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After installing the new FD springs and sway bars, I am still trying to optimize my Spyder's handling. The bars make the car handle far better overall with less (practically no) roll but I still find the steering too light and the car too sensitive to turn in (in fact the roll bars accentuate this). Overall, it is a bit nervous feeling. Numerous reviews have noted this in the OEM set up, most notably Evo magazine so I know that I am not imagining things. I also find the front end lacks grip and I lock it up a lot under hard braking - again making the car unpredictable for really aggressive driving.
I am thinking of two options to increase the front grip and steering weight:
1. 15mm FD wheel spacers all around and maxing out the tires size on the OEM 8" front rim to a 245-40 18. I don't think that I will have any rubbing issues with this set up.
2. Change front rim to a 9.5" size (basically by swapping the existing ones for a set of OEM rear rims) and putting on a much wider front tire (e.g. 255-40 18 or even a 265-35 18). Use the 15mm spacers on the rear only and max out the rear tire size (275- 35 18) to maintain a staggered set up. I am not sure if the wider wheels on the front will rub.
Obviously, Option 1 is a lot cheaper. I have ruled out aftermarket wheels for now because of the prohibitive cost of a meaningfull upgrade (e.g. A set of light 19" HRE's is around $7500). The last thing that I want to do is to add a lot more unsprung weight with heavy wheels since the car is too heavy as it is. The rough roads around here are also not a good complement to a large wheel lower profile tire set up.
I drive the car very hard and intend to put in a full program of track days this summer but the car is primarily for road use. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.
I am thinking of two options to increase the front grip and steering weight:
1. 15mm FD wheel spacers all around and maxing out the tires size on the OEM 8" front rim to a 245-40 18. I don't think that I will have any rubbing issues with this set up.
2. Change front rim to a 9.5" size (basically by swapping the existing ones for a set of OEM rear rims) and putting on a much wider front tire (e.g. 255-40 18 or even a 265-35 18). Use the 15mm spacers on the rear only and max out the rear tire size (275- 35 18) to maintain a staggered set up. I am not sure if the wider wheels on the front will rub.
Obviously, Option 1 is a lot cheaper. I have ruled out aftermarket wheels for now because of the prohibitive cost of a meaningfull upgrade (e.g. A set of light 19" HRE's is around $7500). The last thing that I want to do is to add a lot more unsprung weight with heavy wheels since the car is too heavy as it is. The rough roads around here are also not a good complement to a large wheel lower profile tire set up.
I drive the car very hard and intend to put in a full program of track days this summer but the car is primarily for road use. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.