Tyre size issues?

[Newbieowner]

Question for you guys. I fitted 17in alloys with 225 tyres on the front and 245 on the rear. My alignment is correct and all wheel balancing is correct as well.

But the car tramlines all the time on flat surfaces and just doesn't handle well. It's a constant battle to just move the front end on a slight turn or gentle bend.

What is your advice for a better tyre width on the front to regain proper handling and would I need to change be the rear as well?

Thanks all

 

[t-tony]

Are the tyres new or used?. All the same brand or mixed makes? Tyre pressures correct? Those "staggered" sizes are fine, not causing the problem. It's a tyre issue.

Tony.

 

[Newbieowner]

Are the tyres new or used?. All the same brand or mixed makes? Tyre pressures correct? Those "staggered" sizes are fine, not causing the problem. It's a tyre issue.

Tony.

Hi Tony, they're matching tyres, only just broken in, getting worse as time goes on.

I think I'll have to take them in to a proper tyre place and really get them looked over if you're saying 225s should be no issue handling wise.

 

[Duncodin]

Do you have spacers on the front? What wheels? Are the wheels big offset? If the centre of the front tyre is a long way outside the centre of the hub then any wear in the steering or suspension can make the wheels toe out rather than run parallel and you have a bad shopping trolley effect

 

[t-tony]

Hi Tony, they're matching tyres, only just broken in, getting worse as time goes on.

I think I'll have to take them in to a proper tyre place and really get them looked over if you're saying 225s should be no issue handling wise.

What 17” rims are they? Are they wheels from aZ3?

Tony.

 

[Newbieowner]

What 17” rims are they? Are they wheels from aZ3?

Tony.

Yes they're z3 wheels. I do have a mechanic doing a health check for the winter on it next week so I'll get him to really check.on it all I think.

 

[Newbieowner]

Do you have spacers on the front? What wheels? Are the wheels big offset? If the centre of the front tyre is a long way outside the centre of the hub then any wear in the steering or suspension can make the wheels toe out rather than run parallel and you have a bad shopping trolley effect

No spacers or anything and the wheels to my eye look perfectly in line but there's obviously something wrong so I'll get my mechanic to do a full check on it. I was worried the 225s were just too big for nice smooth handling

 

[AntStark]

Those wheels in your profile pic don't look like any Z3 wheels. Have you checked the offset (ET) and size etc are compatible ? Think most staggered set ups should have an ET of about 41.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

You may have staggered tyres, but do you have staggered wheels? Just a thought.

 

[t-tony]

Those wheels in your profile pic don't look like any Z3 wheels. Have you checked the offset (ET) and size etc are compatible ? Think most staggered set ups should have an ET of about 41.

A good point.

Tony.

 

[Brian4]

i run 225 front and 245 rear on 17" rims all four wheels are the same width. Your biggest problem will be the worn bushes on the front lower arms allowing too much front to back movement. Either polybushes or new rubber bushes. Ours used to wander before they were changed to polybush.

 

[t-tony]

Another possibility is incorrectly fitted poly bushes. We came across this earlier in the year on a Shed day on a members Z3.

Tony.

 

[Brian4]

Another possibility is incorrectly fitted poly bushes. We came across this earlier in the year on a Shed day on a members Z3.

Tony.

They were bad and made the car a very interesting drive I imagine.

 

[t-tony]

When Jose went out and tried it after lunch (we fitted a couple of mountings with new bushes I had in the cupboard) he said it felt like a different car. I imagine it did!

Tony.

 

[Newbieowner]

A friend is taking her to get the alignment and balancing checked again today. Had it all done properly 2 months ago and was driving perfectly but the husband has confessed he may have "clonked" a pretty big pothole about 10 days ago when I was lamenting about the problem to him! Doesn't seem to be any damage to the wheel apparently but it may have whacked everything out of line so that's where I'll start.

 

[t-tony]

Always useful to have all the info!

Tony.

 

[Newbieowner]

Always useful to have all the info!

Tony.

Typical! Hasnt mentioned anything until I was literally tearing my hair and ready to rip the car apart when he casually threw that in!

 

[t-tony]

Might explain why it’s been getting worse maybe. Hope the tracking shows something!

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

It'll have to a pretty severe clonk to put things out that badly. And that, my friends, is when the suspension re-furb starts in earnest.

 

[Newbieowner]

Results are in! left front wheel (pothole wheel) over 5 degrees out. Right front wheel properly aligned. Same place that did the alignment 6 weeks ago. They were not impressed lol. Apparently all suspension, coils, bushes etc looking in good order, slight surface rust on the track rods but nothing else at all. Now driving smooth and straight.

Moral of this story ..... do not let husband (not a car person at all) driver her ever again.