Handling

[Clayton]

did any one see the top 100 cars voted for on men + motors the other day. if you did not, the supra came in at 26, not bad
ferraris eat your heart out. the only prob. was the numpty who spoke about it slated its handling, this took me aback as although i have never taken it to its limits of adhesion, it seems to me that it goes around corners on rails, and after years of rallying rear wheel drive front engine cars i see nowt wrong. So my question is on standard suspension, 18" wheels and big fat tyres will i have any surprises when cornering at fast speeds a la early 911s , is she pretty neutral, tendancy to under steer or oversteer at its limit. it would be nice to know as i do not relish entering the scenery at high speed and picking holly out of my a** over xmas. http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif

[Chris Wilson]

It will be a lot better on 17 inch rims and stock tyre sizes...

[chiefgroover]

Its cool for TV reporters to slabber crap about Supra's, but for whose of us who know better they simply revel in ignorance. Dickheads. http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[The Hornet]

I'm running 18's with 235/40/18 front & 275/35/18 rear and using Goodyear F1 GSD3's all round. My Soop has the Bilstein shocks all round.

Ive found that it handles very well. If you go into a corner too fast with no gas she will understeer but not much, however if you go in to slow you cant get her up to speed by the exit before oversteer. I find I go into a corner at about 90% of full speed and tease the throttle as i go around, this way i can choose whether to go into oversteer or not.

One thing I will say is, on my way to work (lovely B roads http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) I always meet an evo VI, I pull away nicely on the straights but he beats me on the corners, although not by much in the dry! But when it's wet i.e now, he slaughters me http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif guess you can't beat 4WD this time of year http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Hornet

[thirtysix_36]

So to cut to the chase here, will Chris on standard 17`s do a lap quicker than Hornet on his 18`s with fat tyres? Assuming all other things are equal?http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

rgds
Roy.

[GavinL]

Quote[/b] (thirtysix_36 @ Dec. 30 2004,12:10)]So to cut to the chase here, will Chris on standard 17`s do a lap quicker than Hornet on his 18`s with fat tyres? Assuming all other things are equal?http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

rgds
Roy.
Are we talking about the handling of the car or the levels of grip?

[thirtysix_36]

all those things Gavin....
so who`s going to do a lap quicker, or get from `A to B` quicker?
Reason is i`m about to invest in some alloys and i`m beginning to think there`s no real advantage in going for 18`s over 17`s, apart from looks only. Also 17s and tyres will be a lot cheaper http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif ??

[Sharpie]

Roy, all other things might be equal but, the biggest difference is the drivers, no disrespect to Hornet but, have you seen some of the photo's of Chris in action around some of the tracks in the UK ? http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lego-rally.gif I'd put a good few ?? on CW http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I have been in a BPU soop with Chris at the wheel http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/run.gif http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

If you had the same driver in his/her car and then swapped the wheels/tyres (back to back laps) then I bet 17's would be faster.

With 18's inc. rubber are you not changing a small part of the overall suspension of the car but, not addressing the whole set-up ?

Clayton, I don't think it's a good time of year to start finding the limits of the Soop, I'd wait until May onwards http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

As for the big eared get on the box, he was talking about the UK car/suspension which, is a little "boat" like in the bends when pushed.

[Martin F]

I've seen CW driving a certain HKS twin Supra and also his own RX7 and to say i was impressed is an understatement !

I think its fair to say very few of us take our cars to the limit (handling wise) and i seriously doubt there are many opportunities to do that with a car as powerful as the MKIV on public roads. That being the case the drop off in handling for switching to 18" wheels will not be noticed by the vast majority of MKIV drivers (ie. opportunity to push the handling to the limit on a public road is rare, and not many people regularly take their MKIV on a track).

Going from 17" wheels to 19" wheels with low profile tyres i'm sure will not do your dentures too many favours, but if it floats your boat so be it.

As for me, i'll keep a stock set of 17" wheels for when i want to track my car http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Cuthbert]

First rule of mods for better driving - always tighten the nut behind the wheel !!
I've no doubt CW would beat me in my supra around the track if he was driving the lard mobile primera i'm driving at the mo. A pro driver can make you feel like a learner again !

[chiefgroover]

Quote[/b] ] I always meet an evo VI
Lighter, more recently developed, latest 4WD, having owned a few 4WD's I assure you aint gonna beat him in the wet and trying could end up a mess. As Clint Eastwood said "A mans got to know his limitations" (and his cars too!http://www.mkivsupra.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif. Any half baked driver can corner an EVO quickly not even getting near the limits, but it takes someone with a degree of skill to make a Supra catch it.

[The Hornet]

I have no doubt that CW would beat me hands down as I know my driving skill / limits. I dont think 17's going up to 18's will make a massive difference to fair. I didn't notice any cornering advantages, it's just a rougher ride due to lower profile. I would have to agree with the others and state that you should be careful this time of year and don't exceed your limits!

I'm not a particulary good driver just a bit better than the average i suppose. I know this as I have a friend who rallies a MKII escort and although its not got the same power, when he had a go on an old airstrip in me Supra, he showed me what the car could really do! I was nervous as hell but it just goes to show, different people have different levels of driving as their adrenaline levels are higher which allows them to concentrate better and not panic etc.

I have played around loads and I only drive within my limits and the car exceed's them as my friend can go much quicker than I around bends at speed. IMO this is why stupid kids in boy racers keep crashing, you gotta know your limitations!