Zasker1

Team,
I recently put some larger wheels on my TSX:
(- SSR GT-7H 18"x8", +48 offset
- Bridgestone S03 Pole Position, 235/40-18)

and have noticed that since then the handling is terrible at speeds over 60mph. The car is not "Darty" as if the TOE is wrong but it just hugs the contours of the road. I almost feel like I need to install a steering stabilizer as unless the pavement is perfectly flat it now requires alot of driver input to maintain control. I took it into Acura and they maintain the alignment is perfect.
Has anyone else experienced this type of issue after putting on larger wheels?
What did you do to fix it?
Comments/Ideas?
__________________
So Far:
Comptech:
- Icebox cold air intake
- Titanium strut tower bar
- Rear sway bar (22mm)
- Sport Springs
- Camber Adjustment
- Koni Sport Shocks (damm, lost the adjuster)
- Brembo Grand Turismo Big Brake Kit
- SSR GT-7H 18"x8", +48 offset
- Bridgestone S03 Pole Position, 235/40-18

sauceman

First, let me welcome you here. I really like the way you adress the community here as "Team"

Now. Increased sensivity in steering when adding larger tire/rim combo is normal. It's actually a downside of having an increased width with the same car weight.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Welcome

What you're experiencing is called tramlining. This results from having a wider tire because the added width of the tire results in greater contact with irregularities in the road. You should as Viper drivers how bad their tramlining is with those enormous tires.

Lung Fu Mo Shi

Bingo.

Zasker1

First, thanks all for the promt responce This is an intresting point, I have not head of "tramlining" before. At least now this gives me a starting point. I have spend some time searching this board and the other site and dont see a clear solution. I have been surfing for a steering stablizer but have been unable to find one for a TSX. I built one once for a 4X4 by using an old shock but would prefer something a little less homegrown. Suggestions to minimize this?

Zasker1

I also found a very interesting test carried out by US magazine, Sports Compact Car, on the Toyo Proxes T1-S. I take product tests conducted by that magazine with a grain of salt, but this test was particularly interesting because it detailed how the Toyo Proxes T1-S differs in design and construction to the previous Toyo T1+. And all the differences in the new tyre were designed to make it more user-friendly - reduced tramlining, a more flexible sidewall, and rounded shoulders. It was almost as if the T1+ had been just too hard-edged for the marketplace, and in the redesign the engineers had been forced to consider real cars on real roads. Additionally, the magazine tested the tyres on a car that they said had tramlined badly on the previous model T1+ tyre, but the new Proxes had fixed the problem.
So here was high performance tyre designed to reduce tramlining, and a test that actually mentioned the subject!
Interesting.
I then priced 225/50-16 Proxes TS-1 at just $200 each.
Very interesting!
Next I rang Toyo's 1800 number and sought out a tech expert from the company. His response was as different from the tyre retailer as it is possible to get.
"There's no way of saying how the tyre will tramline until you try it on the car," he said. "I know that's not too helpful but that's the way it is."
"Anything at all I should look for?" I asked.
"Well, you want a tyre with as few circumferential grooves as possible, " he said. "Most tyres these days have a V-shaped pattern - like the TS-1 - and that's what you need. And softer sidewalls. I know that will reduce performance, but it will also reduce the likelihood of tramlining."
"I've read a test of the TS-1," I said. "And they said the new tyre was designed to reduce tramlining - is it?"
"Not really," said the honest company spokesman. "I can't really tell you whether they'll work on your car or not."
Time to consider what I had learned. Firstly, tyres without stiff sidewalls and circumferential grooves are less likely to cause tramlining. Secondly, really hi-po tyres - the ones with ultra-stiff sidewalls - can worsen tramlining, and tyres with square shoulders, likewise. Finally, the second model topline Proxes had been designed with some of these points specifically taken into account - and the TS-1 is only two hundred bucks a tyre.
I bought a pair of them, and had them fitted, initially retaining the same alignment. And the result? At this stage they are excellent - zero signs of tramlining and excellent grip. In fact, an astonishing transformation. So mission accomplished?
We'll see when they start wearing down....


This could be my problem as my Bridgestone's have 4-5 circumferential grooves. Hmm something to ponder I guess.

xizor

yup I found the same thing with my 225/40/18 tires, I can imagine 235 is worse. Another factor is by decreasing the offset of the wheels increases the distance between the L and R wheel. This can increase handling (ever so slightly) but it also makes the wheels pull harder in either direction if they get caught. Your +48 isn't bad, but my +42 can pull pretty hard braking on different roads even with perfect alignment.

TSXDude

So, is this 'tramlining' phenomenon inevitable if you go with a wider tire??
would lowering the profile of the tire help with this issue? or make it worst?

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Tramlining is especially noticeable on low profile, wide tires.

If you want to reduce this, go with a tire that has more sidewall (this will cushion the ride more and allow some flex to reduce tramlining) or a narrower tire (which has less contact with the surface).