mklaudt

A few weeks ago, my car hydroplaned a little on the freeway - not enough to move me into another lane, but enough to notice. What was odd is that it was not raining hard, and I wasn't driving very fast. It hasn't rained since then (and probably won't for another 6 months), but I've noticed that when I'm on the freeway and the road changes to a rough surface (for instance when the road suddenly changes to those long thin grooves) the car will jerk a bit to the right or left - kind of like hydroplaning except it's not raining - until I'm back onto a smooth surace. Tire tread was wearing down, so last week I replaced with new tires (a different brand than what was replaced) and got the alignment done. I'm not sure if any of this makes any sense, but the car just seems unsteady to me at times. On a smooth road (hard to find in So Cal) there are no problems. Maybe it's always done that and I'm just noticing it more since the hydroplaning thing, but I thought new tires would've fixed it, but they didn't. Does this seem like something (steering, suspension, etc) or am I just paranoid?? Power steering fluid is a little low - I'll top it off, but I don't think that's it. Thanks

Gfaze

Welcome to AZ! I've actually had the same thing happen to me with my car on those same roads. It's also happened in other cars I've driven on that type of groove pattern. All of the cars I've driven on it have good tires so I'm mystified. I have noticed that it's usually just cars and small pickups. I've driven a full size van and and F150 on the same road and they don't shift around like that.

fsttyms1

Tires, inflation psi, alignment, all things that would cause it. What kind of tires do you have? what psi are you running? does the wheel pull at all under normal driving?

LukeaTron

The phenomenon is called tram lining. Some brands of tires are more susceptible to it than others. As other people have suggested, adjusting the tire pressure can sometimes make a difference.

Gfaze

I've got the OE Michelins, running Acura recommended psi, and I don't have any issues with the vehicle pulling, drifting, etc. But for some reason when I drive on this stretch of highway, the car tends to shift around a little. It makes me a little nervous because it feels like the car starts sliding from side to side.

01tl4tl

If the power steering fluid is low- look under the car on the steering rack assembly for possible leaks. Check all the hose fittings too.
For real fun, ride a motorcycle on the freeways these days~

mklaudt

Just replaced Falkens (POS) with Yokohama AVID TRZ. I run 34 PSI typically. Would running a lower or higher PSI help with this?

Doesn't seem to happen in my wifes car (lexus ES 330 w/ toyo proxes tires), and it really didn't seem to happen prior to a few weeks ago (I've been driving on these crap roads for a while), but again, maybe I'm just being more sensitive to it lately. Just wanted to make sure my steering wheel wasn't about to fall off (happened to my father-in-law once! - American car)

gc86

Yeah I had a 2007 nissan maxima as a rental last year and it did the same exact thing on the 280 around here.. my 01 CL-S with Tein S-Tech's doesnt do it at all.. its probably the shitty tires and or stock suspension that were causing it on the maxima.. i'd never buy that car

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

The Prelude I'm driving does this on old roads that have the grooves in them. I've felt my TL maybe do it a couple of times.

mcflyguy24

My car did it until I got rid of the stock Michelins MXV4's and got Dunlop SP Sport A/S. I keep my pressure at 38psi front and 36rear. I think it has more to do with crappy grooved roads than it does tires alone though.