AOE Tigertec Spring install review

[detroiter]

The review will get longer as I spend more time with the springs and once they settle in. So far I finished it last night so could only take it for a few miles to drive and I must say that it's alot different then stock. The car I wouldn't say has a "heavy" feel to it but more so "Planted". I can say that with the springs and tokicos that it feels very smooth as compared to the seawave feeling of stock, but you really do feel alot of the small bumps and the waves in the road that you normally wouldn't even see with the eye. So far that's kind of my only gripe is the feeling alot more of the dips and bumps but that's part of the game. Also I think the springs give a very comfortable ride so far, they feel stiff yet they are a nice, smooth ride.

I havn't been able to take it out yet to give it hell in the corners but I will once I give them a little bit more time to settle in. That and I'm not going to push a car with serious changes like springs and shocks, you never go balls out with something your unfamiliar with. So far, the gap pretty much all the way around is 3 fingers from the tire to wheelwell edge (pointer, middle finger and ring). It's a pretty tasteful drop so far, little bit lower but it's not slammed.

I do have a few questions though, I've never drivin a car with lowering springs and shocks so perhaps someone can help me out...

The car seems a little bit twitchier in handling, kind of like that famous Yaris trait that you let off the steering wheel and the car drives straight, but you barely pull the steering wheel to either side and the thing moves with ease. Normal?

I'm noticing some increased road noise from the rear area (liftback model). Normal?

The car seems to drive straight without pulling to either side, would that mean my alignment is still decent without too much killing on the tires? I'll be getting an alignment anyways in a week or so but just asking as of now.

One other question is with a normal alignment, does lowering the car affect tire wear at all? I can't imagine with normal driving (not hauling butt around corners, etc), that the tires would wear out any quicker then non-lowered ones.