WillR Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hi all I'm having a problem with my Z - the handling is unpredictable and occasionally tends towards massive and unexpected oversteer. I drive the same road every day and yet sometimes under moderate power the back end repeatedly steps out and has to be corrected (in a big way) by the stability control. Yet other days it is fine. I had put it down to ice but now the weather has warmed up it is clear this is not the case. When it happens there will generally be a number of 'moments' in quick succession even driving gently. Then after a period of time the car returns to normal. It is as if the tyres get covered in oil and then it works its way out. Several times I have stopped and checked the rear tyres are still inflated! Before you all point out that there is 300bhp through the rear wheels - I've driven this road with a variety of powerful RWD cars before, including one with no traction or stability control, and never had a problem. When I got the Z I expected to turn the electronic nanny off and drive it like my previous RWD car, but it is apparent that this would result in leaving the road backwards after a very short period of time!! Any ideas? All I can think is some sort of diff problem?? Obviously I've check the basis like tyres inflated, have tread, etc!! All suggestions thankfully recieved. Will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmac Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 What size wheels front and back. What size tyres and what type bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS16 Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 My old Zed was very unpredictable and it turned out to be the wheel alignment The camber/toe was really messed up. Maybe you should check for uneven tyre wear, the insides of my tyres were bald when the outsides were brand new Anyway, just an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Bridgestones fitted ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 I've never heard of anything like that... Have you checked your rear suspension? Any leaking fluids coming from the struts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
From A to Zed Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Mine was a bit, well scary when I first bought it.... And dreadful in the wet... I got rid of the cheapo tyres (purchased by the previous owner) and like Ian said I had the wheel alignment corrected. It was a different car after that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matth76 Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Sounds like poor tyres or camber adjustment as mentioned. The standard Bridgestones are what you need at the very least which are very good in the dry and "ok" in the wet and will not result in what you are having. Cheaper low quality tyres will have much poorer grip. However sounds more like the camber or alignment is out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillR Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 Great - thanks for all the replies Falken /245 at the rear, Khumo/225 at the front - previous owner seemed to think the Falkens are a good match for the car but I have no way of knowing! I haven't liked Bridgestones on previous cars finding them prone to tramlining, however have liked Conti Sport M3s and Toyo Proxes - anyone any views on which is better? Sounds like new boots and a full alignment check is the way forward! Will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Yip, got to agree with that has all been said. Geometry and tyres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 You cant go wrong with the Falkens bud - dont waste your money on new ones - yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnorange Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Interesting, mine does this and it has Khumo all round, again not my choice on the car when I got it, geo checked all ok, tyres going asap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Falken /245 at the rear, Khumo/225 at the front - previous owner seemed to think the Falkens are a good match for the car but I have no way of knowing! DING DING DING Don't mix and match tyres, else you end up with the exact issues you're having. Change the fronts for Falkens (presuming they're the 452) and you should be fine. If they're not the 452s then I'd be tempted to ditch the lot and get either the 452s, Toyo T1-Rs or if you're feeling flush and want the best grip, a set of Pilot Sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ersen.o Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 having the same tyres at the front wont make that much difference to the backside flicking out. it just needs good tyres and a good adjustment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 You cant go wrong with the Falkens bud - dont waste your money on new ones - yet. As Dan said, the 452's are good but the rest of the Falken range get fairly average reviews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsurfkid Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Hi WillR, I have been searching the forum for an answer to your question because I have the same problem as you had. Did having the alignment, geometry, camber adjusted sort out your problem? Any help to the solution would be great! Thanks, Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Have you got mismatched tyres too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich5259 Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Don't fprget to check the pressures too, The zed is quite sensitive to these. Start at 35psi all round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZedJohn Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I had my rear alignment changed when I bought my Zed as I noticed the uneven wear on the rears. It's now planted and only breaks traction when I'm heavy footed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsurfkid Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Thanks for the info everyone! I've recently had some new tyres fitted and noticed uneven wear on the old set so wheel alignment seems to be the answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Are they the same kind of tyre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsurfkid Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 No, when I bought the car it had Michelin Pilot Sports all round, I still have those on the front but I have replaced the rears with a pair of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric XL. Will having a different set of rear to front make that much difference? Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Yes, it'll make the world of difference and will greatly contribute towards any instability you'll have. Sell the F1s and get another two MPS on the back, it'll be a billion times better. The F1s are very good tyres, but you can't get the fronts in the correct size hence the reason you'll want to go back to the MPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 No manufacturer supplies a car with mixed tyres, that tells a story in itself. Each tyre type , even of the same brand, has different characteristics in terms of the tread and sidewall construction so they will behave differently on the road. For example Bridgestones 040's are generally regarded as poor whereas many that have experienced Bridgestones 050's are much more complementary. From the hundreds of posts I have seen on here in the past 4 years on this subject - the one thing that is common is that the ZED is very sensitive to what tyres are being used, wheel alignment, tyre pressures (35 degrees when cold) and in my experience the wear when it comes to driving conditions like we are now having. I have been using Falken 452's all round on 19" Nismos and having done about 10k miles on them they are around half worn on the front and about two thirds on the rears and there is no doubt the grip has gone right off compared to when they were relatively new last winter. In the summer they were fine, in fact the grip level in the dry was too good to steer on the throttle easily but when it was wet and they were not as worn as they are now the grip was fanatastic. So, personally I would not mix tyres, I regularly check the presures and even though tread levels are well above the minimum a change to new tyres is a good investment to help keep the ZED out of the scenery. Of course those worn tyres would be ideal for finishing off on a track day, if that appeals to you And I agree with the last post, MPS would be the best all round choice if your budget runs to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsurfkid Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Thanks guys! I will get online and get myself set of the MPS tyres asap. I like the idea of keeping the Goodyear for a track day, that certainly appeals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 why the hell are MPS so expensive. In other sizes 5up or down they are alot lot cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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