So I've been very happily driving my MR2 since purchase earlier this year, it's my only car, and I love it, but now that the roads are slimy, I don't have to do much to instigate a tail slide. I've tested where the limits are on a local roundabout by pulling out of the turn in second, and it really ain't much to induce quite a reaction. I was sideways and just managed to correct it the other day. Pressures are checked regularly, so I was wondering what recommendations people have for tyres at this time of year.
Maybe get an alignment check?
Good call!
tyres
Age?
Correct sizes?
Good Quality?
matching brands?
correct stagger?
Suspension refresh?
Quality geo set up
Putting an limited slip differential in will make the car much more controllable, however I would look at toe settings on the allignment first. The rear has a very large range for adjustment and if wrong feels very unstable.
01' MR2 K20 swap, crazy mods to come
UK spec. LSD as standard.
3 for a geo.
Slippery winter roads + RWD + the application of power whilst turning = a bit of drift
Why is anyone surprised!
I understand that Jon, but this is pretty much every time I pull away whilst the wheels are not pointing straight ahead. I can't believe that is right, or the car would scare the living daylights out of the ordinary driver.
I'll take it in for a geo
Perhaps because of how low the bar is set.
pulling away in second
still sounds tyre/geo related to me.
could be an especially slippy roundabout
EDIT
posted same time.
Sombrero
What tyres do you have on it?
You need new tyres.
For the past 3 years i have ran full set of winter tyres from November to march and you need them here in Newcastle
They are amazing in the wet ice and snow and you really have to pushing the car hard to get the back end to break away.
If you want to enjoy your car all year round without driving miss daisy style then you have to run a set of winter tyres in this weather.
Check out these from Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMhIbGtkTZw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI
I agree that decent tyres (of the correct size and stagger) are vital, but it hasn't been cold enough for winter tyres so far. It has to be below 7 degrees for any benefit, and wet grip is often non-optimal with winter tyres.
I fitted a winter set to my Accord at the end of November, and have been grumpy about the warm weather ever since...
currently a big fan of the uniroyal rainsports I fitted to golfie.
Budget price. Premium quality. Well chuffed.
You'll tear the backside out of winter tyres in the current climate. They are designed to be effective at lower temps and will overheat and wear excessively if used outside of these parameters.
Personally I think that they are a waste of money as they are only really nessacary on about 2 days a year.
The main issue on winter roads in the U.K. Is nothing to do with tyres it's more to do with poor driving and not taking into account the conditions.
Work on being smooth and progressive with controls and you will have no need for winter tyres
Quote from: "Essex2Visuvesi"You'll tear the backside out of winter tyres in the current climate. They are designed to be effective at lower temps and will overheat and wear excessively if used outside of these parameters.
Personally I think that they are a waste of money as they are only really nessacary on about 2 days a year.
The main issue on winter roads in the U.K. Is nothing to do with tyres it's more to do with poor driving and not taking into account the conditions.
Work on being smooth and progressive with controls and you will have no need for winter tyres
In general, your comments are applicable. However I live at over 1100' ASL in the Shropshire hills and would struggle to make it to a main road without winter tyres when winter truly bites. Given that the local authority is not obliged to grit at altitudes over 400' then I've even had to resort to using snow socks to make it out of our village. I honestly do notice a significant improvement when using winter tyres... but obviously not at the moment (and it annoys me that I'm wearing them out unnecessarily).
Have we established what tyres are on there yet?
Nope.
Plastic tyres then I think. Don't you just hate it when someone tells you the symptoms but none of the information that could have lead to them? Waste of time. Why even ask.
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Perhaps he's crashed?
Quote from: "Jon_G"Perhaps he's crashed?
Hahahahahhaha
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You know something?
Yes I've been here years and have been at pains to explain decent tyre selection, matching makes and models with correct size stagger, good geo and pressures. I've come to the conclusion that people ask but ignore and then complain of poor handling. So now I feel like saying read up and take note, or fit whatever sh!te you want to pay nothing for and let Darwinism make the judgement of stupidity. I don't want anyone to come to harm but some people seem determined to take stupid risks
*tumbleweed*
Well sheeeiit
I've been an owner over 7 years and it's a little frustrating that so many 2's get binned this time of year due to heavy right foot, crap maintenance meaning that for reasons Nic says above the inevitable happens
So in short don't skimp on tyres & maintenance and in poor conditions don't drive it like you stole it
Happy New Year :-) :-) :-)
Crap tyres are the reason 90% of the time. Driving too fast or aggressively for the conditions is another reason, as it not being used to rear wheel drive.
Simple solutions to all the above.
To add to the above, especially this time of year getting some heat in the tyres makes a massive difference. My Toyos are next to useless when cold but a different tyre 15 minutes later..
Quote from: "suls"To add to the above, especially this time of year getting some heat in the tyres makes a massive difference. My Toyos are next to useless when cold but a different tyre 15 minutes later..
Spot on, it's amazing how quickly tyres cool off in this weather, you feel like you're driving on marbles when setting off again.