Gtr Handling Like Crap Since New Bigger Rims And Fatter Tyres

[R33-RB26DETT]

So i upgraded to bigger 10" rims and 265 tyres and now on normal residential roads my car handles much worse. However in the mountains cornering it handles much better also on the freeway it does feel better.

The problem is that my car now handles like absolute crap on normal bumpy roads. It's hard to describe but kind of feels like it's 'tram tracking' from what i've researched on here.

It's kind of scary becuase it's hard to keep straight sometimes. I've already taken it to pedders and replaced the power steering rack, rack ends and tie rod ends.

He thought that by fixing these things that it would improve the handling on normal roads, but it's still pretty much the same.

Is this the price you pay for having such fat tyres? If i don't like it should I just go back to my original rims and tyres? I really don't want to though.

Can anyone please help as to what I can try to do to fix this? Or is this just the way that it has to be when upgrading to bigger tyres?

[Mohsen]

get an alignment, should work the kinks out.

[R33-RB26DETT]

I've had a wheel alignment done 3 times. lol

That's how i found out my tie rod was worn, which i've replaced.

Any other ideas? Does anyone else run fat tyres that has this issue on normal roads?

[34GeeTeeTee]

265's arent that bad, they are pretty common size so i dont see why you have a drama... Post up the wheel alignment specs, im sure someone on here will be able to help... You should have a print out?

It should be something simple

[GTR-N1]

What brand tyres?

Tyre pressure is?

No crack in any rims?

Suspension bushes and arms were checked by Pedders?

Crappy roads where you live?

Try another SAUer's rims for a run perhaps?

[34GeeTeeTee]

Yeah as much info as you can give, it will help people on here to help you

[Thelen]

Dude this is exactly the same problem I have with my 32, and they've checked everything as well!

Maybe I/we should get em to check the balance of each wheel?

[GTR-34A]

I had this problem when i purchased my car, it had been sitting in storage and the tyres were very old and the rubber had turned very hard, I got new wider wheels with brand new rubber and it drove much, much better... so im thinking that your problem is tyres?.. either age, pressure, profile or a combination etc?...

having said that sometimes on roads you can get abit of a kick from the wheels following grooves in the road, but maybe thats just a Characteristic of wide tyres combined with bad roads?...

[sydking]

ive only even felt what you describe on raods that are pred to be tared, WHen its all grooved and it tosses you side to side

[pistol-pete]

tbh its pretty normal for gtrs to tram track. you can get rid of it mostly with an alignment (i think its toe-in causes it) but then you will sacrifice some of the grip when you're in the twisties.

[Checkbuzz]

For starters I would take it to somewhere that actually knows about suspension i.e. not most Pedders franchises

Anyone who thinks that replacing the power steering rack, rack ends and tie rod ends might fix it is a grade A monkey!

If you are in Melbourne try Advantage suspension in Moorabin

BTW Tramlining is pretty common in cars with wide tyres on bad roads and some tyres are worse than others e.g. semi slicks are much worse than street tyres

I'd be interested to see your wheel alignment/wheel/tyre specs

[MrStabby]

Wider tyres do tend to tramline more, and you can reduce that tendency by adding more toe in at the front. However, this will also reduce the eagerness to turn in, and it may understeer a bit more, so its a compromise. I believe adding more castor will also help, and AFAIK there's no real downside to that.

So;

1. Check the castor is optimal

2. Add some toe in (or set it to zero if you currently have toe out).

Personally i prefer to put up with a bit of tramlining to get the turn in benefits.

+1 for alignment specs

[luke gtr]

Unfortunately skylines track.

Mine is a lot worse now I'm running 265/40R17

But, I also got different effects with different tread patterns and tyre compositions.

Just think of it as a good workout while you drive.

And enjoy the drive through the twisties.

[Hadouken]

I tramline on uneven/shit surfaces. Running 265's. But its never gotten me to the point that it shits me.

I take it as a reaction test. See how quick you can catch it haha.

[Duncan]

Agreed - big tyres tramline like crazy. the stickier they are, the worse they tend to be.

The only thing worth checking is the bushes and balljoints in the front, any additional movement there will make it worse.

