How Low Can You Go?

[north42g]

Looking at Megan Racing Lowering Springs. Says it will lower the car 1.9 inches Front & Rear.
Currently Running Fusion P205/60R16 .
Does anyone know for certain, 100%, if the tires & fenders will rub with this set up?
I have also seen some less expensive springs($91.00 on E Bay M2's for front & rear), that claim the same amount of lowering capability.
If it Does the same thing, why not just get the cheaper ones? I mean really, is there really a substantial difference in quality on a cold wound , powder coated, coil of steal??
Why should I pay for the Brand name? Convince me.

 

[njaremka]

205/60-16's? that's a big tire for a protege. i'd be surprised if you don't rub at stock ride height!

 

[north42g]

REALLY? What's Stock Size? I've never even once had any issue what-so-ever...It doesn't even look close.

 

[JCell]

195-50-16 is stock i believe

 

[njaremka]

195-50-16 is stock i believe

yup, exactly.

 

[Cosmic Wonder]

At 205/60-16 size tires, your spedometer is off by 7.82% (your car will show you're traveling at 67.41mph when you're actually traveling at 62.41mph) and your car is sitting an inch higher because the diameter of the tires is 2 inches more than stock.

 

[pkane]

(your car will show you're traveling at 67.41mph when you're actually traveling at 62.41mph)

Actually reverse this. You are travelling faster than your speedo says, which is a good way to get a ticket.

 

[CTt3P5]

OP, are you sure they are 205/60? I'm thinking you meant 205/50. (shrug)

 

[north42g]

OOPs, You are correct! It is 205/50R16
Good catch!
That being said, think if I drop it 1.9 front & rear I would have any issues?

 

[njaremka]

with a 205/50 on stock wheels, you should be fine

 

[north42g]

with a 205/50 on stock wheels, you should be fine

I sure hope so...cuz there on the way!(alright)

 

[rit14623]

... I mean really, is there really a substantial difference in quality on a cold wound , powder coated, coil of steal??
Why should I pay for the Brand name? Convince me.

Yes, you should pay for the brand name.

Untested, no-name-brand, cheap springs will degrade in a non-uniform manner. That means that some springs will permanently shrink more than the others. This results in uneven ride height at all four corners. Your car is still driveable, but will have uneven tire wear and less predictability in extreme reactive driving situations.

 

[north42g]

A few guys on this sight are testifying that the eBay sold, M2 coil springs are working out as well as one could hope. No rubbing, no uneven wear, over a year of daily driving from one guy...no issues to report. We shall see, I'm going for it and I'll Post how it it all turns out.

 

[hockeyryan]

hey sorry for derailing a little.. But what do you need for lowering your car with those springs? Is it as simple as swapping in the new lowering springs and getting an allingment? im new to making a vehicle lower lol I was all about raising ahaha

 

[hockeyryan]

also please let me know if you have any rubbing issues. i got the same tire size ahaha

Thanks

 

[DOMO]

At 205/60-16 size tires, your spedometer is off by 7.82% (your car will show you're traveling at 67.41mph when you're actually traveling at 62.41mph) and your car is sitting an inch higher because the diameter of the tires is 2 inches more than stock.

So let me get this straight everyone that is currently running 205 40 r16 is going 7 % faster than what we see on our speedos?

 

[pkane]

So let me get this straight everyone that is currently running 205 40 r16 is going 7 % faster than what we see on our speedos?

His statement was wrong.
taller tire = speedo shows slower than actual speed
shorter tire = speedo shows faster than actual speed


If you are running 205/40 R16 (stock is 195/50 R16)
When speedometer reads 60mph (96.6km/h) actual speed will be 56.8mph (91.4km/h): 5.3% slower.

 

[pcb]

I think our math is getting all mixed up.

Stock is 195 50 16
I run 205 50 16 That's about 1/4" bigger (205 cm-195 cm x 50% = 5 cm taller = larger diameter = slower rpm at any given speed= speedo reads slower speed than you are going)

Apparently if you go up one inch in rim diameter, you need to go down to 45% (205 45 17) to keep diameter approximately the same.

Therefor 205 50 16 is equal to 205 45 17 = 205 40 18= 205 35 19 = 205 35 20 = 205 30 21 is equal to 205 25 22 ........

I don't think the ratio is exactly linear but I'm guessing if they make 205 10 24 we could sport 24 inch rims with a 20.5 cm sidewall ,... a rim with a strip of rubber that'ld be cool.

So with all that in mind I remember hearing that our stock wheel size (195 50 16) makes the car read faster than it really is and that the 205 50 16 provides a more accurate speedo reading but if you've got 205 40 16 you've got a smaller tire so you are going slower than your speedo says.

 

[DOMO]

Ohh ok I get it now . 5 % isn't that bad but I can see where going up in rim size + thinner tires could lead to some problems.

Has anyone put a speedo corrector in their protege before ?

 

[pcb]

Even a new tire versus a bald one will affect the speedo. (tread wear reduces diameter)

I think tire sizing is stupid,... they should just state all three parameters rim diameter tire diameter and cross tread diameter, not one measurement as a percent of another.

If my tire size actually does give an acurate speedometer reading then your tires will make your speedometer read faster than you are going. I don't know by what percent though.

That 5% for every inch is approximate.