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View Full Version : Crappy handling & Loose Steering after new wheels/tires



hkfeet
06-17-2005, 11:56 PM
Hey all, I posted this question at evom but would like to see if I can get some more input in this forum.

I have a 03 evo with stock springs/shocks, upgraded rear sway bar, and front cusco type II lab. 1000 miles ago I put in some gram light 57s 18" wheels with bridgestone s03 pole position 245/40/18 tires on it.

At the 500 mark I notice the tire's protective coating is gone, and is very sticky as I saw a lot of crap sticking onto it. But I noticed one thing. When the car is at a standstill, I can steer it left and right real easily, and when I am cornering, the tires feels like its going to lose it. I dont recall this happening with my 17" enkei's + continental all seasons, or my advans. I can't believe after spending so much money on new rims and tires, the handling has gone to shits.

So I started playing with tire pressures. 31/29 32/30 33/31 34/32 35/35, that didnt work. I havent tried anything higher than 35 cold though.

Then I went to a alignment shop earlier today and that told me they could do the settings I want which was the widely recommended settings by evom members -1.5/-1.0 and 0 toe all around.

Here are initial settings
Camber Front Left -0.4 Right -0.5
Camber Rear Left -1.3 Right -1.6

Settings after, lol
Camber Front Left -0.4 Right -0.5
Camber Rear Left -1.3 Right -1.5

Ok so the shop sucked and told me they cant do my settings and made up some bullshit and pretty much wanted me to leave. I was really dissapointed and so I wasted $55 here. I will be finding an another shop tomorrow morning.

Im no suspension or tire expert, but I have a feeling the poor steering and poor handling has something to do with the contact patch. Im guessing because there isnt enough contact on the surface so I have less grip which could be the reason why the steering is so loose? Im hoping someone who had similar problems or can give me some advice on what I could try to troubleshoot this issue. Thank you for your time.

j_nizzle
06-18-2005, 10:13 AM
what kind of shocks and springs are you running and what is the setting on the shocks....for now that seems to be the problem. your wheels and tires(pressure also) shouldnt be the problem.

rammsteinmatt
06-18-2005, 11:13 AM
what kind of shocks and springs are you running and what is the setting on the shocks....for now that seems to be the problem. your wheels and tires(pressure also) shouldnt be the problem.


I have a 03 evo with stock springs/shocks, upgraded rear sway bar, and front cusco type II lab.

i commend you on your reading ability j nizzle :D :wink: j/k

DTunedEvoX
06-18-2005, 11:20 AM
S-03's arent as hardcore as Advans are too btw ....

hkfeet
06-18-2005, 11:58 AM
Thanks for the replies so far. Yea Im definitely using stock struts and springs :P

I know the s03's are not as great as the advans but my 235/45/17" all season continental's handled better.

Im really clueless to what is wrong and the only thing left I could think of is an alignment. I could try swapping back to my 17" enkei's and all seasons just to be safe at the time being.

Has anyone encountered this problem with stock suspension and 18"+ wheels?

hkfeet
06-18-2005, 12:11 PM
Can a alignment specialist comment on the original specs on my car? I think subies has similar specs like mine but for the evos', Im reading different reports of alignment specs on evom.

j_nizzle
06-18-2005, 12:31 PM
what kind of shocks and springs are you running and what is the setting on the shocks....for now that seems to be the problem. your wheels and tires(pressure also) shouldnt be the problem.


I have a 03 evo with stock springs/shocks, upgraded rear sway bar, and front cusco type II lab.

i commend you on your reading ability j nizzle :D :wink: j/k

stupid me...it's too early in the morning. i swore i read upgraded shocks and springs....

Macky
06-18-2005, 12:42 PM
go and eat your cereal first :lol:

j_nizzle
06-18-2005, 12:47 PM
vodka, cigarettes, and then coffee....daily routine.

Macky
06-18-2005, 12:51 PM
no wonder you dont look asian anymore

Chris in SD
06-18-2005, 01:05 PM
I hate S-03s... I went from S-02s to S-03s on my '01 S2K looking for more wet traction (which they have), but the dry traction was horrible. I looped it twice on 30-40 mph corners WITH positive camber (on the road). I would blame a lot on the tires...

gofaster87
06-18-2005, 01:56 PM
I use the S03 as well and its a great overall tire. Its not the stickiest but its great in other conditions, its the best wet weather tire Ive tried in a while.

Thanks for the replies so far. Yea Im definitely using stock struts and springs :P

I know the s03's are not as great as the advans but my 235/45/17" all season continental's handled better.

Im really clueless to what is wrong and the only thing left I could think of is an alignment. I could try swapping back to my 17" enkei's and all seasons just to be safe at the time being.

Has anyone encountered this problem with stock suspension and 18"+ wheels?

thetaxguy
06-18-2005, 02:20 PM
I hate S-03s... I went from S-02s to S-03s on my '01 S2K looking for more wet traction (which they have), but the dry traction was horrible. I looped it twice on 30-40 mph corners WITH positive camber (on the road). I would blame a lot on the tires...

