Suspension Poll: Lifted, Lowered, or Standard Height?

[GrizzlysGhost]

As this is my first EV and I'm unsure about how difficult maintenance will be, I'm opting for the lift to make oil changes easier.

 

[KevinRS]

As this is my first EV and I'm unsure about how difficult maintenance will be, I'm opting for the lift to make oil changes easier.

lol

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

I will wait till Slate U comes on line. Need better specs. (I'm looking for "go", not "show".

 

[E90400K]

Off-Road tires is the only option, err... "customization" that I will add to my Slate. It's disappointing that there is no explanation as to why the 2" lift to the suspension is necessary and what mechanical changes are made to the suspension that provide the lift.

 

[kvermeer]

Off-Road tires is the only option, err... "customization" that I will add to my Slate. It's disappointing that there is no explanation as to why the 2" lift to the suspension is necessary and what mechanical changes are made to the suspension that provide the lift.

I'm sure it's so you can fit the tire in the wheel arches without rubbing.

The stock tires are Kenda Klever S/T in 245/65R17 size. That's a 29.5" diameter, 9.5" wide tire.

I haven't seen real confirmation of what manufacturer and model the off-road tires are, but if you're going to DIY it I'm sure you could get your own 29.5x9.5 tires (or similar compatible ones) in whatever tread pattern you want and just run those.

However, they said that the off-road tires are 32" diameter. Apparently that rubs, you've added almost 3" in diameter so you need to add 2" in lift to get the same or better clearance. I'm sure they want to make the stock tires and wheel wells as tight as possible to reduce air resistance and increase range. This thread:

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/taller-17-all-terrain-tires-for-oem-wheels.13122/

has some options with various sizes.

 

[E90400K]

I'm sure it's so you can fit the tire in the wheel arches without rubbing.

The stock tires are Kenda Klever S/T in 245/65R17 size. That's a 29.5" diameter, 9.5" wide tire.

I haven't seen real confirmation of what manufacturer and model the off-road tires are, but if you're going to DIY it I'm sure you could get your own 29.5x9.5 tires (or similar compatible ones) in whatever tread pattern you want and just run those.

However, they said that the off-road tires are 32" diameter. Apparently that rubs, you've added almost 3" in diameter so you need to add 2" in lift to get the same or better clearance. I'm sure they want to make the stock tires and wheel wells as tight as possible to reduce air resistance and increase range. This thread:

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/taller-17-all-terrain-tires-for-oem-wheels.13122/

has some options with various sizes.

Thanks. Yeah, I didn't bother yet with doing the math on the standard tire as everything has been prototype so far and don't know if the standard tire size was set in stone. There are lots of good 30" off road tires to be had, so I can just buy different tires. I just need the grip more than additional ground clearance. But more gound clearance would be nice for aesthetics.

It's a good point about EV aero considerations but sort of odd considering the Slate is a pickup truck platform and should have less tight tire-to-wheel well clearance from the get-go.

And still we need to know what the actual hardware changes are. And how does the DIY kit ship? With new tires off the rim? The better option is to just have the suspension lift kit shipped and source tires locally.

 

[kvermeer]

It's a good point about EV aero considerations but sort of odd considering the Slate is a pickup truck platform and should have less tight tire-to-wheel well clearance from the get-go.

"Should" based on what? Utility? Aesthetics? Suspension travel? Manufacturing?

I think that trucks first got large square wheel arches because on something like a off-road dump truck that gets 3 mpg on a good day and realistically less trundling around the excavation site through the mud, aero is irrelevant and sheet metal is expensive. This became recognized in popular culture as "tough" and "manly", and now there are absurd Tonka trucks on the road that look like this:

When you think about it from first principles, it's like they didn't even try. I understand the look because I'm a member of our society and aware of the ways in which this photo has a masculine appeal, but an alien would not design that truck in that way. There's no reason for those arches to be squared off when they need to fit round wheels, there's no way the suspension on that truck compresses even close to the top of that opening. That truck in particular with those $$$ alloy rims and tires with aggressive sidewall tread but low profile and low surface tread, currently shown in a city parking lot probably hasn't ever been on a 2-track much less driving through the woods.

