Coil-Over Suspension: Look Good and Stay in Control on the Street and Track

Monday, May 7, 2012 by Alex Mouroulis

Looking for a coil-over system for your daily driver, but also want it to perform at the track? One of the most attractive features of the following options is their ride height adjustability. They feature an adjustable spring perch and a threaded shock body. You can thread the perch up and down, allowing you to customize how much lowering you prefer for each corner of the vehicle. These coil-over systems will also let you customize the tuck of the vehicle's corners. 
 

Below are my three favorite track-ready coil-overs available at Tire Rack:
 

Bilstein PSS10
Bilstein PSS10
H&R RSS ClubSport
H&R RSS ClubSport
KW Variant 3
KW Variant 3


Utilizing Bilstein's shock absorbers that are designed for heat dissipation and ride control, the PSS10 Coil-Over System adds a matched performance spring and threaded ride height adjuster to provide a complete suspension system for your vehicle. The system offers ten vehicle adjustment settings and includes numbered adjusters at the base of the shock body so you know exactly what setting you are on without counting clicks.

The RSS ClubSport Coil-Over Kit is designed for the committed motorsport enthusiast who's willing to relinquish some ride comfort in return for handling performance. The firmest coil-over in the H&R street line, the RSS is the choice for weekend track and club sport events.

KW Variant 3 Coil-Overs are state-of-the-art motorsport technology for proven performance on the streets. Independently adjustable compression and rebound damping allows for custom driving set-ups. The exclusive KW patented system has dual-level valves to provide the adjustment of the rebound damping (comfort) and the compression damping in the low-speed range. High-speed settings for driving comfort are preset by KW engineers.
 

To find the suspension component that's right for your car, shop by vehicle.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Kumho Ecsta ASX

Monday, April 23, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.


Kumho Ecsta ASXReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.27

1987 Mercedes-Benz 190D
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Buy/More Info
Miles driven on tires: 10,000
Location: Chicago, IL
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
April 19, 2012

Installed on aftermarket wheels with H&R sport lowering springs and konis on a euro model. They do well in the rain and the dry performance is very good considering the long life compound used and the relatively low price up front. I think they are slightly louder than average due to the harder compound at highway speed, but I'm willing to put up with a little noise if they last a long time. With an aggressive alignment, you will have to rotate them more often, but then you would with any tire in that situation. They did not do well in deep snow as they became packed pretty quickly- but with a light snow they did just fine with my limited slip rear end.

I would read people whining about these (or any) tires failing after 15K on them (on some front wheel drive car or minivans in super hot or cold climates) with caution. Like all tires, when they are on cars with alot of weight and steering on a front wheel drive vehicle in temp extremes- they will require more maintenance, frequent rotations and general care. Tread separation, blown-out sidewalls and etc. indicate design or quality problems. 50,000 mile tires that "wear out" in 15K? Likely due to "user error."

Suspension Shopping for my BMW 740i

Friday, April 6, 2012 by Ben Rooney

My 1997 BMW 740 is likely overdue for a suspension overhaul. The potholed and broken pavement that is typical of this time of year has highlighted that fact. With over 180,000 miles on the vehicle (only about 20,000 are from my driving), I have not replaced the BMW shocks or springs and do not know whether the original owner did either. The existing components could very well be the ones that came from the factory! 
 

The decline in handling from sloppy, worn-out suspension components is taking a toll on my enjoyment of the car. Therefore, it's time to start plotting my replacements. Springs are easy to replace and relatively affordable. I have narrowed my choices between the Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set and H&R Sport Spring Set. Both brands are excellent and well priced. For a car like mine that may see some fast driving but is generally a daily driver, the Pro-Kit offers an excellent combination of comfort and handling. 
 

