Can i cut my springs on my vectra ?? Please read

[Dominic Brown]

Assuming:
your tyres are 225 40 18
thus Diameter 638mm
Circumference pi * 638 = 2004.336113 mm
further assuming an approximate average fully stretched elastic band thickness of 0.5 mm
You will need 2004.336113 / 0.5 = 4008.67226 elastic bands per layer of tyre coverage.
To build up an a legal tread depth of 5 mm you'll need:
4008.67226 * (5 / 0.5) = 40,086.7226 elastic bands to build up a 5mm depth over an 18inch tyre
This takes no account of breakages.
You already have 6 so only require a further 40,080.7226 elastic bands
You will probably need a sturdy kitchen knife to temporarily split your tyre to allow you to split to allow you to slip the replacement rubber on and sufficient uhu or other such jointing compound to allow you to reseal your tyre. Hope that helps.

[Angel1368]

defintly DONT chop em mate, other people have pointed out crash risks etc but also itll eat tyres very very quickly

[Handyandy-UK]

Assuming:
your tyres are 225 40 18
thus Diameter 638mm
Circumference pi * 638 = 2004.336113 mm
further assuming an approximate average fully stretched elastic band thickness of 0.5 mm
You will need 2004.336113 / 0.5 = 4008.67226 elastic bands per layer of tyre coverage.
To build up an a legal tread depth of 5 mm you'll need:
4008.67226 * (5 / 0.5) = 40,086.7226 elastic bands to build up a 5mm depth over an 18inch tyre
This takes no account of breakages.
You already have 6 so only require a further 40,080.7226 elastic bands
You will probably need a sturdy kitchen knife to temporarily split your tyre to allow you to split to allow you to slip the replacement rubber on and sufficient uhu or other such jointing compound to allow you to reseal your tyre. Hope that helps.

But the legal minimum tread depth is only 1.6mm...

... think of the savings in rubber bands.

[Dominic Brown]

I stand corrected a revised figure to achieve required 2mm depth is in the region of 16,028.68890 (including allowance for 6 pre-existing bands in stock)

[big tee]

Unbelievable that someone would even consider doing such a thing. All to save a few £'s

Better off leaving well alone until you have the money to do the job correctly.

PS: Does anyone know how many elastic bands I will need to replace a worn tyre. I cannot afford a new tyre so I'm collecting the elastic bands that the postman drops on his rounds. I have 6 so far.

depending on the profile of the tyre will determin how many rubber bands you will need mine are 225/45/17 and i used 1,432 red rubber bands.need to start collecting again for the other 3 wheels. HTH GOOD LUCK

[jason johnson]

Progressive springs should not be cut, unless you want to reform the cut end. This needs specialist kit and heat treating properly.

This would cost you FAR more than buying new lower (and stiffer springs). Also if you lower it significantly you will need to uprate your dampers. The originals will wear out much quicker otherwise.

HOWEVER. You CAN cut the older parallel springs. I have done it before on my 1974 Triumph Stag. Needs must and all that. BUT these were much more simple to do, and the end could be 'flattened' to sit in the hanger fairly easily. I effectively lowered it on the front, when I fitted a much lighter engine, by about 55mm by cutting off 1.5 coils. The inherent increase in stiffness also helped to stop it feeling a little 'boaty'.

Before anyone calls me insane. It was perfectly legit to do it, passed the MOT and was perfectly safe, as it was done properly and on suitable springs.

Quite a few years ago ( 80's before anyone thinks I'm too old ) it was fairly normal to lower hot rods by cuttibg a coil off a spring, reheating it up and back into the correct shape and grinding a flat back on to let it sit properly. I spitted a post about the mot test elsewhere on here earlier today that said that a cut down spring was no longer an mot failure. I don't think the length of the spring affects its rate ( might be wrong on that one though ), I believe that thickness of metal, amount of coils has more of an effect so, why not?

[jason johnson]

Stupid small keys on phone

[Z80]

The main quality for lowering springs is their short travel. Cutting standard springs won't give you that at all : you'll just start too low, and since they'll still be soft, the car will litterally crash over the ground on bumps.

I'm having factory lowered sports suspension and still find the springs too soft, and too low overall. If I'm going to change for "short" springs, it's only to get stiffer ones with a shorter travel, so the bumper and front spoiler will hopefully stop digging a trench into the ground each time going down a bump or ramp...

[GazVXLINE170]

[QUOTE=Handyandy-UK;1986084]Be fair... yes, it's an utterly insane idea most likely to result in a crash and possibly death or injury.... but at least the OP had enough sense to ask first.QUOTE]

It's worrying it was even thought of first. So no, I don't think some of the responses were unwarranted especially if there was no swearing involved.

[Handyandy-UK]

Ok, puzzling post.... I've re-read the thread again and I can't say anyone has claimed the responses weren't warranted - and that includes me.