my car follows pavement seams. does yours?

luttersj

luttersj

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After a winter of cruising on Blizzaks I'm back to my summer tires now. There's a noticeable difference in ride quality and handling. With the summer tires the handling is sharper but I get more road noise and the car seems to track along any seam in the pavement. If I get onto an older blacktop road that has ruts in it I hardly even have to steer. It sounds nice but it's not.

But I need to know if that's how most LS' handle or if it's just me and my tires. Considering how it drove with the Blizzaks, I think I already know, but I'm just looking for some feedback.
 
My ZR michelin pilots let me know of every texture, contour, grain of sand, milling or anything else about the road. That's the price you pay for having wide tires with aggressive tread, and a tight suspension:D .
 
^
very true. but there are some places where my tires do not make any noise or shift due to road.
 
What you are describing is known as "tram lining", among other things. Directional tires are well known for being the worst offenders for doing this and on average, the wider the tire the worse it will be.

But after a while you just get used to it.
 
the tires are 245/45/17s. Nothing over the top by any means but I think a little wider than stock. I'm not sure as I bought the car with those tires mounted. To be honest, I only noticed it here and there last summer/fall. But after having the Blizzaks on all winter and coming back to these, I notice it all the time now. However, it is comforting to know that it's not just me and my tires. It's the style of tire and the width that's messing with me. thanks for the feedback!
 
The rear end on my car feels like it wants to get away from me a lot with the 285 tires I run in the rear.

I also did notice that the Blizzaks I ran over the winter had a TON more grip than my summer tires do even on dry roads. I want to run winter tires all year long!
 
You may want to have your alignment checked, I have yet to experience that in 7 years with my LS, running 235 or 245 width tires.
 
When I had my 255 summer tires on they really pulled around on the road. I have to agree with everybody.
 
same here... a small amount is normal, but if you have to correct a lot with the steering wheel, it could be that your tie rod ends are gone. jack the entire front up and move the wheels by pulling on them and looking for any play in each joint. the salt and sand during winter just gets in everything and kills it. FIx it asap as you dont want one of those to let go while your driving, you'll be along for the ride.

less likely, it could be your steering rack. both of these issues would give you a bit of a dead spot in the steering. big boaty snow tires help hide some of the symptoms. ball joints are less likely than the first it. how many miles do you have?

not sure why the rearend would feel loose. caster/camber out? overspray with the tireshine heh?
 
My old tires would follow every irregularity in the road. At times it felt like there was something majorly wrong with the front end. I got new, less agressive tires and haven't felt a pull on the wheel since.
 
I went the opposite way. I was all over the place on stocks.... went to my 20's with Toyo T1R's 245 in the front and 275 in the back and she stays put now! Wierd!

side note... I want 285s know that I know it can be done!
 
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