Spring rate, travel, preload, sprung and unsprung mass — and what the extra two inches actually change The whole article in one line At the same rated spring rate, a 10-inch spring is not automatically softer, stiffer, or capable of producing more grip than an 8-inch spring. What the longer spring primarily buys is additional physical operating range — at the expense of additional spring mass and packaging — and whether that trade is worthwhile depends on how much suspension