ok well my buddy and i are having this argument.. hes got an 08 stock s2 and he wants to lower it on espilers and put some 17x9's in the back... and i told him the espilers have a stiffer spring rate and that will create more oversteer... hes telling me that the 17x9's in the back will help reduce the oversteer cause they will have more grip.... whats you opinons on this topic lmk thanks guys

 

I'm not sure, but I think if the spring rate on the front and rear is kept to the same ratio as stock except they're just stiffer, it should be okay.

I do know for sure that if you go wider on your rear tires, you will have less oversteer due to more rear traction. However, the downside to that is, when you do cause an oversteer with wider rear tires, the effect is much more dramatic and harder to recover from.

 

well, yes. But also unless you're an idiot or tracking, you won't get it to that state, with say fat wide tires 10", cause the S2K has like zero torque compared to say a STI or an AMG or a M

 

You're both right. Spring rates will change from approx

Fr: 275 - Rr: 226

to

Fr: 313.6 - Rr: 392

Thats a big increase in the rear which will lead to more oversteer, but will be counteracted by a wider rear tire. The wheel width doesn't matter, only the tire's ultimate contact patch.

 

yes and no, tire width and wheel width goes hand in hand

if you over stuff or stretch the tire, you'll have a deformed tire patch = mushy tire wall or sh-tty contact.

the biggest question is that why he want a mismatched spring? did you mention to him that the damper valving and swaybar are suppose to work together?

 

as long as he leaves the VSA on he should be ok, other than the mismatched spring rates / damper rates / sway bar stiffness.