17s or 18s?
#17
Personally I think you should lower the car first. And I know some people will say different, but I think you should do coilovers too.
My car was lowered before I got rims, I set it to the height that looked the best with the stock wheels. Once I got the aftermarket wheels, I realized that the car really needed to sit a bit higher. I just jacked the car up and raised the coilover.
If you go with springs, you are stuck at whatever height it gives you. If you rub, you're stuck. But with coilovers, if you rub, raise it up...
I switch between my stock wheels and rims probably once a week, even though my Protege is not a daily driver I still like to keep the wear and tear on the more expensive tires down. On for shows, off for regular driving.
Just FYI
My car was lowered before I got rims, I set it to the height that looked the best with the stock wheels. Once I got the aftermarket wheels, I realized that the car really needed to sit a bit higher. I just jacked the car up and raised the coilover.
If you go with springs, you are stuck at whatever height it gives you. If you rub, you're stuck. But with coilovers, if you rub, raise it up...
I switch between my stock wheels and rims probably once a week, even though my Protege is not a daily driver I still like to keep the wear and tear on the more expensive tires down. On for shows, off for regular driving.
Just FYI
#19
the order you do the mods in are not as important as KNOWING exactly what you are going to do....IF you are going to lower the car...AND get new larger wheels/tires....do one of two things....either lower the car first....then get the wheels/tires....and BTW....check with RICHIE BEFORE you buy the wheels/tires....and tell him how you have your car lowered and he can tell you if the wheel/tire combination you want will rub or not...
OR, decide what lowering you are going to do...and EXACTLY how...springs and what brand, or coilovers ...or what ever....THEN contact RICHIE and tell him this...and find out if the wheel/tire combination will work for the configuration you are going to have.....either way...it all has to match up.....they are like pieces of a puzzle....they all have to match to have the CORRECT picture when you are through.
OR, decide what lowering you are going to do...and EXACTLY how...springs and what brand, or coilovers ...or what ever....THEN contact RICHIE and tell him this...and find out if the wheel/tire combination will work for the configuration you are going to have.....either way...it all has to match up.....they are like pieces of a puzzle....they all have to match to have the CORRECT picture when you are through.