I just got a set of Konig Feathers wrapped with 215/45/17 Nitto Neo Gen ZRs. I just changed the wheels over, with Discount Tire's wheel bolt set that I got with the wheels.

Jacked up each corner and swapped the wheels, then took it for a spin.

I noticed the turning response now is very "soft" and if I turn one way and back the other, the response of the turn back is very slow and the car almost seems to wallow/sway rather than 'jerk' if you were in a slalom course or something.

I double checked the wheel bolts and all are tight. Everything is sitting fine and looks physically okay.

The only other factor that is on my mind is- Yesterday I swapped my rear lower control arms to the alta adjustables. I adjusted the arms to match stock length, and yes I am lowered on mach v springs (1.25"). We tightened everything back to specs yesterday. I have not rechecked them since. However, driving around up until I swapped the wheels today, the car turned and felt fine. The only thing that may have changed is the fact that I had each of the back corners lifted which took the stress off the arms and reapplied when I lowered back off the jack.

Any ideas? I'm thinking a bolt on the control arm maybe loose which is causing the wallowing while turning. I can't see anything on the wheel being off. I put on the plastic hub centric rings, snapped them into the back of the rim, then mounted onto the hub.

The only thing you may flame me about is, I have not checked the tire pressure, the reason being it was pitch black by the tiem I finished and I just wanted to take it around the block to listen for noises. I ordered the wheels and tires tuesday and they mounted them for me before shipping them to me. Stickers said that each tire has been inflated to max tire pressure, and takign them out of the trunk and bouncing them onto the ground made them feel pretty inflated. I know this is no way to say they definitely were, but I still don't think there'd be that much of a wallowing effect from the inflation difference. I'm going to check the psi in the morning.

any ideas please provide input, thanks.

 

sorry, also should of mentioned that tomorrow I am going in for an alignment. So while an alignment may fix the issue, I wanted to eliminate other possibilities before I go spend money on an alignment and realize I have to change something again that may affect my alignment specs.

 

wow... ::sticks 50 feet in mouth::: ...one for each psi that was in each tire!!
i just sat there on the couch, and suddenly it hit me... sticker said "tire inflated to max psi" no *****, that means it was at max 50 psi. went downstairs.. and yup, 50 psi. ugh, i feel like an idiot. deflated back to 36psi, car feels so much better now. done. ugh, someone smack me upside the head.

 

okay, so i actually retract my statement. yes, there was 50 psi, and now 36, but, the car is still behaving the same way. I had it on the road today instead of just the parking lot, and, it still wallows back and forth. Its almost as though theres a less responsive section of my steering wheel from straight to maybe 1/5 turn of the wheel in each direction... any ideas? I just got my alignment done today with a print out of everything and everything is back in spec. So, its definitely odd.

 

What were you running as a tire/wheel combo before?

 

If your old tires were close to being fully worn, a lot of the play you are feeling probably has to do with being at full tread depth again. The more your wear them, the tighter they should feel.

 

If you are switching from run-flat tires to conventional tires, depending upon the brand and model you choose, there can be a huge difference in the feel of the car.

The softer sidewall of the conventional tire can soften the turn-in response noticeably. Over inflation, if anything, would stiffen the sidewall and improve the turn-in. It would decrease the maximum traction by decreasing the footprint, but stiffen the sidewall.

We need more info. What type of tire are you replacing?

 

I went from the dunlop sport sp's dsst 205/40/18 to the nitto neo gen zr's. Runflat to non runflat, and bald tire to full tread. So yes, from my research and with agreeing with you guys, it seems the extra tread depth is providing more 'play/give' in the rubber, so i'm feeling it. Also, I spoke with two other member/friends who are running the same tire and they both agreed they had the same feeling in the car when the tires were new for the first few hundred miles.

 

Going from Dunlop Sport SP DSST in 205/40/18 to Nitto Neo Gen ZRs in 215/45/17 is a big change, alot more rubber and air. A 215/40-17 would give you better response than the 215/45-17 that you got. And a 205/40-17 would feel even more similar to the previous Dunlop Sport SP DSST in 205/40/18 wheels.

 

BostonR56, I had a similar issue with a set of new tires and was advised that the condition you are experincing should reduced and the tires go through some heat cycles from use. Has anything change now that it's been a month?

 

I bought new tires this morning & am experiencing the same thing as the OP.

The tire is different from what I had before & there are a few reasons why they feel different.

Different compounds.

More thread = more movement.

Release compound needs to be worn off the tires.

Tires need some heat cycles to break in.

Different tires will always feel somewhat different.

Over time you get used to the different feel. I went from a near bald UHP tire to a new all season. Yep they feel different, but in some ways they feel better. Far smoother riding & they will work in the rain. For me that is important.

Just my .02.

Your mileage may vary.

 

I think you nailed it right there with a major factor impacting the immediate responsiveness of new tires. Until it wears off in a couple hundred miles, it will give you much less grip than the tire really has.

 

Its been 2k miles, still feel it, and every car enthusiast in the car still goes "woah" when they feel it. Though, i've since installed a 19mm rear sway and its reduced it tremendously, so its very manageable now. Until I wear out these tires.. =]

 

So you should get a hold of me this weekend and come down to Mystic. I have now lowered the MINI an added the LSD. I would like to take yours for a spin to see what you are talking about. You should also take Louise out for a ride.