Winter Wheels = Poor Handling ??

[Stang]

Hey Guys,

Just put a new set of 16" steel wheels with Toyo Garit KX Tires, purchased at a local Mazda dealership. On the way home the handling was a LOT different than with the stock tires. The car seems to dart all over the place at random. Not violently or anything major, just enuff to make you pay attention to whats going on, or hit the shoulder.

Just wondering if this is normal for winters, as this is my first set ?? (first non 4x4) Will they get better as they wear in, or could there be something else going on I should be concerned about ?

Stang

[condor888000]

You have a softer sidewall with winter tires in addition to a softer tire compound. Handling will not be as good, but having said that it shouldn't be randomly changing direction on you.

Check your tire pressures.

[dentinger]

totally normal.
winter tires do that, and its alot worse on the highway...
i just run my stock all season in the winter, and boy are the alot more cushiony than stock.

[Noisy Crow]

Hey Guys,

Just put a new set of 16" steel wheels with Toyo Garit KX Tires, purchased at a local Mazda dealership. On the way home the handling was a LOT different than with the stock tires. The car seems to dart all over the place at random. Not violently or anything major, just enuff to make you pay attention to whats going on, or hit the shoulder.

Just wondering if this is normal for winters, as this is my first set ?? (first non 4x4) Will they get better as they wear in, or could there be something else going on I should be concerned about ?

Stang

Check the air pressure.

I found relatively little difference between the stock 17" GoodYears tires and my 16" Dunlop WinterSport 3Ds (other than the misearable traction of the RSAs on anything other than dry pavement).

I did find some difference with my Falkens 912s, but they are 225s on 8" rims. They seem a bit more prone to following the depressions in the road caused by trucks.... the wider footprint being responsible for the change in steering characteristics.

[Flagrum_3]

No tires should make your car randomly dart all over the road, I would give them some time to break in like maybe 400-500km and see if they settle down.If they don't I'd take it back and have them inspect the tires.Also check the tire pressures asap, they should be even at all corners and at around 35-36 psi.

....and let us know what happens!


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[sas]

Are you sure all wheels are tightened?
Way to home is not racing track, there must no be big difference.

[Donutz]

You should take it easy when you switch over to winter tires. Not sure why you are darting around, but generally, you can expect your car to have different handling charateristics on winters.

Personally, I find I have to learn the handling of my car in the fall and spring when I switch from winters to summers. For example, my winters brake loose sooner than my summers under hard acceleration; or under hard cornering, I find I have to relearn where the 'edge' is with my summers when I put them on.

[Stang]

Thanks for the input guys, I'll check the pressure and lug nuts tomorrow and report back.

[Wild Weasel]

Definitely check your lug nuts, just to be sure, but it's probably normal. I wouldn't be quite so dramatic with the description, but I've always described my winter tires as "a little squirrelly" when it comes to handling.

Condor mentioned the softer sidewall and compound. An even bigger contributer is the fact that you've got big, independant tread blocks. Since they're not all attached to each other, they can move around pretty easily and they do.

Winter tires are far safer in the cold than all-seasons or summer tires, but you can't still expect to throw the car into corners like a race car. :)

[3GFX]

I dunno if you're embelishing the description but winter tires are definitly described as "squirmy" compared to normal all seasons or summer tires. They're softer with more movement in both the sidewall and the tread itself.

[KenYork]

If you are running 17's on your car in the summer, going to a 16 winter will also be a factor in the softer ride and cornering.

17's --> 16's
softer winter rubber compound.
deeper treads

You really shouldn't be driving on winter tires like how you drive on summer tires.

[Flagrum_3]

I dunno if you're embelishing the description but winter tires are definitly described as "squirmy" compared to normal all seasons or summer tires. They're softer with more movement in both the sidewall and the tread itself.

I wouldn't be so quick to accuse the OP is embellishing the description guys (not just pointing at you GFX), he could have a serious problem somewhere or it could be something minor, but....It's always better to act on the side of caution, isn't it? Saying that though, he should also understand the points you guys make about the squirminess of most snows vs. other tires, unless he gets Viking Snowtechs, lol, they outperform the RSA's on dry pavement!! :chuckle


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[b]

My car felt like that when I had 2 cracked lug nuts. Another thing you can check out.

[Stang]

K, I checked the PSI and the lug nuts............Alll checked out OK.

I wouldn't say I am embellishing my description, maybe not describing the feeling correctly. It is similar to being buffeted by the wind driving close behind a big rig, maybe just not as bad.

All in all, I do feel better knowing that there is a difference in feel between summers, to winters. I'll let these tires wear in a bit, maybe 500km or so, and see what it's like then. If it's still squirmy, I'll take it back to the dealer for a check. Maybe I got a bad rim or something.

Thanks again for the input.

[Donutz]

It is similar to being buffeted by the wind driving close behind a big rig, maybe just not as bad.

Any chance your wheels need to be balanced?

[Stang]

Any chance your wheels need to be balanced?


I would have to say No, cause the rims have the wheel weights applied. Unless they were balanced incorrectly, which could very well be the case.

[Noisy Crow]

K, I checked the PSI and the lug nuts............Alll checked out OK.

I wouldn't say I am embellishing my description, maybe not describing the feeling correctly. It is similar to being buffeted by the wind driving close behind a big rig, maybe just not as bad.

All in all, I do feel better knowing that there is a difference in feel between summers, to winters. I'll let these tires wear in a bit, maybe 500km or so, and see what it's like then. If it's still squirmy, I'll take it back to the dealer for a check. Maybe I got a bad rim or something.

Thanks again for the input.

I can only talk to my own experience, but my car (with Dunlop Wintersports on it) handles quite decently. No issuses getting out on the 403 and running with the traffic at 120. Even the family minivan (Dodge Caravan with Candian Tire snows) is no worse than its wallowing-pig self when on snows than it is on the summer tires.

[sas]

I think, it is simply too warm weather for winter rubber,
plus new pattern. By the way, in Tuesday is promised 19deg. C.

[Donutz]

^^ Doh! I just had my winters put on today!

[Flagrum_3]

^^ Doh! I just had my winters put on today!

:chuckle

...sorry couldn't help it!


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[Donutz]

:chuckle

...sorry couldn't help it!


_3

It's ok! I'm kicking myself anyways!