Anyone in Victoria available for a tyre experiment?

[Mooman]

Long story short my car has had very annoying handling and ride for some time now, car tends to not always go the way steering wheel is pointed and will skip and hop over bumps.

I've checked all the usual suspects of worn bushings, ball joints, tie rods, suspension mounts, alignment, blown shocks, swaybar endlinks, etc. but issue still persists. I'm fairly certain it's a tyre problem as ever since I've had them on the car has never felt like it used to and they seem to have very soft sidewalls.

So that is where a volunteer comes in. The tyres I've got are Bridgestone Serenity Plus 205/60 R16 so if you have anything different it will be a good test. Basically I want to put my wheels and tyres on someone else's car or conversely put their wheels on my car (or both) and see how it affects the feel of the car.

Normally I'd just replace the tyres anyway (or at least get them balanced and wheels aligned) but for the time being money is an issue for so I want to make sure that the tyres are the fault before spending any more cash (several alignments and 28 point check at Pedders solved nothing).

Thanks to anyone that can help or is interested.

[Lancer1993]

Weird I've had similar problems in my 09 VRX since I got in 3 years ago, I just put it down to some of the crap roads around here, the problem is usually under brakes at some traffic lights.

Getting some RE003s next week but sorry not in VIC so can't swap them.

BTW when I got my CJ it had different wheels, not the stock ones, some crappy/heavy chrome ones. Got vibrations at HWY speeds. Long story short after a lot of stuffing around the dealer swapped then for wheels off another Lancer for a test (car or wheels) and the problem went away, so they paid for some new wheels, my choice.

I'll get back to you after I've had a chance to drive on the RE003s and see if the same roads do the same thing as they do now.

[ReeceCozaa]

Would the slightest bump or grove in the ground steer your car to the side noticeably?

[burfadel]

If the sidewalls are soft it would absorb more noise than the same tyre with stiffer walls, at least you'd presume. However, there would also possibly be more lateral movement. I'd guess it's the tyres. Keep in mind the 215/60 R16 will fit and the extra 5 percent width may help. Also they are cheaper since it's the more common size. In some cases considerably cheaper for the same tyre. Check it out . What will you get instead? I liked the Michelin XM2's on my old car, good all round performance, durability, noise, handling, value.

[Lancer1993]

Would the slightest bump or grove in the ground steer your car to the side noticeably?

Yes at slow speeds but only on some roads. Right now I'm putting it down to the road more than the tyres.

I have had these tyres (Kumho - ECSTA 4X KU22) for just over 3 years, since I got the CJ and traveled to Adelaide and back without issues.

Also remember these are 225/40 R18 so a lot lower profile than the 16 inch you have.

[Mooman]

I'm fairly certain the soft sidewalls are causing the issue as the car feels a lot better when there is a passenger (even weight on front tyres). The tyres look flat even when properly inflated (36-42 psi) and as I have an open wheel design I can stand on the rim and it will cause the tyre to flatten considerably, I don't weigh much ~80kg.

Also if I shove the wheels the car wobbles a few times before settling, the suspension doesn't move it is all caused by the tyres flexing. All this is when sitting in my driveway so with the dynamic forces of driving it makes for a very unpredictable and uncomfortable journey.

I'll get back to you after I've had a chance to drive on the RE003s and see if the same roads do the same thing as they do now.

That will be interesting to see the difference proper performance tyres make as the Lancer is fairly heavy for it's size.

Would the slightest bump or grove in the ground steer your car to the side noticeably?

Yes, even small ripples can cause the car to skip sideways (but not loose control) and pull the steering wheel out of my hands sometimes. Cambered roads, even only slightly, require me to counter steer about 5 degrees to stay straight. On perfectly flat roads the car tracks straight so I'm faily confident alignment is ok. I'm guessing as weight causes tyre to compress it shifts the weight balance to that side further which causes even more compression.

What will you get instead? I liked the Michelin XM2's on my old car, good all round performance, durability, noise, handling, value.