Shocks are a little tougher choice and more expensive. Check back next week to see what option I've chosen. 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Pirelli P6 Four Seasons

Friday, December 23, 2011 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Pirelli P6 Four SeasonsReviewer's Overall Rating: 9.3

2007 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
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Buy/More Info
Miles driven on tires: 2500
Location: KNOXVILLE, TN
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 2500 Miles on Tires
December 20, 2011

This tire came on my car when I purchased it with 23,000 miles on it & they were brand new. I got almost 39,000 miles on them before I replaced them with these new ones. I was very pleased with them & that's why I got the same kind. I still could have gotten approximately 3,000 miles more on the old tires, but I did full brakes & H&R sport springs all at same time. This tire was great in the snow that we had here in Knoxville, TN last year. The quattro played a big part in that, but the tires handled it perfectly. I highly recommend these tires and getting them through Tire Rack was a flawless experience and they have FAST shipping.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Hoosier Radial Wet H20

Friday, December 23, 2011 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Hoosier Radial Wet H2OReviewer's Overall Rating: 10

2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
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Buy/More Info
Miles driven on tires: 8
Location: Murphy, TX
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 8 Miles on Tires
November 17, 2011

My 2006 Mazda MX-5 (3rd generation Miata) is prepped for C Street Prepared class autocross competition, where I compete against the smaller & much lighter 1st and 2nd gen Miatas. My drivetrain/suspension mods include AST 5220 coilovers, Hyperco springs, Hotchkis RX-8 front swaybar (no rear bar), full polyurethane bushings, and Mazdaspeed LSD. The engine is producing close to 200 hp and 170 tq (crank). It weighed 2360 at Nats this year, or nearly 400 lbs more than my competition. My best finish was 11th in 2010, although the car does have a National Championship title (Juliann Pokorny won the CSP Ladies class in 2009, in the rain on Day 2, on Hoosier Wets).

As a matter of fact, I've never been to Lincoln NE for a National-level event when it didn't rain! This past May, I was there for a 4-day combined SCCA National Tour & ProSolo, and it rained for the Tour. We finished mid-pack on my street Dunlop Direzza Star Specs, so I vowed to be prepared for rain at Nats.

I bought some "insurance" for Lincoln and installed a fresh set of the brand new Hoosier Wet H2O racing rain tire (275/35R18 on Enkei RPF1 18x9.5" 45ET wheels) just before the 2011 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. I also had a fresh set of Hoosier A6s for my dry race tires. We were in the first heat, and it had rained all night so there was not just standing water, but small rivers flowing across the course. After 1st runs, we were way ahead of our competition, and stayed on the H2Os as everyone else switched from rain tires to dry and back again, trying to find the edge. On my last run, with drying conditions accentuated by standing puddles, I layed down an astonishing run and finished Day 1 in 1st place, .6 seconds ahead of the field (including multi-time National Champions Matt McCabe, Scott Fraser, and eventual winner Tim Aro). I finished in 4th after Day 2 in the dry, so I give all the credit to the fantastic Hoosier Wet H2O tires for helping me achieve my first Nationals trophy!

Coil-Over Kits for 2007-2010 BMW M3 Coupe

Tuesday, July 5, 2011 by Logan Woodworth
Suspension Products for 2008 BMW M3 CoupeThe late model BMW M3 comes equipped with a sport suspension system optimized for aggressive street driving. For drivers looking for improved track performance and the flexibility to adjust for reasonable street manners, upgrading to a fully adjustable coil-over kit is a great solution. 

A coil-over suspension kit incorporates precisely matched coil springs and dampers in a compact solution to provide maximum performance. In addition to improved handling, these coil-over suspension solutions reduce the unsprung weight of a vehicle. These improvements translate to faster lap times and improved daily driving comfort.    

Coil-overs can also be a great solution for lowering your car with upsized custom wheels (rims) and tires. The ability to fine tune the car's ride height can be a great way to overcome many challenging wheel fitments. 

There are several options including kits from KW and H&R that can adjust both the ride height and dampening:
H&R PCS Damper Adjustable Coil-Over
H&R Damper Adjustable Coil-Over
H&R Street Performance Coil-Over
H&R Street Performance Coil-Over

KW Clubsport Kit Coil-Over
KW Clubsport Kit Coil-Over
KW Variant 3 Coil-Over
KW Variant 3 Coil-Over
 
Search suspension components by vehicle to see which suspension products work best for your vehicle.

