Dilemma: Lowering Springs 1" and Ground effects kit for my FR-S

[OICU812]

Hi folks,

This forum is still very new to me but I am finding so helpfull so thank you all for being so informed overall.

I am looking for abit of advice and thoughts, no worries in no way will I be offended ..

I have coming a Whiteout 2013 FR-S

Where I live the roads are "so so", not gravel by any stretch but some good bumps and odd pothole especially in early summer can happen. Roads here take a beating in winter to say the least, so this said.. My driving will be ONLY in summer time, this is only a pleasure vehicle, I have a truck for the days I do not want to drive car and for winter .

I am considering "for looks" lowering my FR-S by a max of 1" with either Eibach Pro kit or Tein kit. I am also considering the MV Designz ground kit as it retains so much of the stock body lines, which I love.

I am VERY on the fence of doing the lowering kit, I just like the LOOK of having it just a tiny bit lower more then anything, to me stock wheel well room looks well too much? I am putting on 18" Rotas to begin with to rid of the stockers and again that's looks related to really.

So thoughts overall on the if you have lowered yours by a simple inch has it affected the ride more then you'd like? Has it got you into trouble clearance wise over what you experienced from stock? I was going to do only the springs, nothing else the question there is any issues in doing so if there will or could be bad news to the stock components remaining?

In regards to the body kits.. Any regrets to those that have done it? I looked hard at the five axis and on the darker color FR-S and BRZ they look fantastic, but on WHITE imo they look abit to slapped on, which is why I was considering the much simpler and cleaner IMO MV Designz kit that is being released for public sale within two weeks.

Any stories, comments and suggestions are MUCH appreciated, thanks so much!!

[Killerbee]

In short - you'll be fine :-)

Longer Version.
I have the AeroKit on my GT86, and also lowered the Car with Eibach Pro Kit springs only. This is what I can say from my experience:

Stock suspension with AeroKit -> No Issues at all concerning hight. I was always very paranoid about scratching anything, however if you're not going to park in crappy parking garages and dont have a driveway that has an 90° () angle you're fine. Speedbums, rough roads etc all no problems

Eibach Pro-Kit -> Still no Issues. Again, this excludes shitty driveways and crappy parking garages. However, I'm using my car aswell only for fun, so I can choose where I park. Ride Quality has not much changed, so the ride is still firm and responsive, yet not that hard that your back would hurt after a ride.

In general, I had way more issues with ground clearance with my old car (350z also on eibach-pro kit) that had no aerokit than I have now with the GT86. ofc you still have to drive carefully into driveways and parking garage, but thats something you'll always have to do aslong as you're not driving any SUV or truck or anything.


Also to note one thing, depending on your wheel choice you will have to lower your car, because if you go for anything that sits flush your car will look like an offroad truck unless lowered.

Maybe you also want to check my car journal (link below in my signature) You can see pictures from stock suspension with stock wheels to aftermarket wheels to lowered with aftermarket wheels. Maybe helps your choice:-)

[OICU812]

That is very helpfull indeed and thank you. I was abit worried there. So in all sounds that not to worry of aftermarket shocks, camber all this business and I should be fine?

I am looking at completing order on Rota Griid 18" (Staggered) setup for the RWD look really. More or less going with what wheeldudes combo is aside from getting my own rubber. Their staggered are 18x8.5 ft & 18 x 9.5" back with offest +44F/+38R.. Rubber options of Rear = 255/35/18 & Front of 225/40/18 up to 235/40/18

Obviously this size and widths are not going to give me performance, I don't care about that, if I was all into straight out balls out I would have bought a GT-R or Nismo which I almost did lol. Wanted to buy something I could afford cash out no financing and this car seems the ticket and should be fun to add to...

BTW your scenery looks like my home, lots of mountains VERY nice!

[Killerbee]

Originally Posted by OICU812

That is very helpfull indeed and thank you. I was abit worried there. So in all sounds that not to worry of aftermarket shocks, camber all this business and I should be fine?

I am looking at completing order on Rota Griid 18" (Staggered) setup for the RWD look really. More or less going with what wheeldudes combo is aside from getting my own rubber. Their staggered are 18x8.5 ft & 18 x 9.5" back with offest +44F/+38R

Obviously this size and widths are not going to give me performance, I don't care about that, if I was all into straight out balls out I would have bought a GT-R or Nismo which I almost did lol. Wanted to buy something I could afford cash out no financing and this car seems the ticket and should be fun to add to...

