How to screw up your cars handling and ride - step by step!

[stevesnj]

I want to go with 16" wheels. Good idea or bad? was going to pair them with PSS/as I have a TRD lowing spring setup on stock shocks. I'd say 5-10 track weekends a year and it's my DD

[Lateral G]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

I want to go with 16" wheels. Good idea or bad? was going to pair them with PSS/as I have a TRD lowing spring setup on stock shocks. I'd say 5-10 track weekends a year and it's my DD

How did the TRD springs affect the handling? I've been thinking of getting them.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Lateral G

How did the TRD springs affect the handling? I've been thinking of getting them.

The handling is much much improved, the turn ins are sharper and the ride is slightly smoother. Best bang for the buck.

[churchx]

stevesnj: check threads here about 16". In general for DD it might be even more practical then 17". As in you'll loose a bit turn-in sharpness, it will do weight transfer a bit more, but it will be more comfortable, tires will be cheaper. And it doesn't look bad with good 16" wheels. In some of domestic markets toyobarus in lesser trims stock tires/wheels are 16". Among cons there might be that some of high performance tires don't come in 16". But then again some do.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

I want to go with 16" wheels. Good idea or bad? was going to pair them with PSS/as I have a TRD lowing spring setup on stock shocks. I'd say 5-10 track weekends a year and it's my DD

I don't think Pilot Super Sports come in 16" anymore, unless you meant Bilstein PSS...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ot+Super+Sport

Upside is that 16" tires are a bit cheaper than 17's, but typically not available in much over 225, sometimes even only 205 and they're basically made just for the Miata crowd at this point I think.

RS3's 205/55/16, 24.9" diameter on 6.5" wheels seems like it'd be a decent match for an 86 w/ 16x7" wheels, and they're $80 ea right now on TireRack, but that's an anomoly, looks like they'd be closer to ~$130-$150 typically based on the competition with BFG, ZIISS, and RE71R's.

Go play with tirerack, look at sizes and offerings and prices. If you need a 200+TW tire for competing in a series 16" can really limit your options, if you are comfortable driving a more aggressive compound (AD08R, R888, even slicks) or less aggressive (UHP) you've got some options.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

I don't think Pilot Super Sports come in 16" anymore, unless you meant Bilstein PSS...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ot+Super+Sport

Upside is that 16" tires are a bit cheaper than 17's, but typically not available in much over 225, sometimes even only 205 and they're basically made just for the Miata crowd at this point I think.

RS3's 205/55/16, 24.9" diameter on 6.5" wheels seems like it'd be a decent match for an 86 w/ 16x7" wheels, and they're $80 ea right now on TireRack, but that's an anomoly, looks like they'd be closer to ~$130-$150 typically based on the competition with BFG, ZIISS, and RE71R's.

Go play with tirerack, look at sizes and offerings and prices. If you need a 200+TW tire for competing in a series 16" can really limit your options, if you are comfortable driving a more aggressive compound (AD08R, R888, even slicks) or less aggressive (UHP) you've got some options.

Good info thanks! I'm looking at Summer 2017 tires and wheels so something great may come along by then. The wheels I want are $$$ but high quality. I just want to get a nice street tire for DD, maybe use the stock for track.

[churchx]

Imho DD tire choice for 16" is reasonable. And one certainly can enjoy more comfort of higher sidewall on bad roads we see. BTW, you can browse though this thread to see some of 16" examples.
P.S.
Among best possible 16" imho is forged TWS T66-F of just 4.82kg each, if price is no object. Seen on japanparts.com and also offered by CSG.

[Reddmon333666]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I agree and to be honest after driving the car the first time we (as a suspension parts maker) had to sit and think about what we could do to actually improve things. Before with the STI and WRX the shortcomings of the car were pretty obvious and there was a lot of low hanging fruit.

This car works as a package from the factory so well that it's easy to screw it up. Some things are easy and cheap (like a little more camber than factory) but bigger changes are a bit more complicated if you want to keep or improve handling. You just got do it carefully and think it through.

- Andy

I bought my new 2016 blue series brz last October and I think its already sexy as hell but I was looking into getting some lowering springs with sway bars and then to see how to fill it in a little by putting in spacers. Think that's a simple way to improve or not?

[churchx]

Improve what? Looks? Handling? For looks (if you mentioned "it's sexy")- maybe, if "filling up arches" & "make it flush" equals to you as improvement (to me it would be at least practicality downgrade due lowering already low ground clearance). For handling (given this thread is about it) i wouldn't blindly throw random suspension bits without deep thought. At very least i'd get only something lowering reasonably, eg. RCE yellows, +do alignment dialing negative camber and toe-in as advised, skipping swaybars.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by churchx

Improve what? Looks? Handling? For looks (if you mentioned "it's sexy")- maybe, if "filling up arches" & "make it flush" equals to you as improvement (to me it would be at least practicality downgrade due lowering already low ground clearance). For handling (given this thread is about it) i wouldn't blindly throw random suspension bits without deep thought. At very least i'd get only something lowering reasonably, eg. RCE yellows, +do alignment dialing negative camber and toe-in as advised, skipping swaybars.

Far to many people make this mistake. I would also advise to do swaybars as the last thing you do with your suspension and use them to dial in the balance between oversteer and understeer you desire.

[strat61caster]

imo camber > sway bars
Camber bolts and maybe a basic top hat will give way more performance than stiffer sways.

Quality lowering springs seem to work well on the car, depends what you want to do though.

[Reddmon333666]

That's why I'm asking question and doing research. Mainly it's a DD but I would like to take her out on track days in the D.C area when I can a few times out of the year.

[churchx]

Even with stock suspension it's very capable on track. Why not .. think about upgrading something until after you burn through first tire set (including being at least once on track)? You'll save $$$ AND you won't have chance to make it worse. First familiarise more yourself with car as is, then think of what and IF needs to be improved. "some random swaybars" and "would like to take on track days" doesn't sound to me like you already know how it behaves there and what you want to change vs stock. Does it really rolls too much for your driving habbits/confidence? Is oversteer balance really not to your taste? Have you already gone for much grippier low threadwear tires increasing roll/riding on bumpstops? Go first to track, see how she goes around, get a taste. At most do some minimal changes to it prior/after like alignment. Think of other purchases only after all of that. Maybe you won't even need to spend any and like it as stock. Maybe you'll grow out and feel limited by something only after 5-10 track days at least, which for some may be 2-3 years . Do not rush shelling out money when you don't know yet if you need it all

[Racecomp Engineering]

A good mild drop spring (like RCE Yellow) is a safe bet. But alignment and wheel + tire choice are very important. You can make a car with great suspension feel like crap if you get those wrong. Swaybars can have a big influence as well...sometimes positive.

Keeping it stock + brake pads/fluid for at least 1 track day is a very good idea though.

- Andrew