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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 620
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Joined: May 2001
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What gives you more improvement in cornering: stiffer springs/struts, or lower profile tires on suitable rims?
96 GL Zetec ATX, white with pinstripe, nickname " Sam Smooth " mods so far: CTA intake with homemade heat shield, KVR drilled front rotors & carbon pads w/ 500° fluid planned mods: exhaust (want to keep it quiet), e-ram (awaiting installation), diablo chip involuntary mods: compression increased after head gasket failure
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6
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Struts, or struts and springs.
96 Contour SE
99 F150 XLT 4x4
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 620
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What about rubber spring inserts?
96 GL Zetec ATX, white with pinstripe, nickname " Sam Smooth " mods so far: CTA intake with homemade heat shield, KVR drilled front rotors & carbon pads w/ 500° fluid planned mods: exhaust (want to keep it quiet), e-ram (awaiting installation), diablo chip involuntary mods: compression increased after head gasket failure
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,428
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Best improvement in cornering power comes from good rubber. No matter what size wheel.
You can have the car leaning 'till the door jambs scrape asphalt, if you're running good rubber the car will just corner.
Doesn't mean it will feel good, and certainly won't be pretty, but it works!
I don't know about those rubber spring inserts.. That reminds me of old Nascar, where you could see the crew chief pushing wood wedges in between the spring coils to change the oversteer / understeer balance. Those things will change your effective spring rate, but nothing comes close to a set of good struts. Even on stock springs.
Does that help?
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,585
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I agree with Pascal. Better tires will give you more grip and quicker times. See Autocross forums for info. On a 1 minute course race tires on a stock car run 3 seconds quicker than a suspension prepared car on street tires.
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Joined: Jun 2000
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Paul, I see you've never ridden in a CSVT with race rubber....try it!
1999 Silver Frost SVT
#609 of 2760
Born on 12/3/98
KKM Intake
Removed Resonator
35% Window Tint all around
Tinted Tail Lights
ElKy Mesh Grilles
HID
Dyno'ed at 175.3HP/155.5TQ
"How much must I live through just to get away..."
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 335
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Originally posted by TheGreatOne:
Paul, I see you've never ridden in a CSVT with race rubber....try it! mmmmm....race rubber....drool! I can't wait to try mine out this weekend. I had the car on the tires last night heat cycling them and holy crap it felt good!
Current Cars:
2000 CSVT #398 / 2150 - TRed
85 CRX si with a suspension harder then Ron Jeremy on Viagra.
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Joined: Jun 2000
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you will be surprised how great this car handles completely stock....I was....seasick as well!
1999 Silver Frost SVT
#609 of 2760
Born on 12/3/98
KKM Intake
Removed Resonator
35% Window Tint all around
Tinted Tail Lights
ElKy Mesh Grilles
HID
Dyno'ed at 175.3HP/155.5TQ
"How much must I live through just to get away..."
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 878
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Ditto.
Tires first, then struts. A bit gray between whether springs or swaybars would be the next biggest bang.
At any rate, wheels/tires have a multi-order improvement potential. What do I mean? Well, better tires improve your grip, which will impact both the speed at which you can corner, and the effectiveness of your braking, which means you can drive farther into a corner before braking, and then allow the car to maintain a higher speed into the corner.
Lower profile tires will quicken turn-in and improve steering response.
Lighter wheels will improve handling via a reduction in unsprung mass, which allows your suspension to react more effectively to irregularities in the road surface. Acceleration is improved, also, since you've also reduced rotating mass.
Shop carefully for wheels. If you care about performance, ask about weight, and make looks a secondary consideration. (Might I suggest, Kosei K-1 Racing?...)
"Function before fashion."
'96 Contour SE
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