I did a search, and the 1987 Honda Prelude uses a dual wishbone front suspension. The Ford Escort is using a MacPherson strut. Two completely different animals. Thus, this now gets into the technical difference between wheel rate and spring rate. We buy our springs (and brag about the monster rates we use) using spring rate, but the tire cares about the effective spring rate (aka wheel rate). The suspension is nothing more than levers and springs. Depending on where the spring is placed in the design of the suspension, determines how "hard" it is for the wheel to move up. Do a quick internet search on "wheel rate versus spring rate" to get more. Sorry, just don't have time to go into more details myself.