I previously had Continental Comfort Contact 5 on the car and it handled really well, looking at Continental Ultra Contact 6 as they have a higher load rating of 96 and my preferred local tyre place is a Continental specialist.



Here's the car on flat level ground and you can see that the contact patch has flattened out a fair bit, pressure is 36 PSI. After jacking the car up and putting it back down the issues is even more pronounced as the treads tend to roll under the car. The sidewall is also quite round and bulbous, helps with their role as a comfort tyre but causes greater flex. When I bounce the tyre off the car it makes a 'boing' sound more like a basketball whereas the Yokohama A460 I have as a spare makes more of a dull thud sound (not scientific but hints at a difference in material/construction).

Wheel is an Advanti Viper which I think is 6.5 inch wide so maybe the tyres would work differently if streteched on a wider wheel.

As an incentive if anyone who can help test and has a sedan I'm willing to give them a free full size spare accommodation kit I recovered from a wreck, some damage but usable. I really want to know if tyres, even well rated from a good brand, can cause such a dramatic change in a car.

[ReeceCozaa]

Seems Similar to my car, even slight bumps can pull the car sideways if I’m not gripping the wheel, what Tyre presssure do you run out of mad Tyre pressure the Tyre can handle at most times?

[Mooman]

I've tried a range of pressures from 28 all the way up to 42 PSI, all adjusted early morning. At 42 the car tramlined horribly, at 28 the car was quite good but the low pressure increased drag and affected fuel economy plus slower steering response.

I usually run 34-36 PSI as a happy middle but it's still a compromise compared to how the car was new.

[ReeceCozaa]

The high PSI seems understandable, I run generally 85-90% full tyres and it may not be all the time but some groove and bums will steer my car to the side, when they’re flatter this problem goes away

[Lancer1993]

Here is my CJ.

[sarusa]

I have used Bridgestone Serenity Plus for many years 205 65 15 on a Toyota Vienta Grande without a problem of any kind
and now using 215 60 16 on my MY15 ES sport with no problems whatsoever. Just a quiet comfortable ride.
Oh and I only use 24psi tyre pressure. So sidewalls shouldn't be a problem especially if as I suspect you like most others
are using tyre pressures of 32psi or higher.

[Mooman]

That's just the thing, based on reviews and general advice people find those tyres to be good so it's why I ignored them as a possibility for my issues for so long, but I've checked and swapped parts, paid money and done as much research as possible all to no avail.

You have to go to a website such as: TireRack.com customer reviews and filter by negative reviews to find people experiencing similar issues.

It's why I'm still searching for someone willing to spend a few hours and test just how much difference the tyres make and to rule them in or out for my comfort/handling concerns.

As for 24 PSI that is too low, considered under inflated. If you had the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) it would be setting off alarms.

[Quismiff]

Used to run some Firestone things on my old steelies, 195/60R15 and while the road comfort was awesome and noise reasonably low, the tyres had really weak sidewalls, while the car wobbled similar to your findings moo, mine never exhibited the same loss of control or skipping issuse and jerky wheel, but I did have 50mm lowering springs in it...
I was rear bumperless for a while there, and this is the only photo of my car on my Facebook, all the others must be in my photobucket, I'll go and download them someday...

[CJsportback]

Where in Vic are you mate? I’m in central Gippsland.

[Mooman]

Used to run some Firestone things on my old steelies, 195/60R15 and while the road comfort was awesome and noise reasonably low, the tyres had really weak sidewalls, while the car wobbled similar to your findings moo, mine never exhibited the same loss of control or skipping issuse and jerky wheel, but I did have 50mm lowering springs in it...

My car also has significantly modified suspension but in testing I put the stock setup back in to rule it out. Car was similar but bounced more with stock springs and dampers. It's why I'm leaning back to tyres.

Where in Vic are you mate? I’m in central Gippsland.

I'm in the North East, Templestowe, but if your willing to help I could be coerced out that way. One of my favorite drives is from Yarra Junction through Powelltown then down through Neerim. Let me know it would be much appreciated.