A floaty feel and delayed actions when transitioning
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Long Island, New York, US
A floaty feel and delayed actions when transitioning
First, let me tell you guys who are being hit with snow, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 snow tires make a world of difference in snow handling. The car definitely handles better than the average vehicle out there and then some.
However, after I had put on these tires (I ordered a tire/wheel package from Tirerack and put on each tire/wheel one by one with the stock jack) and driving at highway speeds, the car feels kinda "floaty" when I do quick left-right-lefts with the steering wheel. And when I do a quick lane change, say if I quickly shifted into the lane to my left, the rear end of the car is delayed in getting in line with the car and so it might appear to an outside observer that the car looks "lazy" and not agile almost as if the shocks' response is slowed down. With the stock tire/wheels, the car would act efficiently and in an athletic manner when doing quick transitions. I made sure all the new tires were set to 32 psi so it isn't a matter with having bad pressures. Is this the way the Blizzaks are? I know it is a somewhat of a snow tire but people have been saying it is very good in the dry or have they simply been referring to only the traction aspect and not how it "feels" in driving? These tires may have good traction but don't really feel sporty.
Another thing I've noticed is that when I'm accelerating, it feels like I have like 50 gallons of gas and I have the ebrake partially up. I'm thinking maybe the new wheels (Sport Edition Fox 5) have unfavorable inertial moment or maybe they are just heavier perhaps, I dunno.
Can anyone with the Blizzaks attest to similar observations?
However, after I had put on these tires (I ordered a tire/wheel package from Tirerack and put on each tire/wheel one by one with the stock jack) and driving at highway speeds, the car feels kinda "floaty" when I do quick left-right-lefts with the steering wheel. And when I do a quick lane change, say if I quickly shifted into the lane to my left, the rear end of the car is delayed in getting in line with the car and so it might appear to an outside observer that the car looks "lazy" and not agile almost as if the shocks' response is slowed down. With the stock tire/wheels, the car would act efficiently and in an athletic manner when doing quick transitions. I made sure all the new tires were set to 32 psi so it isn't a matter with having bad pressures. Is this the way the Blizzaks are? I know it is a somewhat of a snow tire but people have been saying it is very good in the dry or have they simply been referring to only the traction aspect and not how it "feels" in driving? These tires may have good traction but don't really feel sporty.
Another thing I've noticed is that when I'm accelerating, it feels like I have like 50 gallons of gas and I have the ebrake partially up. I'm thinking maybe the new wheels (Sport Edition Fox 5) have unfavorable inertial moment or maybe they are just heavier perhaps, I dunno.
Can anyone with the Blizzaks attest to similar observations?
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Land of the landeaus
Snow tires = heavy.
Fox wheels = mondo heavy.
What you're feeling is the effects of unsprung weight. Now, imagine going from a 25-lb tire and 25-lb wheel (my previous 18-inch combo)
to a 19.4-lb tire around a 16-inch, 13.8-lb wheel.
Sportscars and weight go together like Liza and David. For this time of year, you should really just look at your car as transportation because you've essentially removed 75% of its capabilities using snow tires but at least you've improved the odds of not sitting in the car waiting for a tow truck to come pull you out of snowbank or worse yet, away from another car.
Fox wheels = mondo heavy.
What you're feeling is the effects of unsprung weight. Now, imagine going from a 25-lb tire and 25-lb wheel (my previous 18-inch combo)
to a 19.4-lb tire around a 16-inch, 13.8-lb wheel.
Sportscars and weight go together like Liza and David. For this time of year, you should really just look at your car as transportation because you've essentially removed 75% of its capabilities using snow tires but at least you've improved the odds of not sitting in the car waiting for a tow truck to come pull you out of snowbank or worse yet, away from another car.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 437
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From: yonkers
Dude...
Your right on the money. My car feels the same way....especially when going about 85MPH or so it gets real noticeable. In the snow they felt good...just got to ease of the clutch gently otherwise u feel the back end come around.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SiDriver
First, let me tell you guys who are being hit with snow, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 snow tires make a world of difference in snow handling.
Your right on the money. My car feels the same way....especially when going about 85MPH or so it gets real noticeable. In the snow they felt good...just got to ease of the clutch gently otherwise u feel the back end come around.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SiDriver
First, let me tell you guys who are being hit with snow, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 snow tires make a world of difference in snow handling.
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