996 Suspension - again

Hi all, I know there have been a few threads on this, and many subjective opinions, but no-one appears to have the same setup as mine. I have a 98 C2 Tiptronic with what appears to be the standard suspension but with (I think) 18" Sport Design 2 wheels. The rear tyres are Pirelli 265's but dont cover the rims so as soon as I get close to a kerb - they kerb. One tyre needs replacing so I was going to go for 285's on the rear. I would image they would give better traction (in the dry/wet?) and protect the rims. My shocks need replacing and I was considering a set of lowered 030 shocks etc. to improve/lower the look of the car and improve the handling. Most of my driving is around town with a few longer motorway journeys and a couple of track days a year. I am pretty satisfied with the handing and ride but it does tend to wander at high speed but this is probably due to the suspension getting on a bit and needing a geometry set up. I dont find the ride too harsh or partiucularly noisy unless on poorly surfaced roads. The car needs a services so I want to make sure I get everything done at the same time and done so the various components compliment each other. What are the implications of going for wider tyres as I dont want to change the rims? With the 18" rims and possible wider tyres, would the 030 setup create clearance issues? I would expect the ride to be firmer and harsher, but would the difference be dramatical and uncomfortable? Would standard shocks but with lowered 030 springs roll bars be a good compromise? Any recommendations on set-ups and suppliers would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks for all your help in advance. Rob

I had the M030 option on mine (with 18" wheels) but found the ride a bit harsh on the poorly surfaced roads we have in this area. I fitted standard shockers which took the edge off the harshness, but left the benefit of stiffer anti-roll bars, and lower ride height. It worked for me. Can't comment about fitting 285's, but I know what you mean about kerbs. The Conti's I had on my 993 seemed to have rim protectors that protruded more than the PZeros, so that might be an option worth considering.

Maurice: Fine by me. I sent you an email with my new contact details. Rob: (The PZeros have rim protectors, but not as pronounced as the Contis.) I also should have explained that the spring platforms on the standard shockers seemed to be at the same height as the M030 shockers, so the lower ride height must be achieved with the M030 springs. The anti-roll bars of the M030 are stiffer too. If you want to go the M030 route, try www.carnewal.com who do the set for 995 Euros, which isn't bad compared with OPC prices. I paid about £700 for the shockers alone. You will definitely need a full geometry setup after fitting. HTH.

Beershark 285/30s are standard fitment on the rear of facelift 996s (as distinct from 265/35s) and as such should work perfectly on your car. More traction and grip are a given. Front tyre sizes are the same on both so the handling balance should be good too. The wider rears protrude much further outboard of the rim than the 265s but I still wouldn't want to bank on them saving your rims if you kerb them! Only downside of the 285s is that they're a bit more expensive (being both wider AND lower profile) Ian W

My C4 has the 030 option and I would agree with the view that on the majority of local roads the option is too harsh/too firm for comfort and I would not specify this option again. I also have the Sport Design 2's and like you terrified of kerbing them - the 285 option sounds like a good idea and I will go down this route when the rears are due for a change (hang the expense) Not sure if this helps??!!

You will probably find that a thorough suspension service, with oe replacement parts, a set of new tyres, if you need them, (suggest Pirelli Rossos N4, with the 285 rears) and, crucially, a really accurate set up, will transform your car. M030 suits some tastes, particularly if you do track days, but you would need the full kit, not just the dampers. I've known plenty of people to mess up suspensions by by fitting mismatched springs and dampers. You could end up with odd handling and a very 'jiggly' ride that never feels settled.

can't you just fit some aftermarket progressive sports springs to get the 30mm lowering? Been thinking about doing this myself. I have Michelin PS2's (285's) and they have got very rim protection.

Rob If you are considering the 285's, check the offset of the rear wheels on later models compared with your 1998 car. I think I am correct in saying that the later cars had front wheels which were 1/2" wider than the earlier cars, so the offsets may be different. If you were fitting 285's to the rears, and leaving the fronts as standard, I would be worried about upsetting the balance of the car. I am sure you would get more understeer if you did this. Just my 2p-worth. See http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4635&hl =