But basically....everyone just lives with this behaviour. You might also find your grip in the wet is reduced from before.

[R.3.2.G.T.R]

in the same boat here, cars got a mind of it's own, running 255 semi, my rear ball joints got play which I'm replacing with driftwork elimination kit, fronts I'm yet to check

don't realise how bad until someone else drives it n shits themselves when it wanders on reasonably good road

[Pezhead]

Is your car really lowered? If so then you may have bumpsteer alignment issues. You can't overly lower a GTR without really screwing up the bump steer and wider stickier tires will make it seem like the car is jolting around more.

I just had the rear bushes replaced and it made an amazing amount of difference.

What other stuff do you have done to the car?

[R33-RB26DETT]

34GeeTeeTee - I've found my orginal wheel alignment i got done at Bob Jane which was really bad service. They recommended i replace my front right tie rod end - which i did.

Pedders never gave me any alignment print outs.

Terry_GT-R34

What brand tyres? - Kuhmo Ku36 (brand new)

Tyre pressure is? - 32psi

No crack in any rims? - They are brand new Work Emotion XD9's

Suspension bushes and arms were checked by Pedders? I'd assume so, but can't confirm. I know that the previous own put new Polyurethane Bushes before i bought it last year.

Crappy roads where you live? I'm in Malvern, so i go down high st every day to work, high st isn't that bad.

Try another SAUer's rims for a run perhaps? Sure, if someone is willing to offer near Malvern.

LOLWUT - Well my wheels are brand new so i'm not sure if i'd need to get them balanced.

GTR-34A - Like i said they're brand new tyres Kuhmo KU36 18/30/265 all round, so i don't think that tyre age should be an issue.

Checkbuzz - I though Pedders were reputable? But maybe not, i'd prefer to go somewhere that's open on Saturdays so i don't have to take time off work.. The things i didn't like about pedders were that they didn't seem to know much about Jap cars, i even had to order my own tie rod ends from Nissan since they said they couldn't find any. lol

MrStabby - I don't know much about reading Wheel alignment results but maybe you can take a look at my results and see if i need more adjustment of my castor.

luke GTR - This is what i thought, but the thing that really pisses me off is that my mums Camry handles better in a straight line on normal bumpy roads like High St! Plus it feels unsafe, and jumps around a lot.

Duncan - Hmm okay, maybe i do just need to live with it, but it's just doesn't feel right that i paid 4k for new tyes and rims and now my car handles worse on normal roads. It does however handle much better around corners and at high speeds on a straight road.

Pezhead - It's got Apexi coil overs, and slightly lowered, probably only about 10mm - It's barely even noticeable over stock height.

Also, not sure if this has anything to do with my problem, but on full right lock when i'm parking i can hear the tyre rubbing against my inner guard lining. I think that it must have been taken out at some stage and not put back in properly because it's missing some of the clips.

Keen to hear any more thoughts and suggestions, maybe i should try taking it to another more reputable shop?

[Thelen]

Yea pedders can be very shit, they are just franchises so there is no quality control.

New wheels/tyres should definitely be balanced, I'd guess that they were if you bought them from any half decent place, but you never know they might have just put the rubber on the rims and rolled them out to you. Might be worth asking..

I've been going to Barry Bangay, which given all the awards they have won I'd guess they are OK, but perhaps I should go to somewhere else to double confirm. Still, many things that could be worn or need replacing, so will book in again for them to check.

Anyway, I agree it feels unsafe, but even more so it *used* to be fine, or maybe I'm miss remembering

I'll be moving to St Kilda in a couple weeks so maybe if we both have issues still we could swap rims lol.

Edited June 5, 2012 by Thelen

[Cassbo]

34GeeTeeTee - I've found my orginal wheel alignment i got done at Bob Jane which was really bad service. They recommended i replace my front right tie rod end - which i did.

Pedders never gave me any alignment print outs.

That is a whole bunch of toe in...

I used to get fairly bad tramlining (255/40 R17 Federal RS-Rs with standard suspension). A set of coilovers, adjustable arms c/w rose joints and a wheel alignment later, I get hardly any!

My alignment is probably a little too aggressive for the street, but it hooks really well at the track!

Wheel Alignment 20120518.pdf