T Sport Handling

[Blacksheep]

I've had my car for 18months now and i'm overall really pleased with it, I do however find it a bit wallowy (if thats a word) when driving quickly, I know its either the tyres (too tall) or two much suspension or a bit of both.

Initially I was thinking of lowering it but I'm definatly going to buy bigger wheels so would doing both make it to harsh a ride, has anybody just changed the wheels/tyres or do both need to be done to really sort the car out, the problem i have is I drive the car most of the time sensibly so the softer ride is quite nice but then when I have a mad 10 minutes its to soft so i'm looking for a compromise..

Any advice would be great, thanks..

Oh yeah its a 54 plate Facelift which i think are lowered a bit anyway...

[chrisb]

If you have a large tyre wall this may effect the handling slightly getting a lower profile tyre would help this!

I imagine you would be able to get lower and slightly stiffer springs for the CTS!

How much are you looking at spending?

CB

[Blacksheep]

Well i'm definatly going to get larger wheels the standard 16" are just to small so i'm going for 17's with a lower profile tyre which will help the handling, I don't know if I should do the springs as well in case it makes the ride to harsh...

[Zuban]

shoot me down if you want.. but in my opinion your looking at this the wrong way, sure change to 17's, will give you better handling, but only because of less sidewall. The wallow will still be there as its mostly from the suspension.

Instead maybe looking at buying a decent set of tyres with stiff sidewalls, in size 205/50 on your stock 16" wheels, maybe look at yoko parada spec 2's or the like, although if you get them change all 4 tyres not just the fronts as they will grip so much harder than the backs you'll lose the rear end. And a set of lowering springs. cheaper than a new set of wheels and tyres, and will handle sooooooooooo much better.

[PaulT]

Instead maybe looking at buying a decent set of tyres with stiff sidewalls, in size 205/50 on your stock 16" wheels, maybe look at yoko parada spec 2's or the like, although if you get them change all 4 tyres not just the fronts as they will grip so much harder than the backs you'll lose the rear end.

What's the wear like on those grippy tyres? I'm getting 12000 miles out of the stock Corolla fronts and about 30000 from the rears. Would better grip mean I'd have to replace more often?

Paul.

[Blacksheep]

Hey i'm no expert and after as much advice as possible, i'm going to change the wheels purely from a cosmetic point of view if for nothing else i presumed it would also help the handling, my thoughts were would it be to harsh to also change the springs and i've spoken to fensport they have 2 kits one that drops the car 30mm and the other 35mm, anybody run either of these kits and hows the ride?

I got my tyres changed from front to back at the 10,000 mile service because from day 1 I wanted to get new bigger wheels so I've worn all 4 tyres down, the standard michelin's wear fast for such poor grip levels IMO...

[Zuban]

I'd agree cosmetically the 17's look better than 16's, and to be honest i dont think there will be any detriment to handling, i had 17's before i went back to the 16's and they were just different, although ithe 16's definetly isnt affected by bumps so much, and the ride on a whole is smoother.

The point i'm trying to make is your going to see more benefits from selecting the right tyre choice than wheel size :D

[PaulT]

I got my tyres changed from front to back at the 10,000 mile service because from day 1 I wanted to get new bigger wheels so I've worn all 4 tyres down, the standard michelin's wear fast for such poor grip levels IMO...

Yeah, I heard they switched to Michelins. Mine is still on Bridgestone Turanzas.

Paul.

[Steve Danby]

Blacksheep, changing to 17" will look better and should improve the handling; however I would definately look at the tyres as well! I have stuck to the original wheels but changed to Goodyear Eagle F1 (205/50 x 16) tyres. I have certainly noticed an improvement in the handling, both in the wet and dry!

The original Bridgestones wore really fast, approx 23,00 miles! A good place to go for cheap tyres is http://www.blackcircles.com give them a try.

Good luck!

[Blacksheep]

23,000 miles, my Michelin's have only done 18,000 and all 4 are shot, I can't believe how poor they grip for such a soft tyre, I've also noticed they don't hold any heat coming home tonight I touched 110mph on a section of road not very far from the house pulled up some fairly heavy braking felt the tyres stone cold...

I've always ridden motorcycles and I know the tyres are softer but they always get tacky feeling and warm, I presumed the same of more sports orientated car tyres...

[Zuban]

When i got my car it had the stock bridgestones on it, tbh they sucked bigtime, in all conditions, they really were rubbish, fine as an economy tyre, really not suited as a sports tyre.

[Spuffington]

Eagle F1's are great.........but you'll find they wear pretty quickly too.

Also, for a performance car - I don't think 20k out of a set of tyres is too bad!