What Should I Expect from Lowering Springs?

Thursday, May 12, 2011 by Doc Horvath
Eibach Pro-Plus KitLowering springs are a very popular option for those that are looking to improve both the appearance and handling characteristics of their vehicle. By lowering the center of gravity on the car and winding the coils closer together, a lowering spring can make the car feel more "planted" to the road for better cornering. Lowering springs will also give the car a more aggressive stance and reduce the vehicle’s fenderwell gap (the distance between the top of the tire and the edge of the wheelwell). The "downside" of the lowering spring is that the tighter coils will have less travel to them and take away from the ride comfort of the vehicle. 

So what to do? A good rule of thumb to follow is the less the vehicle is lowered, the less the ride comfort will be effected! Depending on the vehicle, both Eibach and H&R have options that can fit a variety of needs (lets use a newer VW Golf as an example):
H&R Sport Spring Set
H&R Sport Spring Set
H&R Race Spring Set
H&R Race Spring Set

For the least amount of lowering (and the closest to "stock" ride comfort, consider the Eibach Pro-Kit (1" drop front and rear).

For a "sportier" ride with a lower stance, look at the H&R Sport Spring kit (1.5" front and 1.4" rear).

Lastly, for the best improvement in handling for track applications, consider the H&R Race Spring kit (2.0" front and 1.75" rear).

Take a look at all the testing we've done on lowering springs for the complete picture!

Spring Testing

Thursday, April 14, 2011 by Tire Rack Team
Eibach Pro-Kit Spring SetLooking for new springs that are right for your vehicle and the way you drive it?

Tire Rack has performed back-to-back product comparisons to help consumers with their purchasing decisions. Our Suspension Component Research page shows Eibach Springs, H&R Springs and KONI results from our Real World Road Ride route and Performance Test Track course. Our findings can help you select the springs that are right for your application.

For example, we tested spring sets from Eibach against the Original Equipment installed on a BMW E46 328i. Our tests results showed the Eibach springs enhanced the handling and feel of our test vehicle while increasing lap time speeds. To evaluate the benefits of modifying your vehicle’s suspension, read:

Spring Testing

You can also contact one of our sales specialists for more information.

Springs and Your Suspension

Thursday, April 7, 2011 by Tire Rack Team
H&R OE Sport Spring SetHow can springs improve your vehicle’s suspension?

Springs are designed to provide cushion to absorb road imperfections and return the vehicle to a set ride height. Shorter overall lengths and a higher spring rate are commonly used to lower the ride height which helps improve handling and enhance the vehicle’s appearance. Car springs are a major contributor to a car’s handling balance and ride quality.

Whether you choose Eibach springs, H&R Springs or springs from KONI, Tire Rack has the equipment to fit your application.

Shop by vehicle to see which springs work best for your vehicle.

H&R Springs RSS Club Sport Coil-Over Suspenion Kit

Friday, April 1, 2011 by Tire Rack Team
RSS Club Sport Coil Over Suspension KitH&R Springs has one simple philosophy: “Build the best and the rest will follow.”

Whether it’s the Premium Performance Coil Over Kit or one of their Sport Springs Sets, H&R’s products are tested and approved by the German government’s TUV agency for quality, safety and reliability. All springs developed by H&R are precision-wound with the highest quality German spring steel available.

Engineers who develop racing suspensions also design the RSS Club Sport Coil Over Suspension Kits. These kits enhance the performance and corner-handling ability of your vehicle without harshness.

Shop by vehicle to see which suspension component works best for your vehicle.

Considering Lowering Your Vehicle?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 by Tire Rack Team
H&R SpringsConsidering replacing your Original Equipment springs with lowering springs? A good rule of thumb is that many vehicles can be lowered approximately 1.5 inches without any complications.

