lads ,

whats the standard 02 handle like.since i got mine recently it seems to have got worse at the rear.well used to rwd power.
car was parked up for a while when i got it so im wondering if the tyres are shot.Even slow speed roundabouts in third gear are producing big oversteer.i heard there is passive rear steer in the s ,is this correct.i have no confidence in it at the mo.just bought a new set of 17" oem rims so ill see in a few weeks how this changes it.

any troublesome bits in the rear end to check.....bushs etc

 

Have you checked tyre pressures recently? The car can feel decidely odd if they are too far from the 32 psi that is recommended for the OEM 16" wheels.

If you're on S02s at present, grip levels deteriorate very quickly once they get past 4mm or so of tread left. That might explain the wayward back end.

 

cheers ll,

I am running at 32 all round and they have lots of thread.the rear is almost thumping on bumps/cats eyes as if it was low pressure or dodgy side walls.

 

But i have to point out the obvious, we're having a bit of a cold snap at the minute, ergo, tyres not getting upto temperature + slippy/icy road surfaces = no grip = tail happy

 

If the tyres are up to temp then suspension problem? - suspect shox past their best?

 

Spot on!

That 'thumping' feel (suddenly it rides like an old vauxhall Cavalier) is the point at which the tyres have gone off.

There's probably about 3mm left, but it's the hard under-tread; all the sticky stuff's gone.

The sidewalls probably go off at the same time.

I've experienced it on new tyres after a particularly hard track day.

Four new tyres, it'll be right as rain.

 

nick ,

cool ,sounds good.do you know if they have passive rear steer i.e. soft rear bushs to allow some lateral movement.

new tryes for 17" comin anyway so time to rip these to shreds

 

There is passive rear steer on all S's.

 

Zagamuffin, Just saw your post, are you getting oversteer on a dry roundabout or is it only in the wet? Just to compare for you on Irish roads, after I passed 6k on my rear tyres they changed dramatically in terms of grip, especially in the wet (on roundabouts in particualr). A lot of the roundabouts I travel on in Cork become like ice rinks in the wet once the tyres go below 3mm, guess that's the price you have to pay for having a car like this. Incidentally watch out for the Dunkettle roundabout near the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork, in the wet it turns into one big circular oil slick....not to be messed with!

 

rebel ,

Travel that road every day to work.never had a problem with the tunnel.happens only in the wet,and im used to higher power and less modern suspension on wet roads so it should handle better.
must be tyres gone off.

are you in the s i see on the watergrasshill bypass some times.

cheers