Making the 86 more of a touring car?

[bucketfoot]

I had even went to a wider tire (225/50 to 245/45), so there was actually less sidewall on the non runflats.

Now she hated the car again once I put lowering springs on

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by Pat

I'm really surprised she noticed that much of a difference going from run flat tire to non run flats in the same size. If that's the case I suspect going with a 16" setup with soft sidewalls will get the job done.

You can usually tell between some stiffer tires and softer ones. Runflats are known to be pretty stiff (they have to be to maintain air pressure after a puncture)

But i guess it also depends on what it was substituted for.

Our 2017 BMW X1 has the optional 19" wheels, it was equipped with summer Bridgestone Potenzas. We havent used them much at all so i cant remember if they were runflats or not (I would think they are, the car didnt come with a spare). They were stiff tires.

We swapped them out for Continentel DWS 06 all seasons because winter was coming up and didnt have the funds for a secondary set of tires. This tire is NOTICEABLY softer, and is actually a bit more comfortable.

Even in the 86, going from winter tires (Yokohama Iceguard IG53) to the OEM Michelein Pilot Sport 4 theres a noticeable difference.

[bucketfoot]

You're actually pretty much right on target for what I would do.

I would go with a 16" all season, as the sidewalls on them are less stiff than on summer tires. In fact the Conti ExtremeContact DWS 06 would likely be my tire of choice.

So I would have three sets of tires/wheels to choose between depending on my driving needs at the time. As long as everything is on their own wheels, swapping between tires is a breeze!

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

You're actually pretty much right on target for what I would do.

I would go with a 16" all season, as the sidewalls on them are less stiff than on summer tires. In fact the Conti ExtremeContact DWS 06 would likely be my tire of choice.

So I would have three sets of tires/wheels to choose between depending on my driving needs at the time. As long as everything is on their own wheels, swapping between tires is a breeze!

I approve of the DWS. They're probably the softest out of all the UHP all season performance tires out there. You give up maximum levels of grip/traction for that softness, but i think its a good compromise cuz they're still rated very highly for its performance capabilities.

[PetrolioBenzina]

Sound insulation.

[RZNT4R]

I'll second the 16 inch touring tires. Though I'm not on tourings, I love how mine rides on 225/50ZR16 Continentals, on sometimg like a 205/55R16 Conti DWS that would be ~ plush ~

Also, plugging the sound tube, adding some dynamat strips in the doors, rear quarters, and trunk lid. I'd recommend adding a center arm rest, it has been a simple and awesome comfort addition to mine.

[KillerBMotorsport]

RCE can likely set you up.

We've used both RCE and Ohlins products and it really transforms the car into something you would have paid a lot more for. More supple over the smaller stuff, yet improved handling at a performance level. The first comment is almost always 'this is how the car should have come from the factory'.

I don't think I'd got smaller wheel, but tire selection can also change the harshness and especially nose too.

[Ernest72]

Crazy but I think if you bag it, it would probably drive comfortably.

[daniloneil8]

I put the rear seats down.
Viola! Touring car with lots of space for luggage

[quixeger]

Originally Posted by PetrolioBenzina

Sound insulation.

This.

I recently undertook a similar direction (moving from track to blended GT use) with my build. I kept the CSG spec Flex A's and OEM wheels with Champiro SX2s because I haven't completely given up on track days (don't @ me for the heavy wheels). Ride quality wasn't the issue if I set them to soft. I mention the setup because it's not particularly "GT" oriented.

Sound insulation did wonders for livability: My wife and I can (at typical LA highway speeds) converse in normal voice/tones on the 405's awful pavement. I can cut the stereo volume in *half* for podcasts. Specifically, adding killmat to the fender liners and to the trunk side of the parcel shelf shifted the road noise farther away (lower) from the high pitch frequencies that give human speech intelligible meaning. I'm not sur the actual Db reading is lower-- but it feels a LOT lower.

For a project with 2/10 difficulty and costing <$100, it's something I wish I'd done the minute I got the car.

Pro: I can hear myself think. Car feels genuinely more calm to drive on my commute. Exhaust drone is cut WAY down (fold the seats when I want to hear it).
Con: Weight. I can hear myself think.

[Yoniyama]

I installed the following mod's on my Toybaru:

(1) - super-light 16" (Volks Racing TE-37, 5.2kg each) wheels and Michelin Primacy 4 205/55-16 tyres;
(2) - two-piece front brake rotors (saveing about 3kg each);
(3) -Cusco anti-roll bars (14mm and 16mm);

(1) to (3) improve ride quality significantly. If you also install GR86 stock OEM shock absorbers, ride quality will improve further.

(4) Crank pulley from Fluiddampr - this makes the engine smoother and quieter.

Then, just add sound insulation pads on doors, floor, roof and bulk-head.

The above will make the toybaru a 'touring car' without loss in performance. There are also a few other minor mods available, if you so desire:

(5) Replace the iron knuckle (or hub-carrier) with the aluminium one from GR86;
(6) Versus light-weight rear lower control arm; and
(7) SPL light-weight front lower control arm.

(5) and (7) will further reduce unsprung weight and improve handling and ride.

ACE used to make a quiet exhust system (while reducing weight and noise!), but that isn't available anymore.

I also tried taller springs from Chuhatsu, but the ride did not improve. They are only necessary if you drive on rough roads often.

Good luck.

[TommyW]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

I had even went to a wider tire (225/50 to 245/45), so there was actually less sidewall on the non runflats.

Now she hated the car again once I put lowering springs on

F it, Get a new wife....

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by TommyW

F it, Get a new wife....

Not a chance, she is definitely a keeper

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by TommyW

F it, Get a new wife....

Do you have any idea what that costs!?