lower Suspension in winter

[decks]

does a lower suspension cope with snow and ice better than a normal suspension, i am not talking a foot of snow just a little bit.

[spoons]

I very much doubt it.

Deep snow is very sticky, once it hits the underside of the car causing resistance your probably doomed.

I've contemplated raising my Fiat 500 on the coilovers this winter because of the above. Its very low and would just get stuck !

[Big Knox]

it'll make your car good a ploughing lol

[m8internet]

The distance between the ground and the underside of the body should be the same
The suspension is lowered from standard, but this is offset by larger wheels
The main benefits from the stiffened and lowered suspension are for cornering at speed, typically at 40mph and above
Therefore it will help you when driving on country roads
However, the Vectra C has wide tyres, and for driving in snow you really want narrow tyres; the only way to achieve this is to have an entire set of wheels for snow use

Equally, the wide tyres can help when driving on ice
Part of the tyre may end up on ice but another part may end up in direct contact with the road
Therefore at low speed this can be helpful

[spoons]

The distance between the ground and the underside of the body should be the same
The suspension is lowered from standard, but this is offset by larger wheels

Thats not right sorry.

Lowered suspension = lowered car, full stop

Both my cars on coilovers and they are ground hugging, especially the Fiat !

[Birchy63]

Dunno if it's just me, am I going mad?
But the car now on gas (as opposed to oil) shock absorbers, seems slightly lower in cold weather.... Particularly noticeable at the rear where my wheels are actually up side the arches by a few mm's.

I've got the Eibach Pro's and Bilstein B4's btw.


But as for the OP, lower is only good for high speed stability.

[m8internet]

Thats not right sorry
Lowered suspension = lowered car, full stop

From the factory, sadly that is the case
The body height between standard and sports suspension is identical
The difference is made up by the tyres that are fitted; 215/55R16 and 215/50R17

[Jezzy]

I think most people on this thread are referring to the likes of Eibach springs (-30mm) and similar, in which case the wheel doesn't compensate for the reduction in height.

[roswell]

after bottoming out the vectra in snow 3 or 4 times this morrning on standered sri suspention the last thung id want it lower its bad enough being the local snow plough as it is.

[john_k_sri]

From the factory, sadly that is the case
The body height between standard and sports suspension is identical
The difference is made up by the tyres that are fitted; 215/55R16 and 215/50R17

Wrong. Some Vectras and Signums came from the factory with standard suspension and 17" wheels as standard. Also the SXI from 04 on came with 16" wheels and lowered sports suspension.