World Famous Z
Ready to race!
- Location
- Southern California
RE: Suspension / Tire question re: ride quality
So, I think I know the answer, but I just wanted to hear it from other R owners out there...
When I drive my car, and hit a bad fwy expansion joint, manhole cover, or something similar, (I'm in south OC CA, so the roads are pretty "ok" compared to many other places), my car seems to really "hit or slam" into it. I've noticed this since day one with my 16 R.
I have since lowered it on VWR springs, and have swapped the tires to Michelin PSS tires of OEM size (but usually the PSS runs a bit wider, and taller so slightly more tire than before).
When I drive over these things at normal road speeds (speed limit or under) it feels like the wheel is just slamming into it and I always expect a bent wheel because of how harsh it hits. Drinks have come out of the cup holders, my visors have jarred loose and come down, and my phone falls out of it's mount just to give an example of how hard it seems to slam.
But low and behold, no tire damage, or wheel damage ever... and no thrown alignment or blown bushings or rods etc.
My quesitons for you all are: 1) is this normal with our cars? I know the tires that fit our size wheels don't give a ton of sidewall or cushion etc
and 2) is this more tire related (as I think it is) or could it be suspension related? Is there perhaps an issue with the OEM adjustable suspension where it just cannot handle this type of impact well (valving etc) or possibly blown shocks/struts? I've never noticed anything leaking and the car drives absolutely fine and handles so well otherwise, that I really don't think it's anything blown or gone bad. But perhaps it's an issue with how the suspension might be valved?
BTW this occurs in any suspension mode I'm in, comfort normal or race. Oddly enough, it's usually a tiny bit better in race ever since I lowered the car. (which doesn't make a ton of sense to me, or it could be just in my head)...
So what are your thoughts and takes on this issue?
I'm totally willing to throw money down the road into a nice set of forged 18" wheels, just to be able to get larger sidewall tires if that would help, but I'm not certain it would, and I wouldn't want to spend that $$ if it didn't help.
So, I think I know the answer, but I just wanted to hear it from other R owners out there...
When I drive my car, and hit a bad fwy expansion joint, manhole cover, or something similar, (I'm in south OC CA, so the roads are pretty "ok" compared to many other places), my car seems to really "hit or slam" into it. I've noticed this since day one with my 16 R.
I have since lowered it on VWR springs, and have swapped the tires to Michelin PSS tires of OEM size (but usually the PSS runs a bit wider, and taller so slightly more tire than before).
When I drive over these things at normal road speeds (speed limit or under) it feels like the wheel is just slamming into it and I always expect a bent wheel because of how harsh it hits. Drinks have come out of the cup holders, my visors have jarred loose and come down, and my phone falls out of it's mount just to give an example of how hard it seems to slam.
But low and behold, no tire damage, or wheel damage ever... and no thrown alignment or blown bushings or rods etc.
My quesitons for you all are: 1) is this normal with our cars? I know the tires that fit our size wheels don't give a ton of sidewall or cushion etc
and 2) is this more tire related (as I think it is) or could it be suspension related? Is there perhaps an issue with the OEM adjustable suspension where it just cannot handle this type of impact well (valving etc) or possibly blown shocks/struts? I've never noticed anything leaking and the car drives absolutely fine and handles so well otherwise, that I really don't think it's anything blown or gone bad. But perhaps it's an issue with how the suspension might be valved?
BTW this occurs in any suspension mode I'm in, comfort normal or race. Oddly enough, it's usually a tiny bit better in race ever since I lowered the car. (which doesn't make a ton of sense to me, or it could be just in my head)...
So what are your thoughts and takes on this issue?
I'm totally willing to throw money down the road into a nice set of forged 18" wheels, just to be able to get larger sidewall tires if that would help, but I'm not certain it would, and I wouldn't want to spend that $$ if it didn't help.