[Chris Hollingworth]

Dear Abarth 124 Spider Owners
My question is about your wheels tyres and springs. I have in mind a 30mm reduction in ride height using Vogland springs (a German brand available here in the UK) paired with a change of wheels and tyres. I was originally going to go with standard 17 x 7 wheels and 205/45 tyres but having seen
Treetopflyer

Fresh ceramic coating

Just back from ceramic coating

www.124spider.org

I am now thinking of being a little bolder with 17 x 7 with 215/45 on the front and 17 x 8 235/45 on the rear. Given what you guys may have already have done with your cars do you see any issues with this. Rubbing arches etc?
Best regards
Chris (Cheshire, UK)

 

[Brexit !]

Hiya Chris......Surprised "a little" that you feel the 124 Abarth UK set up is not suitable as Bilsteins / better springs are standard ? However....considering springs and Alloys / Tyres indicates "a need" Are you intending to track your Spider as that set up may require specialist advices ? I have the 124 Classica which didn't handle well (understeer) on purchase so I googled and studied these threads and came up with the perfect solution "For ME".............Eibach Pro-Kit, they will lower as required, they require no alignment and are available at a great price (full details of my purchase and fitting in "Brexit Mods" thread). Alloys...it is well documented here and elsewhere that the Corsa standard 124 Abarth alloys are heavy at 22 lbs per corner whereas 15-18 lbs recorded by many here for suitable replacements with THE BEST BUY UK tyre out there being the Michelin Pilot 4 Sport 215/45 R17 with the New Goodyear (don't last as well) Asymmetric 5 being on par...... for road set up Spiders.....Mixing / insurance / rubbing / handling issues with bigger tyre sizes covered in detail within these pages. Brexit Mods again you will see charts and advices I received. I actually bought the 124 Lusso 17" alloys from fellow member Graham Robinson (Aberdeen) and find them perfect for the looks and handling of the 124 Spider, again I recorded a story about "trying to buy" BBS alloys...have a read, dealers mentioned.
Whichever way you go Chris...take your time and Best Wishes, Cheers
ron

 

[Beekenc17]

Dear Abarth 124 Spider Owners
My question is about your wheels tyres and springs. I have in mind a 30mm reduction in ride height using Vogland springs (a German brand available here in the UK) paired with a change of wheels and tyres. I was originally going to go with standard 17 x 7 wheels and 205/45 tyres but having seen
Treetopflyer

Fresh ceramic coating

Just back from ceramic coating

www.124spider.org

I am now thinking of being a little bolder with 17 x 7 with 215/45 on the front and 17 x 8 235/45 on the rear. Given what you guys may have already have done with your cars do you see any issues with this. Rubbing arches etc?
Best regards
Chris (Cheshire, UK)

I am running the madness lowering springs on my Abarth with the Bilstein's
i have 17x8 45mm offset advanti storm s1
running federal ss-595 235/40/17 on all 4 corners

 

[Chris Hollingworth]

I am running the madness lowering springs on my Abarth with the Bilstein's
i have 17x8 45mm offset advanti storm s1
running federal ss-595 235/40/17 on all 4 corners

Thanks for the prompt reply and great news as that gives me a guide to where the safe limits are. Much appreciated.

 

[Chris Hollingworth]

Hiya Chris......Surprised "a little" that you feel the 124 Abarth UK set up is not suitable as Bilsteins / better springs are standard ? However....considering springs and Alloys / Tyres indicates "a need" Are you intending to track your Spider as that set up may require specialist advices ? I have the 124 Classica which didn't handle well (understeer) on purchase so I googled and studied these threads and came up with the perfect solution "For ME".............Eibach Pro-Kit, they will lower as required, they require no alignment and are available at a great price (full details of my purchase and fitting in "Brexit Mods" thread). Alloys...it is well documented here and elsewhere that the Corsa standard 124 Abarth alloys are heavy at 22 lbs per corner whereas 15-18 lbs recorded by many here for suitable replacements with THE BEST BUY UK tyre out there being the Michelin Pilot 4 Sport 215/45 R17 with the New Goodyear (don't last as well) Asymmetric 5 being on par...... for road set up Spiders.....Mixing / insurance / rubbing / handling issues with bigger tyre sizes covered in detail within these pages. Brexit Mods again you will see charts and advices I received. I actually bought the 124 Lusso 17" alloys from fellow member Graham Robinson (Aberdeen) and find them perfect for the looks and handling of the 124 Spider, again I recorded a story about "trying to buy" BBS alloys...have a read, dealers mentioned.
Whichever way you go Chris...take your time and Best Wishes, Cheers
ron

Thanks for the rapid and comprehensive reply. I'll have a full read through the pages you suggest tonight. I'm happy with the Bilstiens apart from standing too high. It's always been a pet hate of mine, cars with huge gaps between the top of the tyres and the wheel arches hence the change of springs to lower it all round. I'm getting the OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels and springs at the same time at Demon Tweaks and their stock lowering spring is Vogland which are not widely known but have a long history. I'm not going for a track set up it's just that I have never yet had under steer but the back will step out very easily when the torque comes in round bends especially in the damp/wet. I don't tend to use traction control as it just confuses who should be driving the car me or a black box. So that is why I'm planning on going wider at the back than the front despite not hearing about anyone else doing it possibly with good reason (?). Additionally I also plan a Celtic Tuning remap to 200 bhp so the better tied down the back the better. I couldn't agree more about the Michelin Pilot 4 Sport tyres. I have them on an Audi S5 cab (supercharger pully mod and remapped to 450 bhp) and can't fault them so subsequently will be my preferred option for 124. The stock Bridgestone POTENZA tyres don't fill me with confidence in the wet.
Once again thanks for taking the time to respond.
Regards Chris

 

[Beekenc17]

Thanks for the prompt reply and great news as that gives me a guide to where the safe limits are. Much appreciated.

the 235 in the front is about all you will get without rubbing

 

[Calehedron]

the 235 in the front is about all you will get without rubbing

On a stock alignment, agreed. With some front Camber/Caster work, 245/40s will also fit with no rubbing on a lowered car.

