Öhlins Road & Track Coilovers: Track-Bred Damping for the Street

The Öhlins Road & Track (R&T) Coilover Kit is a fully adjustable, twin-tube suspension system built around Öhlins' Dual Flow Valve (DFV) damping technology. It replaces the factory struts and springs with height-adjustable dampers, performance-rated springs, and (on most applications) pillowball top mounts for more precise wheel control.

Unlike kits that are simply track dampers softened for street use, the R&T range is engineered from the ground up to deliver genuine daily-driving comfort alongside real track capability, with independent adjustment for rebound and, on many kits, compression as well.

Most factory dampers and even many aftermarket coilovers rely on a single valving curve that has to compromise between small, high-frequency bumps and larger, low-speed body movements like braking dive or cornering roll. This often means picking between a comfortable ride or sharp handling, not both.

Öhlins' DFV technology uses a secondary shim stack that reacts specifically to small, high-frequency inputs, letting the main valving stay focused on controlling body motion. The result is a suspension that soaks up road imperfections far better than its stiffness would suggest, while still controlling weight transfer decisively under hard cornering or braking.

Compared to the factory suspension, the Öhlins R&T delivers noticeably flatter cornering, more predictable weight transfer, and a wider usable range between comfortable street settings and firm track settings. Because rebound (and compression, on applicable kits) is externally adjustable, the same set of coilovers can be tuned for a daily commute one weekend and a track day the next.

Installing an Öhlins R&T Coilover Kit involves removing the factory strut assembly and fitting the new damper and spring assemblies, along with the supplied top mounts. As with any coilover installation, a full wheel alignment is mandatory afterward to correct camber and toe changes introduced by the new ride height.

Because damping adjusters are located at the top of each damper on most applications, fine-tuning compression and rebound after installation is straightforward and doesn't require removing the assembly again.

Keep the threaded ride-height collars clean and lightly lubricated to prevent seizing from dirt and corrosion. Periodically inspect the dampers, springs, top mounts, and adjuster dials for wear or leaks. Any time ride height or corner weights are changed, a full wheel alignment should follow to keep handling predictable and tire wear even.