[Mk2] [Turbo] Car Feels Twitchy..

[sanchi]

Driving my car on the motorway and on country roads and sometimes just general driving the car feels twitchy. My car has coilovers and 15" 3 piece rims 7 and 7.5 with standard rubber on the back and 205/50 on the front.

I've thought it was a number of things so went to get my alignment checked at wheel in motion and the results were fine no adjustments needed. The rims are not buckled, all balanced and the tyre pressures are all even.

The car seem to pull to the left though and tram line noticeably. Also when I brake it again tends to pull to the left.

Hmmmmm....

Any suggestions...

Thanks
Sanchi

[HighwayStar]

Hiya mate.
What tyre pressures are you running and what rubber? I run T1-Rs in the same sizes as you and the car behaves very differently dependent upon pressures used. Also if you're getting more noticeable 'pull' under braking I'd be investigating the front brakes... anything binding/siezing?
Also if it feels worse on braking when there is more weight acting on the front, could it be something like a top mount loose or shock on the way out?

R.

[sanchi]

Hiya mate.
What tyre pressures are you running and what rubber? I run T1-Rs in the same sizes as you and the car behaves very differently dependent upon pressures used. Also if you're getting more noticeable 'pull' under braking I'd be investigating the front brakes... anything binding/siezing?
Also if it feels worse on braking when there is more weight acting on the front, could it be something like a top mount loose or shock on the way out?

R.

Hi mate.
Im running the T1-Rs too Im using 30 psi on the front and 33 psi on the rear. What pressures are you running? Im going to have a look at it today and see what I can find out, Ive got some new coilovers bought just waiting on them to arrive so if it is a shock on the way out im covered but still I hope not

[Ryan.g]

Hi mate.
Im running the T1-Rs too Im using 30 psi on the front and 33 psi on the rear. What pressures are you running? Im going to have a look at it today and see what I can find out, Ive got some new coilovers bought just waiting on them to arrive so if it is a shock on the way out im covered but still I hope not

Aha

It will be the T1-R's. When i had them on my track car it felt exactly the same as yours did on friday chap. The tyre wall is just way to soft and you need to run them at high pressures to stop the flex. Even then though i did not like the feel of them so went with some R888's which made it feel solid.

A good test is to when the car is stationary push and pull the back end left to right and watch the tyre flex

Ryan

[sanchi]

Hi mate.
Im running the T1-Rs too Im using 30 psi on the front and 33 psi on the rear. What pressures are you running? Im going to have a look at it today and see what I can find out, Ive got some new coilovers bought just waiting on them to arrive so if it is a shock on the way out im covered but still I hope not

Aha

It will be the T1-R's. When i had them on my track car it felt exactly the same as yours did on friday chap. The tyre wall is just way to soft and you need to run them at high pressures to stop the flex. Even then though i did not like the feel of them so went with some R888's which made it feel solid.

A good test is to when the car is stationary push and pull the back end left to right and watch the tyre flex

Ryan

I just did that test and saw the flex! So what sort of pressures should I be looking at putting in to accommodate for the tyre wall. I've got some R888 sitting at home for my track days next year!

[HighwayStar]

I'm about 4/5psi over your pressures (currently 34/39) and find they work well. Still well inside max pressures and I'm getting good even tyre wear (8k in on this set) and good petrol mileage, more importantly the car feels sharper and generally 'better'.
On the front my 205s are like yours on a 7"rim but I'd have thought your rears would be behaving a little better than mine on your slightly wider rim (mine is on a 7" again).
Try 'em higher mate and see how you get on though I wouldn't have thought they'd contribute to any directional 'pull' you're experiencing.

R.

[sanchi]

I'm about 4/5psi over your pressures (currently 34/39) and find they work well. Still well inside max pressures and I'm getting good even tyre wear (8k in on this set) and good petrol mileage, more importantly the car feels sharper and generally 'better'.
On the front my 205s are like yours on a 7"rim but I'd have thought your rears would be behaving a little better than mine on your slightly wider rim (mine is on a 7" again).
Try 'em higher mate and see how you get on though I wouldn't have thought they'd contribute to any directional 'pull' you're experiencing.

R.

I see. I just put 34 psi on the fronts and 36 psi on the rear before I read your post. Looks like I'll keep the fronts the same and put the rears up to 38/39 psi. Thanks for that!

[Extubby]

I have had the same problem with these awful tyres! I am running 40psi in the rears just to give some ridgidity to it. Would never buy them again!

[RobCrezz]

Do the Falken 452s have a stiffer sidewall?

[HighwayStar]

I confess I don't mind the T1-Rs.... once they've worn in and are at correct pressures. As far as I know there are only 3 tyres in standard sizes, the Toyos, Yokohama AO22s and the Falkens. Not driven on the Falkens but the T1-Rs are preferable to the 'knife edge' yokos that give little feel for what the car is doing, are appalling in the wet and are poor in terms of comfort and noise levels. They may ulyimately be grippier in the dry when really pushing but for a daily driver in all conditions I wouldn't swap back (first 6yrs ownership Yokohama then last 3yrs Toyo... same car).

R.

[RobCrezz]

Im normally a big fan of Toyos, but my T1Rs dont seem to suit the MR2 that well. I think im going to try the falkens next.

[mattcambs]

I see. I just put 34 psi on the fronts and 36 psi on the rear before I read your post. Looks like I'll keep the fronts the same and put the rears up to 38/39 psi. Thanks for that!

34psi is probably too hard for the fronts. Are you getting more understeer? I find lower pressures better at the front - keeps the front settled and gives better steering feel

Getting the right rear tyres is an issue. My Falken 512s are bloody awful, sometimes dangerous. Max pressure on them is 36psi, so I don't want to overinflate them too much!

[HighwayStar]

I reckon it's about 33/34 front to be right with the 205/50 Matt. Anyway it is with me and mine. Doubt any of the gauges we're using are that accurate anyhow?

[mattcambs]

I reckon it's about 33/34 front to be right with the 205/50 Matt. Anyway it is with me and mine. Doubt any of the gauges we're using are that accurate anyhow?

Fair do, Rob I run 27psi on my 205/45 R16 Fulda Carat Exceleros, but to some extent I think I'm conpensating for my overly stiff Tein HA coilovers.

Talking about gauges, I use a cheap Halfords keyring one, but it gives the same result as Tesco's air pumps - i.e accurate to zero decimal places!

[dawolf]

I have Toyo's. I find them to be grippy tyres in both dry and wet conditions although they do tend to 'squidge' a bit when you corner or turn hard suddenly. It's part of the characteristic of being a very soft tyre I guess. My last rears lasted 10k and fronts are still going strong after 12k which is impressive I think. You do have to run them at slightly raised pressures though.

[Harry]

My mates car Steve-O's behaved as described. After a test drive we got out and I placed my hand 'near' the front calipers. The near side was very hot along with deposits of brake dust. His caliper had been sticking erratically and was pulling to one side under braking and randomly when coasting off the brakes. *warning sticking calipers are very hot and should not be touched directly*

[sanchi]

Ok guys problem seems to be solved now it was just the tyre pressures that were throwing the car off!

On the 205/50/15 im using 34 psi and on the 225/50/15 im using 38 psi this has helped the handling characteristics out significantly. It feels a lot sharper now!

Also i realized the reason my car was pulling to the left is that I have 3 piece split rims and the front passenger side rims is slightly leaking air (It wasnt sealed properly (I think)) as it keeps dropping to about 20 psi after a week so I need to get that sorted!

Anyone now any japanese wheel specialist that can refurb?