Eibach Springs and H&R Springs offer options that provide the required spring rates using progressive rate springs that minimize the effect on ride quality. Remember, the lower you go the higher the spring rate required.Eibach Springs

It is also important to note that lowering springs will change the ride characteristics of a vehicle and maintaining the proper balance ensures your car’s handling and ride comfort are not altered.

Shop by vehicle to see which springs work best for your vehicle. 

Springs for Spring!

Friday, March 25, 2011 by Gary Stanley
Looking to get rid of that unsightly wheel fender gap while simultaneously improving handling, braking and reducing body roll? All for a minimal cost? A set of lowering springs from H&R or Eibach may be the answer. Whether you drive a BMW, Porsche, Audi, Infiniti or even a Honda, lowering springs can make your car more fun to drive!

H&R Springs

Benefits of lowering springs:
  • Improved appearance with reduced fender well gap
  • Lower center of gravity
  • Reduced body roll
  • Reduced pitch and dive when braking and accelerating
  • Better handling and steering feel
Shop by vehicle to see which suspension options work best for your vehicle.

Springs and Shocks for Spring

Friday, March 18, 2011 by Colin .
Are you looking to improve the suspension on your vehicle? With options available from companies such as H&R, Eibach and Koni, Tire Rack has the products to improve your vehicle's appearance and handling.  

An entry-level introduction to improving your vehicle's appearance and handling is to purchase a set of lowering springs and performance dampers.

If you are looking for more control over adjustability then consider a coil-over or cup kit

Anti-roll bars are also a great addition to improve handling and help remove body roll around corners. 

Lowering will change the ride characteristics of the vehicle, therefore give some thought to the balance you want to maintain between handling, looks and ride comfort. If you have upgraded your wheels and tires to a larger-than-original size, you will also want to check clearance before you decide on the kit you want.          

How does ride and handling change with H&R lowering springs?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by Chad Hocker
H&R Ever wonder what to expect when changing out Original Equipment (O.E.) springs to lowering or race springs? The information below is a quick comparison between H&R O.E. Sport Springs, H&R Sport Springs and H&R Race Springs.

 H&R OE Sport Springs H&R Sport SpringsH&R Race Springs
ApplicationAverage Everyday DrivingSport Everyday DrivingTrack Use, Limited Street Use
LoweringSubtle .025-1.0" DropAverage 1.25" DropAverage 1.9" Drop
HandlingSame as O.E.Less Roll/Sqaut/DiveVery Little Roll/Squat/Dive
RideSame as New O.E.Firmer than O.E.Very Firm
AlignmentSame as O.E.May Require Alignment KitAlignment Kit Recommended
ConsiderationsNoneMay Require Alignment KitMay Require Suspension Modifications

Check our suspension fitment guide for the exact options and average lowering height for your vehicle.

Just A Little Lower Yet. H&R Sport Springs.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by Chad Hocker
H&R Sport SpringsH&R Sport Springs are a great way to lower your vehicle for an aggressive look and high performance handling. Each H&R component is made in Germany and tested and approved by the German government's TUV Agency for quality, safety and reliability. They are further tested and tuned in the USA just outside of Seattle, Washington following the philosophy "build the best and the rest will follow."

Popular Applications for H&R Sport Springs*
ModelYearApproximate Lowering Front/Rear
Audi A5'08-'091.3" Front 1.25" Rear
Ford Fusion'06-'091.6" Front 1.9" Rear
Honda Accord Coupe'08-'091.5" Front 1.3" Rear
Honda Fit'07-'091.6" Front 1.3" Rear
Scion xB'08-'091.4" Front 1.3" Rear
Volkswagen GTI'06-'091.5" Front 1.4" Rear

*Lowering and availability may differ based on your exact fitment.

See pricing and options for your vehicle.

