Making ST 180 More Comfortable?

[omerakz]

Hello, I drive my Fiesta ST (2016) daily and getting very uncomfortable in city.

Just because of that, I even tought about selling my car..

That is why I am wondering how to make it more comfortable.

Here are some ideas to try, I hope someone in here have some experience and share them.

- Softer springs:
I am not sure if there are any softer springs for ST 180 but maybe Eibach springs are softer?

- 15/16 inch wheels:
I believe it will make a difference but not sure if it is worth to try.

- Softer shocks:
?

 

[Djkid1456]

A wheel and tire set up with a bigger sidewall might be the move. You can get softer springs but honestly the struts themselves are already over damped. Not to mention you'd be missing a lot of what makes this car so good.

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[TyphoonFiST]

Hello, I drive my Fiesta ST (2016) daily and getting very uncomfortable in city.

Just because of that, I even tought about selling my car..

That is why I am wondering how to make it more comfortable.

Here are some ideas to try, I hope someone in here have some experience and share them.

- Softer springs:
I am not sure if there are any softer springs for ST 180 but maybe Eibach springs are softer?

- 15/16 inch wheels:
I believe it will make a difference but not sure if it is worth to try.

- Softer shocks:
?

You will get more comfort out of going down in wheel sizes with more side wall. But* there is a downside...you will lose the crisp turn in with stock wheels and tires and the body could roll more.

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[omerakz]

You will get more comfort out of going down in wheel sizes with more side wall. But* there is a downside...you will lose the crisp turn in with stock wheels and tires and the body could roll more.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

I am mostly a daily driver but sometimes I go to track days. I may buy a set of Semi-slicks for stock wheels and drive smaller wheels for daily.

A wheel and tire set up with a bigger sidewall might be the move. You can get softer springs but honestly the struts themselves are already over damped. Not to mention you'd be missing a lot of what makes this car so good.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk

What do you think about Eibach springs? They are lower but as far as I know they are softer

 

[Djkid1456]

I'm not sure eibach are softer as I'm running BC Coilovers. But I think any performance option is going to put you in the same hole you are in. So it's tough to say. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

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[TyphoonFiST]

I run Swift Type R springs on NOS Stock 15' Shocks and struts. The ride is alot Better than with stock springs....it is about 1 inch lower Also. I now plow snow here in Mn in the winter with my FiST due to it...it is what it is.

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[Phishy]

I run 16” summer and 15” winter wheels with Eibach and Koni orange and it’s made a huge improvement in ride quality. Dropping down in wheel size makes the biggest difference IMO. Some people say the Eibachs “ruin the car” but for my use and my goals with the car this is the best set-up for me

 

[omerakz]

I run 16” summer and 15” winter wheels with Eibach and Koni orange and it’s made a huge improvement in ride quality. Dropping down in wheel size makes the biggest difference IMO. Some people say the Eibachs “ruin the car” but for my use and my goals with the car this is the best set-up for me

Do you feel difference between 15 and 16? Is 15 way better than 16 or will 16 do the job for me?
Did you drop down the wheel size before suspension and did you experience the car with 16s with stock suspension?

Thanks for the reply!

 

[FiSTY]

FWIW I can't say that 16's (at OEM OD) made a discernable difference in ride comfort or handling. It can now withstand Columbus potholes... but it's still a very tight little car.

 

[gtx3076]

Moving to a smaller wheel helps, but stiff shocks are still gonna feel stiff.

I heard the 2016 OEM suspension is a little softer.

 

[Dpro]

Moving to a smaller wheel helps, but stiff shocks are still gonna feel stiff.

I heard the 2016 OEM suspension is a little softer.

Its actually like mid 2016 and upward. To the OP yes going to 16’s with a 205/45 or 215/45 will be a more comfortable ride. Even putting a 215/40 on the 17’s will hep some. Though you will get more benefit from the 16 as well as 15’s . Thing to remember is you do usually lose a bit of the turn in on the smaller wheels with more sidewall. You can make up for that with a bit of negative camber which can bring back the turn in.

 

[omerakz]

FWIW I can't say that 16's (at OEM OD) made a discernable difference in ride comfort or handling. It can now withstand Columbus potholes... but it's still a very tight little car.

What do you think will make the difference? Shocks or springs?

Moving to a smaller wheel helps, but stiff shocks are still gonna feel stiff.

I heard the 2016 OEM suspension is a little softer.

My ST is already 2016 and I can not say that it is soft in any ways. Im not sure if it is about the shocks or springs.

Its actually like mid 2016 and upward. To the OP yes going to 16’s with a 205/45 or 215/45 will be a more comfortable ride. Even putting a 215/40 on the 17’s will hep some. Though you will get more benefit from the 16 as well as 15’s . Thing to remember is you do usually lose a bit of the turn in on the smaller wheels with more sidewall. You can make up for that with a bit of negative camber which can bring back the turn in.

I will drive it daily with 15 or 16's. I am planning to buy a set of Semi-slicks for stock wheels and drive it on track.

Thanks for the replies guys

 

[Tonda-B]

Im not sure if it is about the shocks or springs.