BTW your scenery looks like my home, lots of mountains VERY nice!

Good choice on the Wheels. Any Ideas on the tire size yet?
With those wheels and just the mild 1" drop you need no camber bolts or aftermarked shocks.
However, its pretty obvious that you should get your alignment and camber settings corrected by a tuner or tireshop after the drop (just corrected as far as oem parts allow it. Front can be corrected, rear will have about 1° camber which cannot be corrected, however you wont notice it ;-)

[OICU812]

Absolutely on the alignment, this will be getting done at the shop anyhow so for sure will have all those check marks checked.


Tires...


I need to do some research to match what tires for compound are going to work best with the roads here, Asphalt of a different nature to say least

Tire size ranges of Rubber options of Rear = 255/35/18 & Front of 225/40/18 to 235/40/18 Now that said this is what "THEY" list, so being the car is so new to me, I am assuming they did their homework and these will work, again I am aiming for best ride... SO any further advice there is always appreciated.

Shawn

[Killerbee]

Originally Posted by OICU812

Absolutely on the alignment, this will be getting done at the shop anyhow so for sure will have all those check marks checked.


Tires...


I need to do some research to match what tires for compound are going to work best with the roads here, Asphalt of a different nature to say least

Tire size ranges of Rubber options of Rear = 255/35/18 & Front of 225/40/18 to 235/40/18 Now that said this is what "THEY" list, so being the car is so new to me, I am assuming they did their homework and these will work, again I am aiming for best ride... SO any further advice there is always appreciated.

Shawn

sooooo, now you get me going ;-) tires are my bag baby

If it comes to tire size, there are different things to keep in mind. At the end, its up to your personal taste what you take.

Tires have impact on the following:

Wide: Changes the looks of the tire on the rim itself (streched or not), changes how "heavy" the car feels on the road, and also the ride quality. It will also change handling/grip and power. 225 will make the car more "nimble" from the driving feeling, however a 245 will provide more grip.
In General, an 8.5" should have at least an 225 tire, up to 245. 225 will look just a bit streched, and 245 will fit quiet meaty on the rim. 9.5" should have at least an 245 tire, up to 275


Diameter (hope thats the english word for it;-)
It determins how big the side/tirewall of the tire is. 225/40 for example is 40% in high of 225mm, so the tirewall would be 90mm. You should keep this as near to the stock wheels as possible.
It determins ride quality, how much it lowers or lifts your car, and also how much your speedo is off. For example, 225/40/18 front will lift your car about 6mm higher than stock tires. 235/40/18 even 10mm. This will also result in an more "offroad" look due to the tire looking "bigger" (in bigger in size of the tirewall) Your speedo will also be off the more the tire size is off the factory tire size.
In your case for front, 225/40/18 (+6mm hight), 235/35/18 (-1.5mm hight) or 245/35/18 (+2mm hight) are your choices.
For rear either 245/35/18 (+2mm hight) or 255/35 (+5.5mm hight)
From the looks, and also from the "hight" differences, I would go for 225/40/18 front, and 255/35/18 rear.
You should keep in mind that you have different wheel wide, so for an example a meaty 245 on your 8.5 front wheel would look strange with a slight streched 245 on your 9.5 rear wheel.

As for tire make, thats like motor oil. Everyone has his favorites, so just go with whatever you think fits. I would however strongly recommend well know brands like Dunlop, Goodyear, Continental etc.

[DC-FRS]

You have no worries, man. I'm dropped on the pro kit, have the Nur Spec (GT86 Aero) front lip, TRD Sideskirts, and I'm on 18x8.75 wheels. Tires are 225/40/18s and I don't rub as far as fenders go. And I've never scraped on anything. It fills the wheel gap nicely as long as you're looking for function over the "slammed" look. Go for it!

[OICU812]

That is all VERY helpfull fellas and I really appreciate it! I gotta say this does make me also consider going squared setup to. Truthfully reason was thinking staggered was simply my old school mentality on looks of a rwd car and rotating was not much of a concern as its only a summer car. Now I'm thinking more lol.

[finch1750]

Like others have said it should be fine, but still be extra mindful as that extra 1in could make a difference in say a parking block you used to clear but now wont. Or maybe the driveway you could pull straight out of slowly now needs to go at an angle. Potholes you want to avoid with rims either way as they may crack/bend from the impact cpmbined with running a low pro tire

[Hardrock4445]

Ground clearance on just 1" sport H&R springs. No aero.

[OICU812]

LOL nice way to show it indeed!