My S seems rather squirrely (Particularily at higher speeds).

I was driving the NW side of the Wash. DC beltway yesterday. The road surface is in pretty bad shape in places. There are "ruts" in each lane where the traffic's tires run, barely visible to the eye while driving. It was heavy traffic and all I could do to keep my S between the lines.

Questions:

1. I bought my wheels & tires from a guy who's car was lowered and his camber caused severe wear on the inside of each front tire. Would this contribute to my generally squirrely handling?

2. What tire pressure do you guys run. Would it vary based on wheel/tire size or brand tires?

3. I saw a thread once about "centering rings" that are sometimes required for aftermarket wheels. See my sig (1st half). Am I a candidate for the need of centering rings?

Your comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Gary

 

1. Yes but it could also be that the width and tread patter is more susceptible to grooves.

2. Don't know

3. Not a factor.

 

There is a section of road that I drive most weekends that has bad rutting on it. The handling feels terrible there always.

You have to remember that you have relatively wide tyres on this car with very stiff suspension and that they will therefore tramline terribly in the ruts.

If the handling feels okay elsewhere I would say that you are set up okay, and that you just need to be careful in those ruts.

 

Check you alignment and toe. If its off, you are more suceptible to "following" those grooves in the road.
My stocks are cambered such that the tires do wear the insides out more, but using worn tires on the front will give you more understeer. If you are running on an edge (ie you reversed the left and right tires so that the worn section is now on the outsides) you will get a really squirrelly tail end. you may want to have it all checked out just in case at a tire and wheel shop.

 

you have 17x8's all the way around?! if that is the case, that could have attributed to your issue you are having. the rears are larger than the fronts for a reason.

also, S02 PP's dont' grip worth a damn either.

get an alignment and make sure the rear tires are larger than the fronts, it helps decrease oversteer and rear-end bumpsteer a bit as well.

 

Hi my brothers of 9KRPM

Sorry, I've been away from the PC. (Watching the Ravens prevail on Monday Night Football)

Thank you guys for replying.

I do actually have wider tires on the rear (225/45/17 front vs. 255/35/18 rear).

I set all tires at approx. 34 PSI (but I have to admit, I havent checked recently ) I do, however; know, that even with the tires @ 34 PSI all the way around, that the car still seems a little squirlley. Any tire pressure suggestions?

...Sooooo: My first assumtion is the abnormal tire wear by the previous owner. Second is the somewhat neglected tire pressure. Third would be centering rings (as I know nothing about their application/deternination of need).

Keep the help commin'!!!!!!

Thanks,
Gary

 

Schatten,

SO2 PP's don't grip

 

yu888; Thanks for you suggestios, however; Alignment is good. My tires are uni-directional. The squirrelly stuff is definately from the front.

 

4 replys to my own thread...

Can you tell the Ravens WON???????

 

Maybe the driver is squirrelly (nuts)?