Coilovers or Wheels first
 

Just bought a brand new 86. Wondering how 18s would look on stock suspension? The stock suspension isn't bad but I'm wondering about fitment. I only have money for one or the other.

im on 18's stock susp, and i have no intention on lowering. theyre already lower than 90 percent of cars on the road

How will you afford tires of you can only afford wheels?

The tS comes with 18's. It'll look perfectly fine IMO, unless you go with a crazy aggressive fitment.....then it might look weird.

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Save up till you have both wheels and tires.
Or put them on a credit card.

The tS is lowered. It is on STI Pinks I believe.

Are yo looking to improve handling, or just change the looks?


18's would look the same, wheel gap. generally you keep the same diameter tire with the larger wheel. Unless you own an Impala or Chrysler 300.


If you want to improve the car, wait till you can afford good coilovers.



If you just want it to look different ignore any advice I give.

Wheels as in tires and rims

Thats what I'm saying. Where I live the roads are pretty shitty so I'm fine with the ride height. Do you have any photos?

Imo, cars always look better lowered, even on stock wheels. Cars always look odd to me when not lowered, especially on bigger aftermarket wheels.

If i were to do both eventually, but had to pick one first. I'd lower the car. I'm basing my opinion on looks, nothing to do with performance.

On the other hand, I got my car about 6 months ago. Was going to lower it, and get bigger wheels, like my previous cars. However, i decided that i don't want to mess with any physical aspects of the car that affect how the car handles. I may get better tires eventually, but I'm sticking with the stock 17's at stock height. I really like how this cars handles stock. I also don't miss the occasional grinding sounds from being low. Yes i think lowered cars look nicer, but from a functional aspect of ground clearance, these cars are pretty low.

With that said, it really comes down to what you think looks better. I would assume you're lowering and getting bigger wheels mainly for looks. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

fyi, congrats on the car, enjoy it.

Oh, my answer would be coilovers first, even though I'm not doing either mod to my car.

The car does handle great with everything being stock. And I'm probably going to just end up getting wheels and keeping the stock suspension for a while. Thanks for your reply.

Neither

If handling takes priority over shiny things

Keep the stock wheels, keep the stock suspension, get some camber bolts for the front and adjustable rear LCA.

Then get a good alignment for the win.

If you think the handles good now, you will be amazed how better it handles with a dialed in alignment.

Good tyres are a given.

Don't buy springs alone for your struts.

Don't buy cheap coilovers.

Research alot, and I mean ALOT, prior to spending 1 cent.

Everyone is an expert, even when they're not.

Everyone has an opinion, well, I am extremely opinionated anyway, and old, and grumpy, and opinionated.

Look at the price difference in your current tyres size, and then in the 18.

18" will give a slightly harsher ride due to less sidewall.

Always buy the best tyres you can get for your conditions.

Did I say I was opinionated

Have fun :cheers:

Edit: later on if you decide to get coilovers, good ones of course, you haven't really wasted much cash, really, it's only the front camber bolts.

Good coilovers cost, it's all about valving and spring rates, 90% of coilovers in the market are garbage and will give a poor ride for street duties.

A 20mm drop front and rear is about as far as the cars geometry really likes, plus any lower and you tend to scrape, alot.

The best rims are 17" Enkei RPF-1

The best coilover manufacturer is MCA suspension

The best tyres are Hankook RS4

The best twin is mine

Did I say I was opinionated

Here you go, 18" before and after lowering.

https://i.postimg.cc/7LtLTrzD/image.jpg

I couldn't wait to get it lowered. It looked awkward as hell on stock suspension

https://i.postimg.cc/cJDZJw5M/image.jpg

Suspension then wheels and tires.