Stock Sport Tires Causing Strange Vibration/Feedback In Sub-40 Temps
 

I'm not really sure where to post this...whether here or Suspension or General...and since I think it's related to tires, here goes...

For a few months now, I've been experiencing some vibration and noise (due to the vibration) coming from the front wheels/suspension area and through the steering wheel. This usually only happens when I'm stopped and turn turn the wheels all the way to once side and begin to move forward. Basically, this only happens when I'm pulling out of my driveway and have to make a sharp right to get onto my road. It kind of feels like I have a bunch of pebbles stuck all over my tire tread and there's not enough traction and the tires skip a little. During normal driving this does not happen whatsoever. Also, after I've been driving for some time and try to do the same scenario as mentioned, I don't notice anything.

So my theory is: Because these stock sport tires are summer tires (softer compound), I guess during the winter they get rock-hard from sitting in the cold after some period of time. And after they've been driven on for...say 20 minutes, they're at a more ideal operating temperature, thus softer.

So if my theory is correct, other folks who live in areas where the weather drops below 40 in the winter should be experiencing the same thing. Or is there really something wrong with my car, such as suspension or steering related??

Thanks in advance.

Your theory is correct. These tires are not designed for sub 40 degree temperatures, and in fact most of the tire manufacturers that make these kind of thires warn you not to drive it below freezing as you could damage the tires (or the car for that matter).

Really! How so?? Do chunks of rubber start flying out? I'm not trying to be funny...I'm asking in all honesty. How do such tires compounds get damaged in cold temps?

No, they're not going to delaminate, that is a Firestone specialty (Bridgestone owns Firestone).

Because the rubber has no give you can more easily damage a belt when hitting a pothole or sharp transition.

And it's just generally dangerous because of the significant loss of grip at those low temps.

:iagree: That's the damaging the car part :)

Ok...good. I'm glad that it IS just the tires and not some other component on the car. Perhaps next year i'll get some winter tires, such as Blizzak or some other equivalent.

Thanks guys for your comments. Rep points to all.

So...just to reconfirm, you guys have experienced the same type of feedback from the wheels and through the steering wheel, whether with the stock sport tire or some other kind?

Yes - it's just the summer tire compound. You're fine.

I don't have a Z yet but I have the same tires on my RSX and yeah they do the same thing, especially when I pull out onto a road from any type of driveway. I thought something was wrong with mine for a while too cause it just randomly started doing it, then I realized it was the cold.

Cool...thanks guys...I feel much better now.

I have been havin th same problem but its now 48 degrees where i live in here in texas.
but i still have that problem. and its not just when the car is cold. when i turn the steering wheel 3/4 to full turn, I feel it happening.
I really hope its just the tires but the way it feels i don't really think thats the mainm problem.
I'm going to have it check out at the dealer ship on tuesday so I'll let you guys know what they say.

Don't waste your time. It's just a combination of the tire compound and the fact that these are wide tires... when they get hard enough and you turn them at enough of an angle they will skip over the surface. Everyone with the sport package in cold enough weather experiences this... it's normal.

It's just cold wide summer tires. And by cold, I mean anything below about 70 degrees. It gets even worse with wide race rubber.

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