If you lower it at all then just buy the plates. I have Vogtland springs with Tokico Blue shocks & struts and the drop wasn't drastic at all. I still needed CC plates though. You can spend the $200 on some good CC plates now,,,,, OR..... spend $400 on new tires in a few months and then spend the $200 on the CC plates because you don't want to ruin the new tires. It'll be cheaper to just get them now.