 

[Brexit !]

Thanks for the rapid and comprehensive reply. I'll have a full read through the pages you suggest tonight. I'm happy with the Bilstiens apart from standing too high. It's always been a pet hate of mine, cars with huge gaps between the top of the tyres and the wheel arches hence the change of springs to lower it all round. I'm getting the OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels and springs at the same time at Demon Tweaks and their stock lowering spring is Vogland which are not widely known but have a long history. I'm not going for a track set up it's just that I have never yet had under steer but the back will step out very easily when the torque comes in round bends especially in the damp/wet. I don't tend to use traction control as it just confuses who should be driving the car me or a black box. So that is why I'm planning on going wider at the back than the front despite not hearing about anyone else doing it possibly with good reason (?). Additionally I also plan a Celtic Tuning remap to 200 bhp so the better tied down the back the better. I couldn't agree more about the Michelin Pilot 4 Sport tyres. I have them on an Audi S5 cab (supercharger pully mod and remapped to 450 bhp) and can't fault them so subsequently will be my preferred option for 124. The stock Bridgestone POTENZA tyres don't fill me with confidence in the wet.
Once again thanks for taking the time to respond.
Regards Chris

Hi again Chris...."Very" surprised to see that the back end of your124 Abarth is stepping out like that, you sound like you know your stuff so I would wonder what the LSD (Limited Slip Diff) is doing as that should be keeping you in line (ish)...even on my 16" 124 Classica original alloys and 195 Yokohama Advan's, even thought I worried about stepping out and do drive with spirit through bends and round corners, it never actually did. lad about the Pilot Sport 4's, the 17" alloys I bought from Graham had part worn Bridgestone Potenza's on and I swear that if I hadn't already fitted my "Eibachs" the Potenza's would have been the final straw...Terrible ! I would urge you to consider the Eibach Pro-Kit as they are ideally suited to the 124 Spider.....Cheers
ron

 

[Beekenc17]

Dear Abarth 124 Spider Owners
My question is about your wheels tyres and springs. I have in mind a 30mm reduction in ride height using Vogland springs (a German brand available here in the UK) paired with a change of wheels and tyres. I was originally going to go with standard 17 x 7 wheels and 205/45 tyres but having seen
Treetopflyer

Fresh ceramic coating

Just back from ceramic coating

www.124spider.org

I am now thinking of being a little bolder with 17 x 7 with 215/45 on the front and 17 x 8 235/45 on the rear. Given what you guys may have already have done with your cars do you see any issues with this. Rubbing arches etc?
Best regards
Chris (Cheshire, UK)

This should help give you an idea how my set up is fitting

 

[Chris Hollingworth]

View attachment 81055 This should help give you an idea how my set up is fitting

Thanks very much for that. So 17x8 45mm offset with 235/40/17 on all 4 corners. That looks very tasty. How much lowering have you got from standard front and back?

 

[Chris Hollingworth]

Thanks very much for that. So 17x8 45mm offset with 235/40/17 on all 4 corners. That looks very tasty. How much lowering have you got from standard front and back?

 

[Brexit !]

View attachment 81055 This should help give you an idea how my set up is fitting

Got to say...."That looks The Dogs Doberries, Well Done, not sure how it would work on Lusso or Classica though.....(photo's anyone ?) Cheers
ron

 

[Beekenc17]

Thanks very much for that. So 17x8 45mm offset with 235/40/17 on all 4 corners. That looks very tasty. How much lowering have you got from standard front and back?

i have fully adjustable rear suspension arms by Godspeed, so i stood the rear end up more than it was when I originally lowered it i will fin a photo of it when it was originally lowered on the stock wheels, so it can give you an idea

 

[Beekenc17]

 

[Beekenc17]

Got to say...."That looks The Dogs Doberries, Well Done, not sure how it would work on Lusso or Classica though.....(photo's anyone ?) Cheers
ron

it should work the same with the classica and lussos
the suspension geometry is the same the only difference was the shocks from classica/lusso to abarth

 

[Brexit !]

it should work the same with the classica and lussos
the suspension geometry is the same the only difference was the shocks from classica/lusso to abarth

No I meant the natural aggressive stance of the 124 Abarth in comparison to the natural flowing 1960's Sports car look of the 124 Lusso & Classica, my Classica is lowered and it works well but not sure your set up would look quite as good on either of them, still..again Well Done, Cheers

 

[SJWhiteley]

There's no real reason to go with different wheels and tires front to rear.

It does look better, if lowered, with wheels that extend out a bit more flush with the fender. 17x8 with 235/40 as shown by @Beekenc17, show this. There are multiples of pictures, both Abarth and non-Abarth lowered with a variety of wheels. Good-win Racing has a good collection of pictures - and wheels (but you are in the UK so selection/availability may be different).

 

[bradley]

Highly recommend H&R 30mm springs mate, myself and many other UK owners are running them. Car looks 10x better, still has good ride quality and handles as it should!

 

[Azzurro]

Highly recommend H&R 30mm springs mate, myself and many other UK owners are running them. Car looks 10x better, still has good ride quality and handles as it should!

View attachment 81080

30mm as in 15mm per corner?

Looks great!

 

[bradley]

30mm as in 15mm per corner?

Looks great!

30mm lowering springs all round, then I have 25mm spacers each corner too