I 'm saving up for some 17" rims. When I get them I'm planning to lower my car. Is it possible to lower my car for better handling and for a sleeker look but still have enough clearance in the front and back to not scrape the underside of my car on a 6" curb?

--claudio+Dec 16 2002, 04:55 PM

QUOTE (claudio @ Dec 16 2002, 04:55 PM)

I 'm saving up for some 17" rims. When I get them I'm planning to lower my car. Is it possible to lower my car for better handling and for a sleeker look but still have enough clearance in the front and back to not scrape the underside of my car on a 6" curb?

Are you planning on running over 6" curbs? I'm pretty sure that you'd scrape if you don't already running over or hitting curbs like that.

1. If you go for 17" rims, your tire size is going to be 205x40x17.
This wil give you EXACTLY the same clearance as you have now.

2. If you lower your car then you'll have much better handling and the gap between the tire and the wheel arch will be reduced making it look smart.
However, you're going to have to watch out for kerbs when parking, ramps into and out of multi-storey or underground car parks, speed humps, and the like...
(Or at least that's the case in the UK and Europe).

3. If you then go for a body kit...it'll be even worse!

I'm going this way.
I have 17" rims running 205x40x17 tires and have no pbs at all.
Next, I'm lowering my car (KYB GR-2's or Koni "Yellows" with Eibach Sportline Springs 1.5" drop f&r).
I'll then go for a body kit.
In order to minimize grounding out pbs, I'm going to see if I can't change the profile of my tire to 45.

There are others on the board who are more qualified than I to answer your questions. They've already done all this.

Thanks for the response. I just checked out the other past posts. It seems Eibach Sportlines with the 1.5" drop is the way to go. Not coilovers Post some pics when you get a chance so I can check out your 17's with the 1.5" drop . . .I plan to do the same when I have the cash. Also let me know what it ran you (parts&labor) for dropping your ride.

why dont you just get coilovers so you can adjust your ride height whenever you want? You can raise it up when you go curb hoppin! >>

claud you can see a pic of 17" wheels w/ the 1.5"drop (eibach sportlines) & kyb gr-2's hereparts list
those are enkie rsf-2 17" w/205-40-17's.. it cost me about 400 for parts and 150 to have the struts/shocks & springs in...hope that helps!

Cool bro', Thanks. The rims look good. Its a little hard to compare the drop, though. The photo is slightly distorted and one photo seems zoomed in (closer) than the other one.

yea sorry about the quality of those pics but its all i got right now..(borrowed a ****ty digicam)to be honest its really not that low. it just kinda kills the wheel gap but i like it..dont wanna be scraping on the ground, or bottoming out on the ****ty roads around here...especialy once i get a body kit.