So I just got 18 x 9.5" wheels with 245/45r18 tires. My goal was better looks and handling than my previous 17". Although the handling is much improved, I want the car to feel as if it's closer to being on rails. From what I've read a lot of people run smaller aspect ratios resulting in a sidewall usually of 100 mm or less. I have about 110 mm. Do you think getting coilovers and maybe the addition of beefier sway bars will give me that crisp handling + sharper/more instant steering response that I'm looking for?

 

Sway bars should be your 1st handling upgrade. For me, it's the best bang-for-your-buck mod.

 

If you're doing this with the intent of keeping the car fairly comortable and streetable...

Coilovers with a lot of low piston speed damping like fortune auto.

Tires with a 2 ply sidewall and large, stiff treadblocks. Yokohama ADVAN Apex or Firestone Indy 500 are a good examples. Use the correct diameter. 19" wheels would help, though.

Get an alignment that emphasizes front caster.

Wheels with size/offset resulting in a more positive scrub radius. Generally, this means a wheel that has more "agressive" wheel offsets. But don't over do it (measure + do math). You'd want a small amount of static front toe in for this, though.

The above gets you most of the way there, with some compromises.

Swaybars help slightly as well.

Then use booted spherical bearings where you can/should. Make smart decisions so that they don't ruin the ride.

U can keep going, of course.

 

Thanks, I'm stuck with my wheels and tires already. My tires are pretty good already, Hankook ventus s1 noble2. I'll probably get BC coilovers (cheaper than fortune auto), along with sway bars. The result I can probably live without