Feeling floaty - new rear tires!

KetanLadd · 08-31-2014, 04:13 AM

So I replaced my rear tires with the stock Bridgestone RE50’s, I know I should have changed them for something better but they have served me well. I managed to get 19,000km (12k miles) out of them and I have not been easy on them. I honestly think the smooth tarmac here in Dubai helps a lot – I never used to get more than 9k miles out of my rears on my Beemer back in the UK.

Anyway coming back to the point, following changing the tires I knew they needed to be broken in, ran 300 km on them and then checked the tire pressures, the rears were fine at the 35 psi but the fronts were low at 30. I topped them up but the at say 140 kph taking a sweeping corner the car feels floaty at the rear and like its pivoting at the front. Also I noticed that the car has become more sensitive to steering inputs after fitting new rear tires. (before I topped up the air on the fronts).

Pics below of old tread and new!

NORAIN · 08-31-2014, 06:44 AM

Did you get aligned & what are your toe settings? You want your toe set to zero in front and slight toe in out back. I think having a lot of tread vs. the old ones that were worn, makes a difference too.

KetanLadd · 08-31-2014, 07:32 AM

I didn't get the toe and camber checked, (does this have to be done every time new tires are fitted) The car is due for a service soon, so ill get it done then.

Luciano13 · 08-31-2014, 11:34 AM

Do you drive with the VDC off? If so, drive with it on and see if you're actually losing tracking? it could be that the tires are simply new. I had that same "floating" feeling when I changed mine too

NORAIN · 09-01-2014, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KetanLadd

I didn't get the toe and camber checked, (does this have to be done every time new tires are fitted) The car is due for a service soon, so ill get it done then.

I would... Those tires aren't cheap and bad alignment will chew them fast. Especially toe...
I forgot to mention before, I had the same thing after new tires. Mine was more toe settings though. I had it aligned when I got the tires and the guy had me toed out all the way around. In his defense, he was using OEM specs and centering on the numbers range. I ended up going to a race shop to get aligned.

08-31-2014, 04:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
KetanLadd Base Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: UAE, Dubai Posts: 23 Drives: 370Z 2013 GT AT Rep Power: 12	Feeling floaty - new rear tires! So I replaced my rear tires with the stock Bridgestone RE50’s, I know I should have changed them for something better but they have served me well. I managed to get 19,000km (12k miles) out of them and I have not been easy on them. I honestly think the smooth tarmac here in Dubai helps a lot – I never used to get more than 9k miles out of my rears on my Beemer back in the UK. Anyway coming back to the point, following changing the tires I knew they needed to be broken in, ran 300 km on them and then checked the tire pressures, the rears were fine at the 35 psi but the fronts were low at 30. I topped them up but the at say 140 kph taking a sweeping corner the car feels floaty at the rear and like its pivoting at the front. Also I noticed that the car has become more sensitive to steering inputs after fitting new rear tires. (before I topped up the air on the fronts). Pics below of old tread and new!

08-31-2014, 06:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
NORAIN Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wilmington, NC Age: 57 Posts: 323 Drives: 2011 370Z 6M SP Rep Power: 12	Did you get aligned & what are your toe settings? You want your toe set to zero in front and slight toe in out back. I think having a lot of tread vs. the old ones that were worn, makes a difference too. __________________ Swift Springs\|265-305 RE-11\|Forgestar F14\|F.I. TDX S.S. 12" Res."Milled Out"\|K&N\|SPL\|Z1(34 row)oil cooler\|Z1 brake upgrade\|Hotchkis Zspeed\|Team Voodoo\|HPDEjunkie.com

08-31-2014, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Luciano13 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 2,130 Drives: 2016 Solid Redz Rep Power: 245	Do you drive with the VDC off? If so, drive with it on and see if you're actually losing tracking? it could be that the tires are simply new. I had that same "floating" feeling when I changed mine too __________________ http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...lid-red-z.html

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08-31-2014, 07:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
KetanLadd Base Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: UAE, Dubai Posts: 23 Drives: 370Z 2013 GT AT Rep Power: 12	I didn't get the toe and camber checked, (does this have to be done every time new tires are fitted) The car is due for a service soon, so ill get it done then.