Lowering again. Need suggestions.

[05gtowner]

So I just replaced my NT450's (275 rears and 255 fronts on stock 17" bullitts were like on ice skating on anything slightly damp) with NT555's and since they don't make a 275 in the 555's I went with the 255's all around. Now the rear wheel gap looks like shit. When I lowered it last year I went with 1" drop roush springs and koni's STR.T's, adjustable PHB, UMI UCA and LCA, Steeda HD strut mounts and Shelby sway bar links. On the old tire set up the gap was fairly even but damn 3/4 of an inch difference in tire height between the old 275's and the new 255's makes a huge difference in that tire gap. The front looks okay but now I think I need to replace the rear springs but don't want to mess up the way the car handles by using two different manufactures springs. I have done some research and came up with two options. the Eibach Sportlines or H&R Super Sports. Both give me about the same drop but what I am not sure of is which will work better with the STR.T's and still give a decent DD ride. I know I will sacrifice some ride quality the lower I go but I just can't take the rear looking like a 4x4.

So what say ye on the spring issue? Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? Right now I am currently sitting at 27.5" from the ground to the top of the wheel opening in the front and 28.5 for the rear.

 

[07 Boss]

You couldn't get a higher profile tire? What were the original size tires and what did you replace them with?

 

[07 Boss]

Oh, I guess there are not that many sizes for 17" rims. Kinda wondering why you went with a summer performance tire if you're worried about wet weather traction though. Seems kinda silly.

 

[retfr8flyr]

You could try the UPR adjustable rear springs setup. That's what I have in my car and they work well. I change the adjustment when I switch from my summer setup with 28.8 rears to the winter setup with 27 inch rears, to keep the gap I want.

 

[05gtowner]

Oh, I guess there are not that many sizes for 17" rims. Kinda wondering why you went with a summer performance tire if you're worried about wet weather traction though. Seems kinda silly.

It doesn't rain much in California and I needed something that wasn't bad like the NT450 was in the rain when it does though. We had a nice summer storm this past week and these tires performed much better than the 450's. Since it is sunny here 98% of the time I went with the majority. I talked to Nitto before I bought them and they said temperature is what makes them a summer tire. The compound begins to harden up on them around 45 degrees. It rarely gets that cold here even when it does rain so it was a trade off. There wasn't much in terms of a 27" or slightly taller tire in 17's. I really don't like anything but maybe a few styles in 18's even though there are way more tire choices at that size wheel. So it was either keep the bullitts I have and find a tire for it and maybe then lower it slightly for a few hundred in springs and new bump stops or spend $1200-$2000 for new wheels and tires.

I was just looking to see what people's feedback might b on the H&R's or the Sportline's. From what I read the sport line gives a firmer ride with similar drop so I will probably go with the H&R's.

 

[UltraKla$$ic]

http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123821

 

[Grubb]

So I just replaced my NT450's (275 rears and 255 fronts on stock 17" bullitts were like on ice skating on anything slightly damp) with NT555's and since they don't make a 275 in the 555's I went with the 255's all around. Now the rear wheel gap looks like shit. When I lowered it last year I went with 1" drop roush springs and koni's STR.T's, adjustable PHB, UMI UCA and LCA, Steeda HD strut mounts and Shelby sway bar links. On the old tire set up the gap was fairly even but damn 3/4 of an inch difference in tire height between the old 275's and the new 255's makes a huge difference in that tire gap. The front looks okay but now I think I need to replace the rear springs but don't want to mess up the way the car handles by using two different manufactures springs. I have done some research and came up with two options. the Eibach Sportlines or H&R Super Sports. Both give me about the same drop but what I am not sure of is which will work better with the STR.T's and still give a decent DD ride. I know I will sacrifice some ride quality the lower I go but I just can't take the rear looking like a 4x4.

So what say ye on the spring issue? Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? Right now I am currently sitting at 27.5" from the ground to the top of the wheel opening in the front and 28.5 for the rear.

I love my FRPP K springs, 1.5" drop, great ride quality with Koni's and price isn't bad either. Sometimes I do wonder if I would of liked sportiness better to eliminate the slight rake K's give but when the tank is full its close to level. BMR makes nice springs also. Do you have any pics of the gap?

 

[05gtowner]

 

[05gtowner]

Here is what it looked like before with the old tires.