Surely shocks - rates.
My ST 2015 had from the Ford factory:
Front - Compression/Rebound 1100/1800 N by 100 RPM/min and 100 mm hub on the measuring unit.
Rear - C/R 900/900 N
Now I have shocks with rebound adjustable with rates:
Front - 1200/1400 to 1900 N
Rear - 700/ 900 to 1600 N
Which is much more comfortable for daily use, but adjustable for the circuit rates.

 

[Phishy]

Do you feel difference between 15 and 16? Is 15 way better than 16 or will 16 do the job for me?
Did you drop down the wheel size before suspension and did you experience the car with 16s with stock suspension?

Thanks for the reply!

I have had the car in most configurations, stock wheels and suspension, stock suspension with 15’s and snows, then aftermarket suspension, then added the 16” summers, and still run the 15’s in the winter.

I think the 17’s were just to big for this car. I understand why the car was sold new with them but downsizing my wheel and tire combos were probably the best thing I have done with the car to date. Dropping the wheel weight and gaining some sidewall made a big difference. My wheel and tire weight went down about 7lbs a corner with the 16’s and little more with the 15” winter set up vs the OEM stuff.

Eibach and Koni Orange is definitely the “GT” setup for this car, it’s still a short wheelbase light car but the ride has come more in line with what I wanted while still being pointy and sharp when I want it. 100% road use for me, if I auto-x’d or did track days I would opt for different suspension and put up with the daily comfort penalties.

 

[Tonda-B]

I use 17" wheels for both winter and summer.
Ford rims are cast and really heavy (10,6 kg). Forged OZ will be better, but waste 8 rims I have into the litter?
In the summer I use 215/40 RE050A (illegal in my country. Legal is just 205/40) and I can recommend the Bridge tires. They give you brilliant information what happens on dry, wet or damp, giving you time enough for the reaction.
In the winter is it Sottozero3 205/40 which is below the average on dry and wet, perfect on snow and nothing on ice.

 

[SteveS]

Illegal? Is it because it doesn't fit under the fender? Or just that you can't go wider than original?

 

[M-Sport fan]

Illegal? Is it because it doesn't fit under the fender? Or just that you can't go wider than original?

Some of the draconian Euro/eastern Euro countries' DOT/NHSTA/MOT/TUV equivalents forbid any size change from the actual stated, and provided from the factory, wheel and tire size to be on their cars.

 

[Tonda-B]

Some of the draconian Euro/eastern Euro countries' DOT/NHSTA/MOT/TUV equivalents forbid any size change from the actual stated, and provided from the factory, wheel and tire size to be on their cars.

Yes. It is true.

 

[omerakz]

Surely shocks - rates.
My ST 2015 had from the Ford factory:
Front - Compression/Rebound 1100/1800 N by 100 RPM/min and 100 mm hub on the measuring unit.
Rear - C/R 900/900 N
Now I have shocks with rebound adjustable with rates:
Front - 1200/1400 to 1900 N
Rear - 700/ 900 to 1600 N
Which is much more comfortable for daily use, but adjustable for the circuit rates.

Thanks for the info, can you write down the name of your shocks? I would like to check them out.
Also can you please describe if more/less compression or more/less rebound makes the car more comfortable?
I have no idea about the rates and would like to learn!

I use 17" wheels for both winter and summer.
Ford rims are cast and really heavy (10,6 kg). Forged OZ will be better, but waste 8 rims I have into the litter?
In the summer I use 215/40 RE050A (illegal in my country. Legal is just 205/40) and I can recommend the Bridge tires. They give you brilliant information what happens on dry, wet or damp, giving you time enough for the reaction.
In the winter is it Sottozero3 205/40 which is below the average on dry and wet, perfect on snow and nothing on ice.

I have a set of 215/40/17 Continental Premium Contact on my MX-5 ND, I am planning to swap the tires with my ST (205/40/17 Michelin PS4) and I will check if the ride quality changed.

I have had the car in most configurations, stock wheels and suspension, stock suspension with 15’s and snows, then aftermarket suspension, then added the 16” summers, and still run the 15’s in the winter.

I think the 17’s were just to big for this car. I understand why the car was sold new with them but downsizing my wheel and tire combos were probably the best thing I have done with the car to date. Dropping the wheel weight and gaining some sidewall made a big difference. My wheel and tire weight went down about 7lbs a corner with the 16’s and little more with the 15” winter set up vs the OEM stuff.

Eibach and Koni Orange is definitely the “GT” setup for this car, it’s still a short wheelbase light car but the ride has come more in line with what I wanted while still being pointy and sharp when I want it. 100% road use for me, if I auto-x’d or did track days I would opt for different suspension and put up with the daily comfort penalties.

Thanks a lot for detailed explanation, do you think having a bigger side wall makes any negative effect with handling in corners?

Thanks for the replies

 

[Phishy]

More sidewall is going to deflect more and dull things, and squirm around more. That said with the appropriate size good 16” summer tire I don’t notice that at all. With my massive sidewall 15” snow tires it’s a relative mess if you are trying to drive it like it’s summer.

With the OEM 17’s I found the ride a little busy and crashy. Like a small car with hardcore suspension tuning for a daily. I didn’t want that. I think losing the big chunks of unsprung weight allowed the suspension to work more effectively. The steering feels better, it feels a little quicker, and I can assume it’s made the brakes more effective. They basically had to put 17’s on it to sell it but I don’t think that was the right size wheel for this car.