Hard Suspension - - -WHY??? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

klaw126 · 12-12-2007, 04:36 PM

Hey guys, I'm new here. I have a 2003 Camry 4 cylinder, with 17inch rims and recently I have notice the cars suspension has become really hard when going over rough roads. I think this might be because of the rims but the tires are not super low. I don't understand, can it be cause by worn out suspension (the car is approaching 100K miles) What do think I need to do? Thanks in advance

jimmy-j · 12-14-2007, 08:47 AM

what are your tire specs?

lower profile tires will contribute to harsher ride

klaw126 · 12-14-2007, 09:09 AM

215/50/17

I don't think these are that low. They should provide a good level of ride comfort.

jimmy-j · 12-14-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klaw126

215/50/17

I don't think these are that low. They should provide a good level of ride comfort.

well compared to the 205-65-15 on the stockers, it is pretty low and it will definately make a difference.

you're modifying a few things by changing the tire dimensions.
1. ride comfort level
2. wider tire 215mm
3. lower profile 50%

In addition, the 17" size of overall wheel/tire will make your car feel slower

white3ch0c0late · 12-14-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy-j

well compared to the 205-65-15 on the stockers, it is pretty low and it will definately make a difference.

you're modifying a few things by changing the tire dimensions.
1. ride comfort level
2. wider tire 215mm
3. lower profile 50%

Agreed. This alone will give you more road feedback.

Quote:

In addition, the 17" size of overall wheel/tire will make your car feel slower

Eh, not really. Going up to 19" or 20", sure. But 17" and 18"... nah, not so much.

jimmy-j · 12-14-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white3ch0c0late

Eh, not really. Going up to 19" or 20", sure. But 17" and 18"... nah, not so much.

when i went from 195/55/15 to 225/40/17 on my integra i really felt the difference... not sure how it is with the much larger sedans though. you're probably right.

klaw126 · 12-14-2007, 07:31 PM

So any suggestions on improving the ride quality of your vehicle once the rims have been upgraded. Is there any way or do I have to sacrifice beauty for comfort.

white3ch0c0late · 12-15-2007, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klaw126

So any suggestions on improving the ride quality of your vehicle once the rims have been upgraded. Is there any way or do I have to sacrifice beauty for comfort.

You're pretty much stuck. Upgrading anything on a car usually requires some kind of sacrifice. Adding horsepower generally sacrifices gas mileage and engine life. Lowering a car sacrifices the ride quality, as does adding wheels with a lower profile tire. It just really depends on what's more important to you, the look of your car with the wheels, or the ride quality that you had before the wheels. I had a similar decision to make. It was whether I like my car lower and with wheels, or stock, but smooth and boat-y. I chose the former.

touringcamry · 12-15-2007, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white3ch0c0late

Eh, not really. Going up to 19" or 20", sure. But 17" and 18"... nah, not so much.

When I changed the wheels and tires on my Gen 4.5 from 205/65-15 to 215/50-17 the car was definitely more sluggish afterwards but cornering was better.

Larger rims are often heavier (especially lower priced rims) and the larger diameter forces the weight further from the center therefore increasing rotational inertia. The wider tire increases aerodynamic drag. Additionally, 215/50-17 tires tend to be sportier than 205/65-15 so they have higher rolling resistance but better traction. These factors all lead to the car being more sluggish (and reduce fuel economy).

When I bought my rims, I thought that 21lbs for a 17" was light. It is compared to some rims, but it's heavier than a forged 18" BBS which weighs 18lbs. Enkei's RPF1 17x7 is 14.5lbs!

klaw126 · 12-15-2007, 09:28 AM

thanks for the help, I dont know that I should do now. The hard ride is killing me especially living in NY its hard to avoid the rough roads. Can I upgrade my suspension to provide for a smoother ride? Can i adjust my tire pressure, or do I just have to deal with it?

jimmy-j · 12-15-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klaw126

thanks for the help, I dont know that I should do now. The hard ride is killing me especially living in NY its hard to avoid the rough roads. Can I upgrade my suspension to provide for a smoother ride? Can i adjust my tire pressure, or do I just have to deal with it?

You might be able to give yourself some more ride comfort by using a taller tire or smaller rim.