Understeer Anyone?

JohnsZ · 05-07-2013, 02:26 PM

I put off writing this Thread with this question for months thinking it was just my imagination, maybe my tires, or maybe just the way I drive. But I have noticed an understeer in my '09 Z for a while now. I currently have 30k on it. When rounding a corner at speeds of 50+ mph, it seems I have to really concentrate to make the car go exactly where I want. There seems to be a fraction of a second of a delay in turning and it doesn't matter if it's a left or right turn. It seems like it's been more noticeable since I got my Michelin Pilot Super Sports or maybe I just didn't notice it when I bought my Z which had Potenzas. I searched here for threads regarding this issue and didn't find any so maybe it IS just my imagination. Anyone else feel this way? It's really just an annoyance but it seems that I never felt an understeer in my '07 350Z.

wheee! · 05-07-2013, 02:29 PM

No other mods to the suspension other than you got new tires?

need more info....

JungleZ · 05-07-2013, 02:32 PM

You need swift springs and sways, car still sketchy.. Reviews say it all

Chuck33079 · 05-07-2013, 02:40 PM

When was the last time you got an alignment?

JohnsZ · 05-07-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheee!

No other mods to the suspension other than you got new tires?

need more info....

All stock and had it aligned when I got the Michelins about 5K ago!

Chuck33079 · 05-07-2013, 02:48 PM

Doesn't sound normal to me. Have you looked under the car to see if something's tweaked?

JohnsZ · 05-07-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Doesn't sound normal to me. Have you looked under the car to see if something's tweaked?

Not yet! I'm going to have Nissan look at it when I bring it in for service soon.

Chuck33079 · 05-07-2013, 02:57 PM

Look for worn out bushings or ball joints. Something's wrong, and it's not the tires.

JohnsZ · 05-07-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Look for worn out bushings or ball joints. Something's wrong, and it's not the tires.

Thanks Chuck

m4a1mustang · 05-07-2013, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnsZ

I put off writing this Thread with this question for months thinking it was just my imagination, maybe my tires, or maybe just the way I drive. But I have noticed an understeer in my '09 Z for a while now. I currently have 30k on it. When rounding a corner at speeds of 50+ mph, it seems I have to really concentrate to make the car go exactly where I want. There seems to be a fraction of a second of a delay in turning and it doesn't matter if it's a left or right turn. It seems like it's been more noticeable since I got my Michelin Pilot Super Sports or maybe I just didn't notice it when I bought my Z which had Potenzas. I searched here for threads regarding this issue and didn't find any so maybe it IS just my imagination. Anyone else feel this way? It's really just an annoyance but it seems that I never felt an understeer in my '07 350Z.

Could just be a combination of the softer sidewalls on the PSS and full tread compared to your old, worn down Potenzas. When you wear tires down you eliminate or reduce tread squirm, so they will feel sharper than when new.

That's what it sounds like to me.

Keep in mind the Z is a front-heavy car with staggered tires. Its bias is towards understeer.

Chuck33079 · 05-07-2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Could just be a combination of the softer sidewalls on the PSS and full tread compared to your old, worn down Potenzas.

If nothing's tweaked in the front end, this is the issue. A set of adjustable sways will solve the issue quite nicely.

m4a1mustang · 05-07-2013, 03:18 PM

A lot of it is just dealing with it and getting used to how the car drives now. The PSS are softer and not quite as sharp feeling as the Potenzas, but they grip oh so much more.

JohnsZ · 05-07-2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

A lot of it is just dealing with it and getting used to how the car drives now. The PSS are softer and not quite as sharp feeling as the Potenzas, but they grip oh so much more.

That has been pretty much my theory. The Michelins ARE noticeably softer! Thanks!

JohnsZ · 05-07-2013, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Could just be a combination of the softer sidewalls on the PSS and full tread compared to your old, worn down Potenzas. When you wear tires down you eliminate or reduce tread squirm, so they will feel sharper than when new.

That's what it sounds like to me.

Keep in mind the Z is a front-heavy car with staggered tires. Its bias is towards understeer.

Great points...Thanks!

m4a1mustang · 05-07-2013, 03:27 PM

No problem.

05-07-2013, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
JohnsZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 374 Drives: '09 370Z Tour CY M6 Rep Power: 14	Understeer Anyone? I put off writing this Thread with this question for months thinking it was just my imagination, maybe my tires, or maybe just the way I drive. But I have noticed an understeer in my '09 Z for a while now. I currently have 30k on it. When rounding a corner at speeds of 50+ mph, it seems I have to really concentrate to make the car go exactly where I want. There seems to be a fraction of a second of a delay in turning and it doesn't matter if it's a left or right turn. It seems like it's been more noticeable since I got my Michelin Pilot Super Sports or maybe I just didn't notice it when I bought my Z which had Potenzas. I searched here for threads regarding this issue and didn't find any so maybe it IS just my imagination. Anyone else feel this way? It's really just an annoyance but it seems that I never felt an understeer in my '07 350Z.

05-07-2013, 02:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
wheee! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mod Capital of Canada Age: 57 Posts: 7,354 Drives: cars. lots of cars. Rep Power: 40182	No other mods to the suspension other than you got new tires? need more info.... __________________ H&R / Stillen / Berk / HKS / Swift / Michelin / UpRev / SPC / Amuse Rep / Seibon / Fringe XVO / TWM / more... My Journal

05-07-2013, 02:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29538	When was the last time you got an alignment? __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

05-07-2013, 02:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29538	Doesn't sound normal to me. Have you looked under the car to see if something's tweaked? __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

05-07-2013, 02:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29538	Look for worn out bushings or ball joints. Something's wrong, and it's not the tires. wheee! likes this. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

05-07-2013, 02:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
JungleZ Banned Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: orange county,ca Posts: 652 Drives: leased base z... Rep Power: 0	You need swift springs and sways, car still sketchy.. Reviews say it all

05-07-2013, 03:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	A lot of it is just dealing with it and getting used to how the car drives now. The PSS are softer and not quite as sharp feeling as the Potenzas, but they grip oh so much more. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

05-07-2013, 03:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	No problem. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

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