New suspension for an old dog?

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1,117
Absolutely agree, driving in sport does improve the gear change speed a little but the ride is more compliant in standard so tend to leave it in that setting when driving in normal conditions.
See your car is the same model and colour as mine, good choice.
Yes, Grigio Nuvolari with full beige interior LE spec. Had mine 3 years now. Beautiful car. I dont use Sport Mode all the time. The softer compliant non-Sports setting is very good also and gearchanges are fast. I've always been keen to rely on a manufacturers R&D than doing my own R&D meddling with this or that. I've seen it a lot with Porsche cars - they either convert them back to standard losing a lot of experimental money or they are left with a tiny narrow pool of buyers who might consider a non-standard, not as-it-left-the-factory spec car.
 
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FIFTY

Member
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3,100
There is a forumer who has put their 19" Trofeos in storage and is rolling a GS on a set of 18" 4200 wheels

I believe it is @BL330
 

BL330

Member
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1,121
 

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
Looks like BL330 thought the 18" wheels made a difference, however he coupled that with a complete suspension refresh.

I would imagine 18" wheels would improve the ride.

The width of the side wall would be greater, so there would be more rubber to absorb bumps.

I had understood that part of the reason for all the cracked GS wheels was the rubber-band-thin sidewalls.
 

Ewan

Member
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6,757
Can one not fit a 19” tyre with a higher sidewall profile on a GS wheel? Okay, the Speedo reading will be effected slightly, but so what.
 

Motorsport3

Member
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868
Can one not fit a 19” tyre with a higher sidewall profile on a GS wheel? Okay, the Speedo reading will be effected slightly, but so what.

I had made similar inquiry, about my QPV and basically no one will recommend it. Changing the overall size of the wheel apparently would confuse the electronics (ABS, ESP etc). Apparently it is even worst in 4x4 cars.
 

GTVGEOFF

Member
Messages
381
Yes, Grigio Nuvolari with full beige interior LE spec. Had mine 3 years now. Beautiful car. I dont use Sport Mode all the time. The softer compliant non-Sports setting is very good also and gearchanges are fast. I've always been keen to rely on a manufacturers R&D than doing my own R&D meddling with this or that. I've seen it a lot with Porsche cars - they either convert them back to standard losing a lot of experimental money or they are left with a tiny narrow pool of buyers who might consider a non-standard, not as-it-left-the-factory spec car.
Yes I am of the same mind as you, kept my classics as close to stock as possible, any up grades I do are reversible.

Ewan, that was going to be my next question deeper sidewalls on 19" wheels

Safrane not up to speed with SD3 what is it? is it possible to reprogram so that you drive in normal but the gear change thinks it is in sport?
My car has been checked and some bushes renewed, there is no knocks or noises from the suspension in fact it feels pretty tight, drive's very well

Bruce thanks for the info that's very useful, hope you get your car back soon.
 

GTVGEOFF

Member
Messages
381
I had made similar inquiry, about my QPV and basically no one will recommend it. Changing the overall size of the wheel apparently would confuse the electronics (ABS, ESP etc). Apparently it is even worst in 4x4 cars.
Ok thanks for that, so I am guessing that an 18" wheel with a deeper sidewall will have the same rolling circumference as a19" wheel with a lower side wall?
 

Marwood

Junior Member
Messages
87
Thanks friends for replies and advice. All much appreciated. Quick chat with the good folk that look after the car and first stop: new springs and check bushes and dampers, replacing what's necessary. Then we'll go from there (I have a few other things to sort this year...wallet in brace position). Interesting too to hear that lot of you run out of sport mode. I do on motorways but rarely anywhere else. The car doesn't feel nearly so good out of sport - barge-like in corners and gear changes are much slower. I drove a friends 4200 a while back which was every bit as quick but felt...hinged...in the middle of a turn, like the back took a moment to realise what the front was up to. The GS felt all of a piece by comparison, and smaller, more nimble and confidence inspiring as a result. Even as its pogoing sideways over bumps! Will keep you posted on progress and how things feel. Also plan on doing a 25k mile update / running cost review soon. My analyst said it would help with the addiction...
 

GTVGEOFF

Member
Messages
381
Going with the idea of trying 18" wheels what profile tyre would be best when trying to match the circumference of the 19" wheels, 35 or 40?
The tyres on a GS have 35 profile on the front and 30 on the rear.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Going with the idea of trying 18" wheels what profile tyre would be best when trying to match the circumference of the 19" wheels, 35 or 40?
The tyres on a GS have 35 profile on the front and 30 on the rear.

Go for standard 4200 wheel and tyre sizes. They are the same circumference.