Tires wandering?

[Bandit]

Hey guys, I was wondering, is it normal with wider and stickier tires to get a feeling of the front end of the car wanting to "wander" due to irregularities in the road's surface?

I did not notice this so much with my old harder compound 225's, but now with my 245 Nitto's it seems I have to concentrate harder on keeping it going straight at high speeds (100+). I did have an alignment done as soon as I got the new tires installed, so I don't think that's a factor. Also, it doesn't seem to pull one way or the other.

I have a new steering box so there is very little play in the system, which is good, but I find that I need to make subtle steering corrections a lot.

Would more positive camber help to correct this?

Paul

[BonzoHansen]

Yes, the wider the tire the bigger of a problem wandering with road grooves, etc., becomes.

I would not thing positive camber woudl help. I'm noit sure I'd mess with my alignment to fix this problem. Maybe running some toe-in but again, I wouldn't bother.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

My '01 SS with a sticky 275 / 295 combo wanders all over the road, that's normal. My Tahoe with 305s all the way around does this as well. I'm not sure there is much you can do to correct this. I've accepted it as the way it is with wide tire combos.

[ItalianBullitt754]

Build them arms up Paul to keep that beast on the road! Those tires aren't that big and wide. Same width as mine up front but I don't really have wandering issues and I did my alignment and camber myself. Suck it up pansy! Lol!

[Bandit]

Build them arms up Paul to keep that beast on the road! Those tireas aren''t that big and wide. Same width as mine up front but I don't really have wandering issues and I did my alignment and camber myself. Suck it up pansy! Lol!

Of course you don't have problems when you're only going 60mph! I'm talking about on a car that can go fast!!

Paul

[ItalianBullitt754]

Of course you don't have problems when you're only going 60mph! I'm talking about on a car that can go fast!!

Paul

Bring it Beach Boy! Well see if I can go over 60mph this morning sucker! Lol!

[Bandit]

[ItalianBullitt754]

:3gears:

[ItalianBullitt754]

Speaking of I am going to be throwing some 265-35-18's up front when I get it backj stateside. I also want that Steeda Panhard bar setup to keep the rear centered under hard cornering.

[Bandit]

OK. Now stop defiling my post with your blue oval propoganda!!

[ItalianBullitt754]

Lol! Yes Sir!

[fast Ed]

If you have the ability to add more positive caster to the car, do so. Positive caster increases steering feel, and straight line tracking.

It's not just the width of the tire that causes the wandering, it's the height, shape, and stiffness of the sidewalls. On my 68 Cougar, I chose Michelin Pilot Sports when changing to 18". They have a less "square" shoulder than some other performance tires, and more flexible sidewalls.


cheers
Ed N.