension are o.k, I am just looking to upgrade them. I was definatley thinking of doing the tyres (with wheels) cos they don't feel grippy at all. I am definatley looking for good handling in the twisties (rather then straight line). Anyone else have good sugestions for tyres to fit 15 inch rims. While I don't want tyres that wear down too fast, wear isn't as big an issue as grip (as I don't drive a heap of km). Also what does 205 mean when you are talking about tires?

Wizzard

i would recomend tires. there is a lot to be said about rubber. the suspension is also important, but tires come first.