Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - Car feels strange/less responsive after coilovers

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- - Car feels strange/less responsive after coilovers (https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137908)

I second this. I'm running 245 and it doesn't feel light and quick like it did stock but I didn't want to run staggered and even with the 245's I can light up third gear (FI).

Quote:

Originally Posted by toast (Post 3278237)

I second this. I'm running 245 and it doesn't feel light and quick like it did stock but I didn't want to run staggered and even with the 245's I can light up third gear (FI).

Are you turbo or supercharged? What kind of tires? Even with 300WHP turbo I'm hooking 2nd and 3rd with Falken Azenis in 215s.

Like others said, the wider tire will make the car feel heavier and numb on the street.

However, when you push on the car a bit, it will pay dividends (if you've chosen your parts well).

...and all this is assuming everything is tight and aligned properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e (Post 3278255)

Are you turbo or supercharged? What kind of tires? Even with 300WHP turbo I'm hooking 2nd and 3rd with Falken Azenis in 215s.

Supercharged. I have Hankook V12s and if it is below 50 degrees second gear just spins. They may be a little harder than the Falkens, but I can't imagine second gear grip with 215s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toast (Post 3278280)

Supercharged. I have Hankook V12s and if it is below 50 degrees second gear just spins. They may be a little harder than the Falkens, but I can't imagine second gear grip with 215s.

I think "below 50 degrees" is the key part of that statement.

Also, if the wheel is turned at all, it'll be much easier to light up the tires as well versus trying to go straight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toast (Post 3278280)

Supercharged. I have Hankook V12s and if it is below 50 degrees second gear just spins. They may be a little harder than the Falkens, but I can't imagine second gear grip with 215s.

It's all in the compound and application. Once the Falkens get warm, they hold on like a bastard. You won't grip anything on cold pavement, so there's nothing you can do there. You'd also be surprised how big a difference tread block design and block size change grip behavior in tandem with the compound

It is weird seeing someone praise the Falkens, especially for how they put down power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steverife (Post 3278296)

It is weird seeing someone praise the Falkens, especially for how they put down power.

They're not without their faults. The get greasy when heated for prolonged use like autocross or hillclimb

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpvecchi (Post 3278192)

Why people use absurdly wide tires on a 200 hp car?

I'd appreciate if you didnt jump to conclusions on another topic we aren't talking about. Its boosted fyi

Running FI turbo 200kw+ i think it might have something to do with the suspension being soft as I made it stiffer by turning the knob at the top of the structs on the front and back clockwise to the stiffest setting and now it's a tiny bit better

Quote:

Originally Posted by churchx (Post 3278191)

Offset is not that much off, scrub radius/steering heaviness should be similar. 255/35/18. Diameter variance is not that different, so acceleration shouldn't be much worse. Wheel weight similar to stock. Tire width within normal range of wheel width. Wheel/tire switch shouldn't change alignment. Who knows the reason :iono: but i bought this car for handling, and experiences like these makes me happy to not have turned to dark side of stance/flushness :)

That aside, if you mentioned "I got hardrace rear lower control arms and custom coilovers with camber plates." - i slightly guess that you installed these alongside wheel/tire change (for clearance/not rubbing/flushness thingies?). If you mod something in suspension, or even simply unbolt/retighten it's parts - definitely redo alignment. Unlike basic wheel switch, suspension changes will make alignment out of whack, and it can change car handling to wrong one. In this case, i guess that there might be some front toe-in gained or alike. I'd also check if those "custom coilovers" are not dialed too soft.

Yeah the shop aligned the wheels they told me and did a re-torque on all the suspension I asked them what my spring rate is they put on but it feels a lot better after setting the softness to stiff.

https://i.imgur.com/AdcdsNG.jpg

csol: in future i advise to whenever you do alignment, to ask for printout of it. Only knowing camber/toe numbers others may suggest with more certainty, if certain handling issue is from that or not. Also knowing what alignment before, simplifies doing planned changes to handling from different alignment. Printout also adds some extra QA to suspension shop work :).

18's are boat anchors. That is what happens.

Grip is compound dependant, not size dependant. Unless you are racing, it's silly to use such large tires and wheels.

18s aren't always boat anchors. Some are reasonably light and it's not too hard to find an 18x8 lighter than stock. But I do think too many people go to 18x9.5s on this car (may not be the issue here).

Either way for this case, you've got to get your alignment numbers and should know your spring rates as well. Hard to help without that.

- Andrew

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering (Post 3278577)

But I do think too many people go to 18x9.5s on this car (may not be the issue here).

OP did put 18x9.5's on