Do Coilovers increase clearance?

[Duncodin]

This photo is not my car. I just swiped it off of the interweb.

My tyre is pretty close to the spring seat. Like in that picture or maybe not quite as close.

But I want to put taller tyres on.

Please lets not discuss rolling radius, incorrect speedo, Speed sensor errors or whatever else. I will worry about that later. Just want to know about the 'physical' clearance issues.

If I went for Coilovers then they wouldn't have that ginormous spring seat. Is that correct? Anyone have a similar photo of their setup with coilovers to give me an idea of how much clearance they have?

Thanks y'all.

 

[Duncodin]

I mean wouldn't Coilovers give me something like this? (This isn't even a beemer. Just another pic I, er, borrowed)

In that example width could be a problem if I went too wide or wheels with wrong offset. But no longer any problem with height?

I suppose I'm just looking for somebody to say they've done it - or have knowledge of such things.

Ta

 

[Scooblitz]

In regards to the first picture, remember that the tyre and wheel is fixed in relation to the shocks and strut spring plate (cup) . Only the spring and inner tube will compress. Clearance of any kind should still be clearance enough.

However, if you are looking to increase the sidewall and to an extent, width of tyres, you will have less clearance. But if it clears, it clears.

Coilovers are effectively the same. Due to their design, without wide spring plate cups, you could have ability to run more sidewall.

Increased tyre Width can be accommodated with spacers, subject to offsets as well as sidewall itself if things start to foul the strut spring cup on fixed dampers.

So yes, Coilovers, due to the spring design could give you more clearance for chubbier, wider tyres.

What you got in mind?

Stevie

 

[Duncodin]

In regards to the first picture, remember that the tyre and wheel is fixed in relation to the shocks and strut spring plate (cup) . Only the spring and inner tube will compress. Clearance of any kind should still be clearance enough.

However, if you are looking to increase the sidewall and to an extent, width of tyres, you will have less clearance. But if it clears, it clears.

Coilovers are effectively the same. Due to their design, without wide spring plate cups, you could have ability to run more sidewall.

Increased tyre Width can be accommodated with spacers, subject to offsets as well as sidewall itself if things start to foul the strut spring cup on fixed dampers.

So yes, Coilovers, due to the spring design could give you more clearance for chubbier, wider tyres.

What you got in mind?

Stevie

Thanks Steve,

I'm not looking at width. Going smaller wheels. Same width wheels and tyres but I want more (MORE) side wall height (classic 1960's style rebody)

 

[Scooblitz]

What diameter rims are you looking at?

 

[Duncodin]

What diameter rims are you looking at?

Bmw style 36. Pepper pots. They 15x7 if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Scooblitz]

So I guess you are thinking more than a 225/55/15 in sidewall?

 

[Stevo7682]

There is ways you could achieve it possibly o the stock suspension.

If you have stock 16's should be 225/50/16 on a 7j et46 rim

You want to go to a 15" 7j et47 rim
All depends on how big the look you want is this to go on a rebody.
You may get away with 10 mm spacers and a front maybe 205/70/15 or 205/ 75/15.
If the size was better you may have been able to find a local tyre place with a worn one to try test fit but thats not going to be a common size to find.
Stephen.

 

[IainP]

This photo is not my car. I just swiped it off of the interweb.

View attachment 311713


Please lets not discuss rolling radius, incorrect speedo, Speed sensor errors or whatever else. I will worry about that later. Just want to know about the 'physical' clearance issues.

Actually, thats by far the easiest way to discuss it.
You want to use Pepperpots, so they're 6.5"x15" and came with 205/60/15 tyres.
Min tyre size for a 6.5" rim 185
Recommended tyre sizes for a 6.5", 195-205

Plug those sizes into a tyre calculator, with the more common 16" for reference, and you get :

Doesn't like this text, for clarity, sidewall is 4.4-5.4, diameter 24.7-25.7
Tyre size Sidewall Diameter

225/50-16	4.4"	12.4"	24.9"	78.1"	811/mi	60MPH	10000mi	N/A
205/60-15	4.8"	12.3"	24.7"	77.6"	817/mi	60MPH	10070mi	-0.7%
195/65-15	5.0"	12.5"	25.0"	78.5"	807/mi	60MPH	9951mi	0.5%
195/70-15	5.4"	12.9"	25.7"	80.9"	783/mi	58MPH	9654mi	3.6%
185/70-15	5.1"	12.6"	25.2"	79.2"	800/mi	59MPH	9866mi	1.4%

From that you can measure what clearance you have to the spring seat with whatever tyres you have now. Add half the diameter change, little wooden block, does it clear yes/no.
If not then coilovers, or spacers, I'd go coilovers anyway as it lets you play with the ride height easily. I can probably take a pic of mine if it's not raining, but i won't be home until late tonight.

You'd need to pop to www.camskill.co.uk or similar to check availability, most of those sizes will be, but the prices may reflect they're not really popular sizes anymore.

 

[Duncodin]

Actually, thats by far the easiest way to discuss it.

Thanks Ian. . But the reason I didn't want to discuss "it" is because, for this thread, I am not asking about standard diameter. If I wanted to keep the standard diameter then I could just use standard wheel/tyre sizes as per the little sticker on the pillar by the driver's door and I'd have no question to ask.

