612 Owners!!! - Factory Springs Lowered and MPSS tires | FerrariChat

612 Owners!!! - Factory Springs Lowered and MPSS tires

Discussion in '612/599' started by ajyiii, Oct 26, 2014.

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  1. ajyiii

    ajyiii Formula Junior
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    #1 ajyiii, Oct 26, 2014
    I have seen and been part of threads asking about lowering a 612 with the factory suspension set up and also many threads discussing tire sizes...... and today I would like to go on record addressing both of these topics.

    I just got done putting about 100 miles on my 612 after having both of these modifications done to the car and I can tell you that it is a DREAM! I ordered the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires set, F12 size with the 315 rear, and asked the dealership to confirm that I could adjust lower the factory suspension. We both agreed that the rear might not need it after we put the slightly larger tire on so we started with the front. He was able to safely get a good half inch out of the front and after the tires were on there was no reason to adjust the rear. The stance is perfect and there is NO rubbing. (he did say that the rear tire/rim combo could not be any bigger, that set up is as large as you could go before you should have issues/rubbing). I can tell you that there is a NOTICEABLE difference in the ride and handling of the car, and it doesn't hurt that visually the stance is perfect! I did both casual and aggressive driving and these changes have really dialed in this car.... in conclusion I highly recommend both of these modifications to any of you fellow owners that were on the fence or are looking for that little extra from their 612. Andrew
     
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  2. DK308

    DK308 F1 Rookie

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    #2 DK308, Oct 26, 2014
    Pics?
     
  3. southnc

    southnc Formula 3

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    #3 southnc, Oct 26, 2014
    Glad it worked out for you.

    Can you provide some more details?

    How specifically did you lower the car?

    What type wheels and and tire sizes did you go with?

    etc?

    And pics, of course.

    Thanks.
     
  4. ajyiii

    ajyiii Formula Junior
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    #4 ajyiii, Oct 26, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. ajyiii

    ajyiii Formula Junior
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    #5 ajyiii, Oct 26, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The tires are the Michelin Pilot Super Sport 255/35 ZR 20 front and 315/35 ZR 20 rear. I have the 599 size Ferrari Challenge wheels on the car, 8.5 front and 11 rear. The front suspension was tightened by Lake Forest Ferrari Dealership. It lowered the front of the car by a good 1/2inch. No additional parts/spacers or anything else required.
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  6. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 tazandjan, Oct 26, 2014
    Andrew- The front 599 and 612 Challenge wheels are 8x20, not 8.5x20.
     
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  7. Makuono

    Makuono Formula Junior
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    #7 Makuono, Oct 27, 2014
    My 612 has the challenge rims. How can I know if are the 599 or the 612 versions without taking them off?


    Enviado do meu iPhone usando o Tapatalk
     
  8. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 tazandjan, Oct 27, 2014
    Ricardo- Difficult, but if you can measure rim width through the wheel, the 599 wheels are 11" and the 612 wheels 10". Fronts are identical.

    612

    Five Spoke F 18”, R 19”, 5 X 114.3 mm
    Front 8J X 18 ET 43.5 mm , R 10J X 19 ET 51.1 mm
    Five Spoke Modulars 19”, 5 X 114.3 mm
    Front 8J X 19 ET 43.5 mm, Rear 10J X 19 ET 51.1 mm
    Challenge Monolithic 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
    Front 8J X 20 ET 43.5 mm, Rear 10J X 20 ET 51.1 mm

    599/HGTE/SA Aperta

    Five Spoke F 19”, R 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
    Front 8J X 19 ET 43.5 mm, Rear 11J X 20 ET 63.8 mm
    Challenge Monolithic 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
    Front 8J X 20 ET 43.5 mm, Rear 11J X 20 ET 63.8 mm
    HGTE/SA Aperta Five Spoke 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
    Front 8.5J X 20 ET 40 mm, Rear 11J X 20 ET 63.8 mm
     
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  9. ajyiii

    ajyiii Formula Junior
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    #9 ajyiii, Oct 29, 2014
    Taz - sorry for the random question but someone contacted me looking to buy an extra set of the 612 5 spoke modulars that I have..... but he wants to put them on a 2003 575. They fit right?
     
  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 tazandjan, Oct 29, 2014
    Andrew- No, they will not fit, wrong bolt pattern. 612s are 5x114.3 mm and 575Ms are 5x108 mm.

    We just had a case of an owner buying 599 wheels for his 456M. Same problem so he is stuck with a set of wheels that will not fit.

    Adapters are not recommended because of the larger bolt circle of the 5x114.3 mm leaving too little metal on the outside of the adapter, according to Paul Hill of Hill Engineering.
     
  11. ajyiii

    ajyiii Formula Junior
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    #11 ajyiii, Oct 29, 2014
    Thank you very much for that, I would have felt bad if I sold them to him and they didn't work.
     
  12. trygve11

    trygve11 Formula Junior
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    #12 trygve11, Oct 29, 2014
    Sounds exactly like what I am about to do to my car (after I finish getting the engine running right?!). 599 Challenge rims are on their way.

    As for lowering the fronts, the coil-overs have adjustable perches so sounds like Lake Forest just adjusted down the lower perch to drop the car. This does have the disadvantage of softening up the spring rate which can leave front suspension feeling a little soft and likely overdampened.

    1/2" isn't too much so perhaps you are still happy with the front vs rear balance. Please let us know how you like it after some more driving.
     

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