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Coilovers and wheels for performance

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by PaulG4, Apr 14, 2016.

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  1. PaulG4

    PaulG4 Junior Member

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    Hi everybody,

    Just picked up my Prius here in the UK this week. I have switched from a hybrid Yaris that I have been racing in the Toyota Sprint Series for the last year or so.

    I found that the Yaris worked out really well with Tein Street Flex coilovers and AD08R tyres, 195x55r15 on a 15x7 wheel. Maybe slightly too wide a tyre, but the grip was very good.

    I'm going to compete in the TSS in the Prius, starting in May. Probably do the first round as factory stock and then see what can be done to the chassis. Tein are offering Flex A coilovers for the Prius this year as the Street Flex model has been discontinued. However, I see that Blitz also make ZZR coilovers for the car.

    Does anybody have a preference for Tein or Blitz? I thought the Teins were pretty nice on the Yaris as a good street and track part, but have never tried Blitz. Unlike the Yaris, unfortunately the strut tops on the 4th gen Prius are not easy to reach, so I'm wondering whether adjustable damping would really make sense. Could go with Tein EDFC and have the adjustment in the cockpit.

    I notice that Cusco also do ARBs, 26mm on the front and 24mm on the rear. Does anybody know the factory sizes?

    For the wheels, in the UK we get two options: 15x6.5 et40 and 17x7 et50. I think for best performance and choice of tyre, a 16in wheel would be most suitable but I wonder if it is possible to fit a 16x7.5 wheel under the arch. Has anybody tried wider rims?

    Seems to me that the Prius chassis is much better out of the box that that on the Yaris, so I am quite hopeful that stiffer suspension will give a really nice drive.

    Sorry, would like to post links to the manufacturer websites above but I am not allowed to :)

    Thanks for any help.

    Paul.
     
    #1 PaulG4, Apr 14, 2016
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    The fourth generation of the Prius is based on an all new chassis and is less than a month old. As you may have noticed, accessories are not really out yet. Trailer hitches, bike racks performance mods, ridiculously wide wheels, and fart pipes WILL come, but no one outside of Toyota has had a production model 4 Gen Prius to modify. I would bet that in 3 months a great deal of aftermarket parts exist. Some time after that we will discover what is worth while and what is crap.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Apr 14, 2016
  3. Scuderia Priusi

    Scuderia Priusi Member

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    I've put 8x17's on my 2016 4, running Michelin 245/40-R17 Pilot Sport AS 3 Plus in street duty. Totally love them, although at times the steering is just a touch busy at speeds over 70 mph on rain grooved or rutted pavement. No clearance or interference issues. Obviously not a track tire but the size fits and works well.

    The Tein EDFC sounds intriguing, do you think they would be suitable for street use? I'd like the adjustability to fine-tune the damping on the fly. The stock setup is lacking a bit in the damping department.
     
    #3 Scuderia Priusi, May 7, 2016
    Last edited: May 11, 2016
  4. PaulG4

    PaulG4 Junior Member

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    That's cool. What et did you need to use to make them fit?

    One of the competitors in the TSS runs EDFC on her street GT86 so I presume it is fine.

    Paul.
     
    #4 PaulG4, May 8, 2016
    Scuderia Priusi likes this.
  5. Scuderia Priusi

    Scuderia Priusi Member

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    It was either ET 40 or ET 44, I don't recall offhand. I consulted with a service tech at the dealership (he was the shop "tire and wheel enthusiast"), and he said the stock 17 was a " high ET 40", which he said meant go on the high side of the stock ET 40 value, if fitting wider than stock, up to ~10% (so ET 44 would be within spec). I think he was spot-on, these fit perfectly.

    I'm saving for the Tein setup now; would you happen to know which model/frame series they spec on their site, corresponds to the 2016 gen 4 lift-back that we have here in the USA?
     
    #5 Scuderia Priusi, May 11, 2016
  6. PaulG4

    PaulG4 Junior Member

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    In the UK we have two wheel options, 15x6.5 with et40 and 17x7 with et50. The TRD replacement wheels are 18x7.5 with et48 (see TRDアルミホイール「TF8」 | TRD).

    I wondered if an 8in wheel at et48 or so would snag anywhere on the inside of the wheel arch, but it sounds like that should be fine.

    Not sure what a Prius 4 lift-back is. My model is the base UK spec hatchback and has the code ZVW50R. Would that be it?

    Paul.
     
    #6 PaulG4, May 13, 2016
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