But. Pulling us back to my original question. Something like 205/70-15 instead of 205/60 would be an increase in diameter (according to willtheyfit.com) from 627mm to 668mm with a potential speedo error of 6.14% (My speedo is probably out/low by that much anyway). But /70's would mean around 20mm increase in radius and probably foul on the standard z3 spring seat. So. . . Back to my original question about coilovers. Would they avoid that fouling.

 

[Duncodin]

Why do I want to have bigger diameter?

I have these arches to fill. Sure I could lower the car but that only decreases the gap at the top. Arch gap in front of the wheel and behind it will still be giNormous.

15 inch wheels makes for a more classic look and 205/70-15 would reduce that arch gap by appx 2cm all round. Then just a little bit of lowering and I think it'll look OK.

 

[IainP]

Why do I want to have bigger diameter?

View attachment 311751

I have these arches to fill. Sure I could lower the car but that only decreases the gap at the top. Arch gap in front of the wheel and behind it will still be giNormous.

15 inch wheels makes for a more classic look and 205/70-15 would reduce that arch gap by appx 2cm all round. Then just a little bit of lowering and I think it'll look OK.

Ahh, right, I see, makes perfect sense now.
Coilovers then. That would take away the spring seat issue completely, width shouldn't be a problem. If someone else doesn't post a pic, I'll take some of mine late tonight, though mine are Bilstein, at the narrower end as coilovers go. As far as the speedo, just use a removeable dash mount for GPS, saves faffing about.
I'd go down to a 195, 195/80/15 would give 693mm diameter with a 156mm sidewall. Is it a 2.8? if not, upgrade to vented discs, the larger leverage and greater weight gives them a harder job to do.

 

[Duncodin]

Ahh, right, I see, makes perfect sense now.
Coilovers then. That would take away the spring seat issue completely, width shouldn't be a problem. If someone else doesn't post a pic, I'll take some of mine late tonight, though mine are Bilstein, at the narrower end as coilovers go. As far as the speedo, just use a removeable dash mount for GPS, saves faffing about.
I'd go down to a 195, 195/80/15 would give 693mm diameter with a 156mm sidewall. Is it a 2.8? if not, upgrade to vented discs, the larger leverage and greater weight gives them a harder job to do.

195/80 would be an increase in radius of just over 3cm. Potential speedo error of just almost 10% I like the sound of the 3cm but don't know
how these changes will feel with the gearing. I'm not a racer anyway so as long as I can pull away without stalling or riding the clutch I'll be OK.

But 195 are a bit close to the lower limit of what will go on 7" wheels. Worth bearing in mind though

 

[Pond]

Just be careful you don't end up with 'clown' tyres just to fill your arch gaps. It could look ridiculous and could rub on steering.

It is a difficult one, as not only have you got to think about clearing the suspension struts, but also not rubbing the GRP arches on full lock, or big bumps, as that would not end well.

If your offsets are too close to the dampers/ springs you could use spacers, as long as they stay within the new arches.

As far as width of tyre is concerned; going with the widest width that is reasonable for the rim width is the way to go IMO. Having a 'fat' looking tyre on a rim, with a bit of 'squash' looks 'period' and 'performance'. A skinny tyre on a small rim isn't a good look, but a wider tyre on a small rim looks the part IMO.

My wires are 15" x 6" and will just about take 205/60/15 tyres. But mine have huge hub convertors so the offset shouldn't be a problem. Famous last words!

 

[IainP]

195/80 would be an increase in radius of just over 3cm. Potential speedo error of just almost 10% I like the sound of the 3cm but don't know
how these changes will feel with the gearing. I'm not a racer anyway so as long as I can pull away without stalling or riding the clutch I'll be OK.

But 195 are a bit close to the lower limit of what will go on 7" wheels. Worth bearing in mind though

I though all the standard 15” are 6.5?
Anyway this is the clearance on my coil overs, looks nil, but there’s no brake disc fitted and it’s not a standard wheel. Clearance would be 10-12 mm minimum with a standard wheel.

 

[Scooblitz]

Spacers.

Pepper pots are 15x7 et47 so you have around 25mm of spacer to play with which should more than clear the spring cup.

No need to spend on suspension.

Stevie

 

[Duncodin]

Pepper pots are 15x7 et47 so you have around 25mm of spacer to play with which should more than clear the spring cup.

No need to spend on suspension.

Stevie

Stevie. Did you see this picture?

205/70-15 tyres are not wider. They are taller. They would not fit with that spring seat where it is.

Are you saying that your 25mm spacers would bring the wheel out far enough to allow for a 30mm taller tyre?

Although I will add that there is no way that I'd put 25mm spacers on the front anyway.

 

[Duncodin]

I though all the standard 15” are 6.5?
Anyway this is the clearance on my coil overs, looks nil, but there’s no brake disc fitted and it’s not a standard wheel. Clearance would be 10-12 mm minimum with a standard wheel.
View attachment 311855View attachment 311857

Thanks Ian. That's the kind of clearance I'mm looking for

Although. I am worried about how hard the ride would be. Are all coilovers basically 'sporty' and therefore hard?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Just as a matter of interest (to me, if no-one else) does the rebody alter the weight of the car a lot?

 

[Duncodin]

Just as a matter of interest (to me, if no-one else) does the rebody alter the weight of the car a lot?

A lot? Certainly it can't be exactly the same weight but we're not talking a huge difference. It doesn't feel heavier when driving and the ground clearance hasn't changed.