In contrast, this makes sense:

Round 28" wheel, round 29" hole. Why would you do it any other way?

I think Slate is intended to buck the trend of flashy, gaudy, wasteful aesthetics in favor of sensible, value-minded, intelligent design choices. Pickups are useful, but we don't need to imitate their dumber trends to make Slate better.

 

[phidauex]

As mentioned before, the decision making is a two step process. Your tire size sets your ground clearance, so you should determine how much ground clearance you need, and size the tire accordingly. Sounds like stock will be around 9", which is pretty good for most practical purposes. If you want higher, you could go up to 10" with a 32" tire.

The second step is to get the tire to clear the wheel wells, and for that you have the tools of wheel spacers, fender wall modifications, and suspension lift, and for handling you generally want to use the minimum necessary modification. I like narrower offroad tires in part because you can fit more tire with less lift.

I will probably end up with slightly oversized tires, but will wait on the lift to see if it is needed. Once we have vehicles in hand it will become clear what fits and what doesn't.

 

[Driven5]

Round 28" wheel, round 29" hole. Why would you do it any other way?

Because that only works when the suspension and steering both don't move much. Manufacturers are generally required to ensure that there is at least 6mm (1/4") clearance between the tire and all body/suspension at combined full steering lock and full bump. What brodozers and stancebros do are both entirely irrelevant to the reasoning behind factory opening size, shape, and clearance.

Flat topped openings start to make more sense when you look at the actual 3D motion and spacial constraints, especially as travel and/or steering angle increases.

 

[metroshot]

My current EV - Ford Mach E has a 1.5" lift springs which is needed to clear the larger +4 sized RFT tires which have the off road Rally wheels from Ford.

It sits taller, has more ground clearance but suffers from range loss due to the increased drag height and tires.

 

[DT444T]

Given that I never plan to take it off road, lowering it would be the most beneficial. But the tire size looks goofy to me and I think lifting (levelling) it would make the tires fit better.

If I lowered I would certainly go lower than the pic in the OP.
So I'm undecided.

 

[AmatuerX]

Lowered. I've always wanted a dropped mini truck and this fits the bill. Do I want a sports truck? No. Do I like performance? Sure. But the Slate is neither and I know it. I just want it to look cool. LOL I live in the Midwest and am under no delusions; of it snows, I'll drive the Subaru.

 

[DT444T]

trucks first got large square wheel arch

GMs. Ford and whatever Dodge wants to be theses days still know that wheel arches should be round.

For Christ's sake, why do big pickups trigger people?

They're less useful, less efficient, more dangerous to others, you look like a tool (opinion), oh and they are driven VASTLY by people who don't need a truck at all or to tow their boat once a year.

 

[DT444T]

Lol. You ride a S1000RR, and drive a 2-seat Nissan 300ZX twin turbo, two pretty much useless vehicles, yet have an issue with people who drive lifted pickup trucks. Okay. Lol.

I'm a LOT less likely to kill someone with either of those vehicles. Neither of which are my daily.
Meanwhile, a lifted truck would probably kill me on both of those rides.

 

[metroshot]

Off-Road tires is the only option, err... "customization" that I will add to my Slate. It's disappointing that there is no explanation as to why the 2" lift to the suspension is necessary and what mechanical changes are made to the suspension that provide the lift.

Same here - would like off road tires instead of the factory LRR Eco tires that would come with the Slate; although the range will suffer a hit.

I don''t mind the range hit on the Slate as I will get the extended range battery to "equal" my current Ford Mach E standard range battery range (230 miles).

My current Ford Mach E with lift springs and RFT +4 tires are showing about 10% range hit at high speed driving. But in urban driving (5 days a week) there is no range loss at low speeds thanks to regen in heavy traffic.