Performance Winter Driving

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by Chad Hocker
As I was looking through some recent tire survey comments, I came across this review for the Bridgestone Blizzak LM60.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM60"I've driven two winter seasons on these tires. I have complete faith in getting around in Ohio's mix of winter weather with these tires. Have had no problems in deep (10' snowfall) or light snow. I was amazed too, at how well they preformed on ice. I gave no second thought to buying a set for my wife's Honda Civic. Well worth a little time and effort, and dirty hands to make the tire change in fall and spring." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review

Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 is a great Performance Winter Tire that concentrates more on snow traction within the winter performance tires category. It is designed for the driver that wants good handling on dry and wet roads with improved snow/ice traction for winter driving.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 RFT is also available exclusively to the following O.E. makes:

Vehicle ApplicationTire Size
Mini Cooper195/55R16 87H
Mazda MX-5 Miata205/45R17 84H
Lexus IS225/40R18 88H (Front)
255/40R18 95H (Rear)
BMW X5 & X6255/55R18 109H

Do you have lowering springs and need to buy shock absorbers?

Friday, July 30, 2010 by Rudy Riedel
Do you already have lowering spring or are planning to get them and are confused about what shock absorbers to get? This can be confusing with so may choices out there. I recommend the KONI Sport Shocks.




1. KONI Sport Shocks are adjustable. You can adjust the damper for the amount of rebounding damping that you want. This allows you to change the handling characteristics of the car for your driving preference. Just about every aftermarket spring company uses a different spring rate. With the KONI adjustables you are able to set the dampers to work best with your aftermarket springs. Dampening of a shock/strut decreases with tens of thousands of miles and with the adjustability KONI offers you can continue to increase the dampening over time.

2. KONI's are designed to improve the handling of the car from the moment they are installed and I can personally attest that they do. I like the fact I can set them softer for the street and then if I am doing a track/autocross event I can firm them up for better handling.

3. KONIs are built for a lifetime. They have a limited lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. These will be the last shock/struts you will ever need to buy. My original shocks and struts for my car started to leak at around 38,000 miles. I now have over 109,000 miles and my KONIs are going strong. Here is a picture of my 04 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon lowered on H & R Sport Springs with KONI Sport dampers.

Lowering the Mustang

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Colin .
We have the lowering springs you need if you are looking for a way to reduce that large wheel well gap that most modern Mustangs have as well as improve the vehicle's handling. 

The Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set and H&R Sport Springs are two very popular options that offer a moderate amount of lowering while still maintaining much of the original ride quality. For those who want more aggressive lowering, the Eibach Sportline Springs and the H&R Super Sport Spring kits. 

Keep in mind that performance dampers are recommended for use with more aggressive springs. 

To see what we have for your specific application, enter your vehicle information here.

Suspension Products at Tire Rack

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Henry Carlson
Tire Rack not only sells tires, but has a large selection of suspension parts for your vehicles.

We carry Eibach Springs, H&R Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Koni Shock Absorbers just to mention a few.

Eibach lowering springs give your vehicle a great look and maintain good ride quality while enhancing cornering performance. So if you are looking to give your vehicle a more sporty look and at the same time improve its handling, you should consider Eibach.

Please check out all of our suspension products.



Looking to lower your vehicle?

Monday, June 21, 2010 by Tire Rack Team
Tire Rack offers a number of high-quality suspension products that can take your vehicle down a notch, but first, make note that you shouldn't go any lower than 1.5 inches below stock settings. We'd hate for you to negatively affect ride and drive performance.

That said, we're big fans of H&R Springs. They're made in Germany and precision-wound with the highest quality spring steel available. You can choose from Sport and Race springs depending on your vehicle and how you drive it (H&R Springs Comparison Chart).

We also like Hotchkis Springs. Sport Suspension, a leader in the suspension industry, engineers high quality products for domestic muscle cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks, plus European performance vehicles and Japanese sport compact vehicles. Their Sport Springs are popular among our consumers, and we think you'll like them, too.

Of course, choosing aftermarket suspension products has everything to do with your specific vehicle. You'll want to shop by vehicle, after which Tire Rack will create a detailed list of options that you can choose from.

Not sure you want to lower your vehicle? Take a look at lowering to get a better understanding of what your vehicle would look like sitting a little lower to the ground.