Tramlining and tyres

[Grumps]

Hold on a minute there young man

The wheel size is just my casual observation of the posts on the forum and not properly supported by hard facts, so please don't dump the wheels based on the evidence so far. if @Redline can collect the data for a number of members it may throw up a clearer picture of the actual influences and best options to improve our driving experiences.

Lol! Don't worry I didnt mean my wheels! Just the tyres.

 

[Grumps]

Just replaced falkens (which tramlined like a gud un)
With Pirelli p7 on the front (cured in a flash) no tram lining
Quieter and generally a far better ride ,very pleased
View attachment 30327
Here's the pretty pattern that has cured my blues

Were they falken 452's Bri?

 

[TaffZee]

After owning both a Z3 and Z4 the Z3 was prone to tramline, I changed the bushes to Powerflex on the Z3 which was far better and reduced the tram lining, but still tram lined slightly after trying various tyres.

Had my Z4 for 12 months now and she does not tramline at all. Changed the tyres all around after buying it.

18" 255 back 225 front.

Front, Hancook:

Back Falkens:

 

[simonlincs]

Goodyear F1 alround, pictures after 9000 miles

 

[dva99999]

I have Potenza's on the front and HU901's on the rear. I've had a check of the bushes (well the rubber bits) and they all seem to have been recently fitted as there are no instances of wear. Perhaps a photo with markers could help point out the different parts as I was of the opinion that one of the bushes had worn. Almost went and bought the polyurethane ones. I hear a clunk when engaging the clutch, and a slight suspension clunk when moving off. I checked for signs of damage to the diff mount but could not see anything noticeable. I'll have a better look when changing the diff fluid.

 

[Aceman]

That's sounds more like your propshaft donut coupling which is known to wear out.

 

[brilie]

What sizes are you running Bri, and how much were the P7's please?

Tony.

Hi Tony ,running 225/40/R18 on front falkens still on rear
P7,s were £84.00 each Bargain I thought!

 

[brilie]

Were they falken 452's Bri?

Hi My Mansfield Mate yes they were 452s Dave not illegal by any
Means but maybe old and stiff????

 

[oldcarman]

My 108's came on Goodyear F1 Eagles and I do get some tramlining on very bad tarmac joins in the road surface. On smooth tarmac roads none at all. If I can get some pictures before Fla. I will.
Another important part is played by tyre air pressure @Redline so it may worth be noting what people run theirs at Ian.

Tony.

Thanks for bringing that point up Tony, I was going to as soon as I got through reading though the posts! I have a cheaper set of tires, name evades me, and found that when I picked up my car after their install it tramlined terribly. I dropped the pressure from 32psi to 30 all around and it virtually disappeared only appearing on washboard surfaces which I'd expect no matter what tires, etc you're running. JIM

 

[oldcarman]

Ran winter rubber all year round, softer side walls, never had a problem. Not got a close up pic though, sorry.

View attachment 30307

Also softer compound treads HT. I find the same thing with my wife's Fusion when we change from winter to summer tires. The winter tires are way smoother in ride and handling but slightly noisier due to tread design! JIM

 

[Grumps]

Hi My Mansfield Mate yes they were 452s Dave not illegal by any
Means but maybe old and stiff????

And it's made a big difference getting rid of them?

 

[brilie]

And it's made a big difference getting rid of them?

Absolutely total transformation of the zed,drives straight ,
Quieter ,gives you more confidence in the car ,generally
A better all round ride.
Best money I've spent on the zed by far
(Except my wheels)

 

[Grumps]

Steady now with those wheels! Well worth knowing about those tyres.

 

[brilie]

Steady now with those wheels! Well worth knowing about those tyres.

I'll let you look at them Sunday

 

[oldcarman]

Look but no touchie @Grumpy!! JIM

 

[Antm72]

Just changed tyres to Uniroyal Rainsports 225/40/18 and 255/35/18 and nothing from them at all very planted and goes where pointed

 

[Alan W]

Just changed tyres to Uniroyal Rainsports 225/40/18 and 255/35/18 and nothing from them at all very planted and goes where pointedView attachment 30457

This a tyre l am seriously considering, they are supposed to have a softer more supple sidewall which gives a more comfortable / softer ride.. and apparently (just as the name suggests) very good in the wet.. did you go from 16s to 18s and if so did you notice a big difference in ride ie did your car turn into a boneshaker?

 

[Antm72]

I have gone 18 to 18 but the feel of them is great if the car twitches at all you actually feel it bite back and grip almost sticky. They are A rated for wet its a dry road car really but good to know that they will perform if im caught out

 

[the Nefyn cat]

When I got mine it had Goodyears on the front and some cheap-and-nasties on the back, tramlined horribly and the DSC kicked in for no good reason. Fitted Avon ZZ3s all round, different car altogether. As they wore out the tramlining came back but since it was a gradual thing I ( sort of ) got used to it. Now got ZV5s on the back and ZV7s on the front, and the tracking adjusted a bit, and it's like a different car again. Very different tread patterns but the same effect. Perhaps in a couple of years the tramlining will be back, guess I'll have to wait to find out. 225/45-17 fronts 245/40-17 rears, by the way.

 

[Redline]

When I got mine it had Goodyears on the front and some cheap-and-nasties on the back, tramlined horribly and the DSC kicked in for no good reason. Fitted Avon ZZ3s all round, different car altogether. As they wore out the tramlining came back but since it was a gradual thing I ( sort of ) got used to it. Now got ZV5s on the back and ZV7s on the front, and the tracking adjusted a bit, and it's like a different car again. Very different tread patterns but the same effect. Perhaps in a couple of years the tramlining will be back, guess I'll have to wait to find out. 225/45-17 fronts 245/40-17 rears, by the way.

It seems that many tyres performance changes, sometimes dramatically as they wear. Not having yet put new tyres on my Z4 I can't comment if its the tyres being partially worn or just a trait of the tyre.

I have a feeling that some tyres that have wide grooves the centre third seem to be more susceptible to tram lining - Those Uniroyal Rain Sports give you a feeling that there's always more tread in contact with the road. With wider grooves and the inner section on a white line etc, I just get the impression its like running on rail tracks. Those with more but thinner grooves seem on the whole to perform better from this rather unscientific sampling.