Wheel "Flex" - Honda Prelude Forum

MtangKlr · 08-10-2006, 12:49 PM

I have my prelude set up for auto x. I've been running ST F&R SB's with tanbe chassis brace up front and a DC sports lower tie bar out back, I have KYB AGX struts and RSR 1.25" drop springs and I was running Fusion tires-this was great the car was like it was on rails. I was using my stock rims until i came into a great deal from a fellow luder who was parting his out. I bought a set of 17" tires to go with the rims and now the whole suspension seems "slushy" not nearly as responsive as the 16's with the fusions it almost seems like these rims have give, its scary sometimes I'm not sure if its because of a crappy tire choice or poor quality rims. Can rims have "Give" in them? or is that the tire that I'm feeling???

Daemione · 08-10-2006, 12:53 PM

What tires are on the 17's?

yield · 08-10-2006, 04:06 PM

It's gotta be your tires. The fusions are really a subcompany of bridgestone and they're known to have somewhat stiff sidewalls. Your new tires are probably signficantly softer and/or don't have the proper tire pressure.

mtbprelude · 08-11-2006, 08:11 AM

Its the tires on the 17"s. If a wheel is flexing, you have other problems.... like you hit a curb.

Falken Azenis, or Advan Neovas are the solution to crappy tires.

MtangKlr · 08-14-2006, 08:11 AM

Oh these tires were freebies from my Father-in-law-to-be. They are new and free,so I can't complain they are Ecsta bariums 205 40 R 17's. My fusions were 225 55 r 16's and they were really grippy, not at first but once they wore in they were good.

KB798 · 08-14-2006, 09:48 AM

Wheels don't have any "give" - they'll break if they do and that's an even bigger problem. It's the tires that are making the car feel mushy.

XdisengageX · 08-14-2006, 02:23 PM

I doubt you're driving hard enough to feel spoke flex but such an animal does exist - happens with really light wheels with thin spokes. usually, it's the tires that give a mushy feeling though.

by the way, 205/40/17 is too small for the Prelude and is definitely below the correct load rating (some 215/40/17s are even too low). I personally wouldn't drive hard on those tires - you're risking a blowout. put the stockers back on for awhile.

MtangKlr · 08-15-2006, 06:50 AM

I'm not really driving agressively on these tires because of the fact that I noticed a huge change in the suspension charcteristics mostly from a stiff and firmly planted stance to a feeling like I'm "Riding on Jello". On track days I'll be switching back to the fusions because I haven't had a problem with those, once those are gone I'll probably switch it up to the aforementioned Falkens or Advans. On these crapy tires I really feel like my full boogie suspension was a waste.