Apologies for raising this thread again, but I really need to get to the bottom of this as I feel my issue could be dangerous.
Ever since I've had my Crossfire, I noticed it has a tendency to 'tramline' (tendency to follow the ruts or worn part of a road and pulls the car to follow the surface) quite badly, on motorways and small roads, sometimes while travelling very slowly !
The technical dept. at Michelin (UK) said that sidewall stiffness has a major effect on this issue and suggested Pilot Sport 3s had a relatively supple side wall but couldn't confirm whether they would help my situation. When I spoke to my local suspension steering specialist, without a pause he suggested that if my geometry was OK, it was the tyres. Someone suggested on this forum - the Crossfire has a short wheel-base and wide tyres, the tramlining comes with the territory., but it seems some owners do not suffer from it or the effect is mild.
I posted on the UK Facebook group and out of 10 responses, 9 said they suffered from it !
I've come to the conclusion that all Crossfires suffer, the intensity/degree of tramlining is down to the particular tyre brand/model ?
Also, I guess different drivers have different sensitivities to the tramlining, maybe I'm on the sensitive side, but sometimes, it gives me the ******* !
Anyone recommend at tyre that has minimal or no tramlining tendencies ?


Thanks in advance


Mick

 

Just a thought : have you replaced the steering stabilizer recently ?

 

When I first bought my car, I noticed it over and over on the same certain roads. A new stabilizer did not help in my case. New tires completely solved the problem. James

 

OK, no harm in asking though ......

 

I've noticed this since I bought it. New tires help, but rutted/worn roadbeds contribute more. I have 4 new tires and over the past 3 months have been fighting it on the deteriorating roads around my town. I haven't the ***** to stop traffic to measure the rut depth, but believe me, poor roads are NOT our friends!

 

When I had Michelins, I had the same problem with tramlining . Since I put Hankooks on, I haven't had that problem.

Here is a good read. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

 

Biil,
You're the second person to say Hankooks solved the tramlining, can you tell me exact model/type of Hankooks you are using ?


Mick
UK Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer
3 Commando Bde Royal Marines
Afghanistan & Libya

 

hi James 1459,
Would be very interested in what brand/type of new tyres sorted your tramlining problem.


Mick
'06 Aero Blue Coupe

 

I put along with new wheels, 235/40/18 on the front and 285/35/19 on the rear Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110. I also had new oem TPMS's installed.

 

Once I changed out the worn Continentals, I never noticed it again. Since then I have had Michelin, Goodyear, and the latest is Kuhmo. I think that most tires will have those issues when they get to the end of their useful life.

James

 

I had the tramlining issue when my Michelins were new.

 

I have 245-35s on the front and 275-30s on the back, Hankook Ventus EVOs and have never had a problem. I suspect that you will find a number of tires that owners will recommend and I would not be surprised if most are symmetrical types.

 

Hankooks solved mine as well. I now have a used set of Michelin's that came with a set of wheels I bought. Now it's back.
As far as replacing the stabilizers goes, I feel it from the rear of the car, not the front. I also think worn tires make it worse. Ether way, I don't let it bother me. It just keeps me alert!!!

 

I realize this is a month old (I did not see if this was solved by a tire change). I just wanted to say I had this same problem on a completely different chassis (1993 Mustang Cobra). It was most noticeable with directional tires - but it turned out to be my solid rear axle was flexing on cracked mounts and following the road imperfections while my front end was tracking straight. It was most noticeable under heavy acceleration.

Obviously completely different application, but could your rear bushing be worn enough to cause a similar effect? If others are having the same issue, it is probably tire related, just thought I could possibly give you one more item to check.

Ryan

 

I have had the issue after an "alignment", seems the first dealer didn't know much about toe and proper settings but only was the reading close enough to correct. Took the car to a second dealer explaining the trouble from the first and they set about to make the car spot on and the tramlining went away with the tires I have.

 

Im starting to believe that the alignment of these cars can have a serious effect on how they handle. Basically if the person doing the alignment doesnt know what the hell they are doing the car will handle like ****. Im was literally able to tell the difference between having my car aligned at 1 firestorm vs another firestorm.

 

I never had the problem when i had Hankooks all round. I recently change the rears to Continental all season DWS tires and now i get tramlining. I keep thinking there is something wrong with the steering but it definately follows groves in the road. I switched away from Hankooks due to rapid wear on the rears.