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Looking for new wheel + suspension recommendations

Messages
232
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Location
South Bay
#1
Hey everyone! I have a 2016 ST, molten orange with rado wheels. I've been driving it since new. I would like to keep it for at least a few more years, but in order to do that I'd like to solve a huge issue for the family. The ride quality is beating everyone up.

My first inclination was to consider a set of coilovers and switch to a different wheel/tire setup. Maybe there are other options out there that would do just as good a job for cheaper. My general taste in wheels ranges from Sparco Pro Corsa to Team Dynamics, etc.

Essentially, I want to improve ride quality by as much as possible, but still end up with a nice looking wheel/tire combo and a decent looking ride height.

I would really appreciate any suggestions from the community. Thank you!
 


RubenZZZ

1000 Post Club
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Location
El Monte
#2
When my OE RE71s needed replacement, I went with all-season 215/40/17 Federal SS595s.

The taller, softer sidewall helped with ride quality on my '16 and fill in the wheelwells too. I'm on stock struts/springs.

Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk
 


OP
P
Messages
232
Likes
38
Location
South Bay
Thread Starter #3
Thank you! if I stay with stock wheels I might do that.

From what I'm seeing overall though, it sounds like I need to move to a smaller wheel for a more noticeable change. Going with a 16" wheel and 50 series tire has been suggested by a few people. If I do that, I'd probably want to change springs as well or go to coilovers.

If anyone reading this has changed to springs or coilovers, please let me know what you would suggest as far as a spring that retains good handling properties, but will be less harsh overall than the stock springs.

Thank you!
 


Messages
147
Likes
73
Location
NoCal
#4
215s do help if you stay with the 17"ers. I have Mountune Springs and B8s with 8" Rota Recces. I had the springs with stock shocks to start and the ride harshness improved, then I blew a front and (finally after waiting for stock forever) installed the B8s. I am totally happy with this for my daily driver. I have coilovers on my miata, which are nice but I the spring/shock set up for my daily Fiesta. There is less to worry about with the spring/shock set up, install and drive. Possible draw back is no height adjustability but for a daily there is no real need to adjust. Also the cost is less unless you get some low price coilovers which I would not recommend because you will probably want something else after awhile, you get what you pay for. There are a lot of springs that are good choices, Eibach, Swift (had those on a 1 series), etc. I went with the proven Mountune springs which they pair with B8s as a Clubsport package, they have been in Europe for some time prior to the US getting the ST. So I am "pro spring/shock set up" for a daily.

Wheels are a personal choice, get what you like that is in your budget. Tires are also open to preference and need. Looks like you are setting up a daily driver so you don't have to get low wear, super sticky units, you may have some weather concerns, etc. I would not go over 215s if you are staying with 17" wheels and try not to go under a 40mm offset. Rubbing and clearance was a top concern of mine, did a lot of research. Final set up of me was; Mountune springs with Bilstein B8s, 17 x 8 Rota Recce, 40mm offset and 215/40/17 Kumho Ecsta PS31, have been running this for over 2 years on my 2016.

Hope this helps...
 


OP
P
Messages
232
Likes
38
Location
South Bay
Thread Starter #5
215s do help if you stay with the 17"ers. I have Mountune Springs and B8s with 8" Rota Recces. I had the springs with stock shocks to start and the ride harshness improved, then I blew a front and (finally after waiting for stock forever) installed the B8s. I am totally happy with this for my daily driver. I have coilovers on my miata, which are nice but I the spring/shock set up for my daily Fiesta. There is less to worry about with the spring/shock set up, install and drive. Possible draw back is no height adjustability but for a daily there is no real need to adjust. Also the cost is less unless you get some low price coilovers which I would not recommend because you will probably want something else after awhile, you get what you pay for. There are a lot of springs that are good choices, Eibach, Swift (had those on a 1 series), etc. I went with the proven Mountune springs which they pair with B8s as a Clubsport package, they have been in Europe for some time prior to the US getting the ST. So I am "pro spring/shock set up" for a daily.

Wheels are a personal choice, get what you like that is in your budget. Tires are also open to preference and need. Looks like you are setting up a daily driver so you don't have to get low wear, super sticky units, you may have some weather concerns, etc. I would not go over 215s if you are staying with 17" wheels and try not to go under a 40mm offset. Rubbing and clearance was a top concern of mine, did a lot of research. Final set up of me was; Mountune springs with Bilstein B8s, 17 x 8 Rota Recce, 40mm offset and 215/40/17 Kumho Ecsta PS31, have been running this for over 2 years on my 2016.

Hope this helps...
Thank you - I appreciate the info!
 


Messages
137
Likes
141
Location
Minnesota
#8
switched to 16" wheels with 205/45 tires, and the ride is noticeably improved. Also dropped 5+ pounds from each corner.

Planning to get bilstein b6s in the future. Will keep the stock springs, as I autocross and would like the car to stay legal for H street.
 


Messages
147
Likes
73
Location
NoCal
#9
Have you been in a car with the Clubsport Bilsteins? Is ride quality more comfortable than stock?
As mentioned in my previous reply; the Mountune springs and B8s (Mountune's Clubsport Bilstein set up) are more forgiving, comfortable, then the stock set up. The ride quality is firm and not overly harsh. I also run 215s which adds to the impact resistance due to larger sidewall then the stock 205s. Again, I love the set up for my daily driver and still am very pleased with my choice, no complaints or reason to change.
 


HardBoiledEgg

1000 Post Club
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Location
Fontana
#10
I went with Bilstein B14 for a Fiesta and light year better. 65k later I'm finally stepping down to 16s with 205/45

Hoping for a noticable change
 


Messages
444
Likes
519
Location
Metro Detroit
#11
Last May when I purchase my ST the first thing I did was order up some 16 x 7 wheels and TPMS sensors from Summit Racing and then went to Firestone for a set of 205 50R 16 tires.

As for why, I'm old enough to remember when a 60 profile tire was considered a low tire profile. In addition as a Metro Detroit resident I knew quite will the 205 40 R17 tires and wheel wouldn't last a month unless I drove like those fools using bandaids for tires on giant rims who come to a near stop when they see a pea in the road. Michigan has some of the worst roads in the nation and we have potholes here that will break the front suspension on a Semi Tractor.

So, the result. Number one is the ride is now rather good for a car this small. Yeah on some of the worse roads it can rattle your teeth a bit but not bad enough to need to slow down. As for handling, traffic circles on 16's aren't really a circle they are simply a chicane. In simple terms I don't see any difference in handling at all.
 


CSM

1000 Post Club
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1,621
Location
Cleveland, OH, USA
#12
Hey everyone! I have a 2016 ST, molten orange with rado wheels. I've been driving it since new. I would like to keep it for at least a few more years, but in order to do that I'd like to solve a huge issue for the family. The ride quality is beating everyone up.

My first inclination was to consider a set of coilovers and switch to a different wheel/tire setup. Maybe there are other options out there that would do just as good a job for cheaper. My general taste in wheels ranges from Sparco Pro Corsa to Team Dynamics, etc.

Essentially, I want to improve ride quality by as much as possible, but still end up with a nice looking wheel/tire combo and a decent looking ride height.

I would really appreciate any suggestions from the community. Thank you!
I have had a LOT of setups on my 2014 MO FiST.

I would recommend first going with 16" wheels on 205/50/16 tires. See if that gets you the quality that you want. If not, swap out the rear shocks for Koni Orange which helps soften things up. Its really the rear OEM springs/shocks that contribute to the bounciness of the car.

I've got Bilstein B14s now, and it helped a bit, but not nearly as much as the 16" setup
 




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