+1

gofaster87
06-18-2005, 02:23 PM
Hmm Ive hit corners at 60+ on my S03s and they held up fine.

hkfeet
06-18-2005, 05:27 PM
Are you on 18" wheels?

I got my second alignment done today but still having troubles with grip.

Final specs
Front L -1.0 R -1.5
Rear L - .7 R - .8

I think Im going to sell my tires and wheels. Im tired of my evo handling like poop.




I use the S03 as well and its a great overall tire. Its not the stickiest but its great in other conditions, its the best wet weather tire Ive tried in a while.

Thanks for the replies so far. Yea Im definitely using stock struts and springs :P

I know the s03's are not as great as the advans but my 235/45/17" all season continental's handled better.

Im really clueless to what is wrong and the only thing left I could think of is an alignment. I could try swapping back to my 17" enkei's and all seasons just to be safe at the time being.

Has anyone encountered this problem with stock suspension and 18"+ wheels?

DoCoMo
06-18-2005, 05:27 PM
For a tire that only has a 240 tread wear i think the s-03 would be
plenty sticky but thats only my .02 cents peace

hkfeet
06-18-2005, 06:01 PM
It does look and feel sticky by the touch, definitely looks like a performer but I guess my car does not like my new tires+wheels. I did see some reviews at tirerack where evo owners loved the tires, but 1 did say the tires didnt work out for them. So I guess Im one of the unlucky ones. Well if anyone in Chicago is interested in some 18" gram lights 57s grey silver/gunmetal +30 offset and bridgestone s03 pp 245/40/18's lemme know. Only 1k miles. Thanks for the help everyone, I give up.

nurb2
06-18-2005, 10:09 PM
Are you on 18" wheels?

I got my second alignment done today but still having troubles with grip.

Final specs
Front L -1.0 R -1.5
Rear L - .7 R - .8

I think Im going to sell my tires and wheels. Im tired of my evo handling like poop.
Your alignment sucks for one thing. Why did they leave you with that much cross camber in the front????

Try some PS2's. They're great and way lighter than those S03's.

-nurb2-

DoCoMo
06-19-2005, 02:56 AM
Are you on 18" wheels?

I got my second alignment done today but still having troubles with grip.

Final specs
Front L -1.0 R -1.5
Rear L - .7 R - .8

I think Im going to sell my tires and wheels. Im tired of my evo handling like poop.
Your alignment sucks for one thing. Why did they leave you with that much cross camber in the front????

Try some PS2's. They're great and way lighter than those S03's.

-nurb2-
IMO the so-3 is a better performing tire than the ps2 but who am
i to say

hkfeet
06-19-2005, 09:30 AM
Oops i forgot to mention the shop was closing so we left it at those settings until monday. This shop actually took some time to figure out our camber bolt system unlike the other shop I went to. I think my car just do no like these tires.

Chris in SD
06-19-2005, 02:47 PM
I liked my Toyo T-1S much better than S-03s, too. S-03s have been the worst performance tire I've had so far. I had NO confidence driving them hard into corners. The Bridgestone RE-050s I have on my S2K now are much better than S-03s (including wet traction).

hkfeet
06-19-2005, 07:18 PM
Did your grip improve when you put more miles on the tires?

CT9A RS
06-19-2005, 09:28 PM
well one u raised ur center of gravity by getting the bigger wheels n tires n not lowering the car. And yeah i have no faith in the S-03s. Umm maybe u should try out some Advan Neovas or Falken Azenis RT-615s. Has neone tried out the new RT-615s yet.

And get a shop that can dial in ur camber right.

j_nizzle
06-19-2005, 10:08 PM
well one u raised ur center of gravity by getting the bigger wheels n tires n not lowering the car. And yeah i have no faith in the S-03s. Umm maybe u should try out some Advan Neovas or Falken Azenis RT-615s. Has neone tried out the new RT-615s yet.

And get a shop that can dial in ur camber right.

i have the azenis rt-615's sized 255/40/17 coming soon...i'll tell you how those go.

hkfeet
06-20-2005, 09:29 AM
I went back to the alignment shop today and for some reason they dont want to work on my alignment. They stressed that they couldnt get more camber out of the front left side. Does anyone know what I can tell the next shop to try to get more camber? I think I read somewhere that its possible to get more camber by loosening the top strut bolts but Im not really too sure. Any got any advice?

Also I may have found a solution to my tire problem thanks to the subie guys, the edges of the tire might need to be worn a bit more. Im not putting a lot of hope on this theory but its worth a try. I have them deflated to 30/29 and will see how it goes after a couple hundred more miles.

Absinthe
06-20-2005, 10:31 AM
Have them instal some "crash bolts" or eccentric nuts (sp?) in the front this will allow them to dial in more camber. If they dont know this then you have no business at that shop go to a true presomance shop. Your in Chi-town so call up the boys at AMS and see where they send you.

That said I run my car as follow and am very happy with the set-up for street and track use.

1.53 fl
1.54 fr
0.78rl
0.83rr

I also run some toe in which many others dont do but I like the feel better than 0 toe.