[Blacksheep]

Just ordered some Falken FK451 205/50 R16's from www.camskill.co.uk

I had a few days reading about different tyres and to be honest you can't find anything that everybody likes, I read a review of these tyres on a porsche 911 site and they got a really good review and positive comments from forum members so I will see how they go, can't afford the wheels at the moment so I might get a lowering kit after i try the tyres first...

Thanks to the advice from all above hopefully the tyres prove a good buy....

[Zuban]

My freind had them on his civic, really rated them, just a good solid all round tyre, wet, dry. Excellent Value.

[Blacksheep]

Anybody know what the rim width is on a standard 54plate facelift Corolla T Sport, they are the original 16" wheels...

[mr_miller]

Thanks for the link Blacksheep... Definately one to keep.

[Blacksheep]

Car was in today for its 20,000 mile service, my mate's foreman at the garage and he's fitted my tyres for me, told me they were a mare to get on because the sidewalls are about 5 times stiffer than the michelin's that came off, wreckons I should notice a big improvement in the handling, time will tell I suppose pick it up in the morning I will let you guys know what I think...

[Blacksheep]

Put 150 miles on the tyres and finally got a clear run home from work tonight, I think they have better grip than the michelin's they are also holding heat better I could never get the michelin's much more than luke warm these are getting much warmer tackier feeling, although I still think I need to lower the car to improve the handling further, don't know if anybody else notices this I thought it was the michelin tyres but the car feels the same with the Falken's on, but the steering feels a bit vague, bit like you've got under inflated tyres (before anybody suggest the pressure's are correct) around long corners or messing around on the local roundabout the tyres/car feel fine, its on faster roads where there's smaller movement left and right the car seems to get a bit unsettled probably the springs to soft I suppose....

[Blacksheep]

Just thought I would add although your probably not interested first wet drive home with the Falken's and they are very good in the wet, I was a bit apprehensive as I had no idea if they would be grippy or slippery but they are miles better than the standard michelin's in the wet(although they were worn), i'm gobsmacked they have more grip than I have bottle and for half the price of the Michelin's I would recommend these very very good...

[Blacksheep]

Is it just me or does anybody else find the TSport a handfull through the twisty bits, has anybody on here fitted a lowering kit to a facelift T sport and was it worth it...

Also i've read a few threads that have stated the T Sport brakes are awesome on a par to an Evo, I find the brakes on my T Sport a bit notchy if I jump on them they work really well if I'm trying to be more progressive they feel vague don't know if this is related to the VSC or not or am I just expecting too much...

Thanks

[K19NE G]

Is it just me or does anybody else find the TSport a handfull through the twisty bits, has anybody on here fitted a lowering kit to a facelift T sport and was it worth it...

Also i've read a few threads that have stated the T Sport brakes are awesome on a par to an Evo, I find the brakes on my T Sport a bit notchy if I jump on them they work really well if I'm trying to be more progressive they feel vague don't know if this is related to the VSC or not or am I just expecting too much...

Thanks

Well lowering by that extra 10mm was worth it in my opinion! Steering response even feels a little better coupled with 17s.

As for the brakes - they are awesome - but as you say, being progressive doesn't work as this is how I used to approach things being the way you would brake in other cars...

[Blacksheep]

Well lowering by that extra 10mm was worth it in my opinion

I think Fensport do a kit that lowers the Facelift 30mm although I stand to be corrected, do you think that would be too much...

[PaulT]

I think Fensport do a kit that lowers the Facelift 30mm although I stand to be corrected, do you think that would be too much...

There is a TTE adjustable springs and dampers kit which can go down 50mm from the original CTS, so about 30mm less than the facelift I guess.

You can do the lowering springs and they help a bit, but really you probably need to upgrade the dampers as well, plus add TRD stiffer anti-roll bars as some people have done.

Last time I looked, though, the TTE kit cost £3000 or so!

Regarding the brakes, I've always found mine (2003 model) to be progressive even under heavy braking. Sometimes the ABS cuts in a bit early if you go over bumps, but otherwise 60-0 in 2.8sec is better than 1g :D

Paul.

[K19NE G]

Well lowering by that extra 10mm was worth it in my opinion

I think Fensport do a kit that lowers the Facelift 30mm although I stand to be corrected, do you think that would be too much...

I think you're wrong there... and I think personally it would be too much because that would be lowered about 60mm in total!

You can do the lowering springs and they help a bit, but really you probably need to upgrade the dampers as well, plus add TRD stiffer anti-roll bars as some people have done.

Paul.

I'm thinking about Whiteline anti-roll bars if I do decide to hold onto my car a bit longer...