Tire squirm

On Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:44:54 -0800, thepixelfreak <not.TakeThisOut@dot.com> wrote:

>
>....I find that my 2001 e46 330Ci tends to
>squirm around in these excessively. I _think_ this is because the front
>tires are 225 width while the rear are 245 and this difference causes
>this squirming around.....
>
>Anyone else experience this with a difference in tire width from front to rear?

My wife's 2002 E46 had the problem with its original tires. When I put the
present Avons on, it went away.

This jibes with the experience of all my motorcycle riding friends. Bikes almost
always have different width tires front and rear, and we've all found that it's
the tread pattern and compound blend which causes the squirm. Some brands and
tire models squirm, and some don't. (We find Dunlops much more likely to squirm
than Metzelers, for instance.) The degree of squirm can be affected by tire
pressures, so you might want to play around a bit.

-- Larry
 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm 

"pltrgyst" <pltrgyst.RemoveThis@spamlessxhost.org> wrote in message
news:3309i4lbs2qvkjfks56m58f2m7bdp7ir8i@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:44:54 -0800, thepixelfreak <not.RemoveThis@dot.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>....I find that my 2001 e46 330Ci tends to
>>squirm around in these excessively. I _think_ this is because the front
>>tires are 225 width while the rear are 245 and this difference causes
>>this squirming around.....
>>
>>Anyone else experience this with a difference in tire width from front to
>>rear?
>
> My wife's 2002 E46 had the problem with its original tires. When I put the
> present Avons on, it went away.
>
> This jibes with the experience of all my motorcycle riding friends. Bikes
> almost
> always have different width tires front and rear, and we've all found that
> it's
> the tread pattern and compound blend which causes the squirm. Some brands
> and
> tire models squirm, and some don't. (We find Dunlops much more likely to
> squirm
> than Metzelers, for instance.) The degree of squirm can be affected by
> tire
> pressures, so you might want to play around a bit.
>

Agreed. My Z3's tramlining was improved when the OEM Michelin MXM tires
were replaced with Conti Sport Contacts (225/50-16 all around). But the
staggered 205/50-17 front and 225/45-17 rear run-flat Goodyear NCT5 tires on
my 128i don't tramline at all.

Tom
 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm 

in article 2008111912445416807-not@dotcom, thepixelfreak at not.RemoveThis@dot.com
wrote on 11/19/08 12:44 PM:

> Anyone else experience this with a difference in tire width from front to
> rear?

check for tire wear ... BMWs lose performance before the wear bar indicators
come up I seem to think ... and the car has a way of telling you enough to
ask about it with your mechanic or other people.

think about putting Continentals tires on the buggy ... with the hard road
work you are forced to use ... have your front suspension checked out with
the tires (maybe it is just an air pressure difference but doubt it) for
excessive wear from the hard use.

BMWs are more highway wear, Autobaun actually ... in the USA our roads are
in tuff repair so we have to get BMWs that are tuffer to handled it, tear up
the Jap stuff, or drive Detroit Steel.


sumbuddie wear blind sea


 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm 

On 2008-11-19 12:59:36 -0800, "Floyd Rogers" <fbloogyuds.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> said:

> "thepixelfreak" <not.TakeThisOut@dot.com> wrote
>> So where I live the roads tend to get 'runnels' or channels from
>> progressive use of the road. I find that my 2001 e46 330Ci tends to squirm
>> around in these excessively. I _think_ this is because the front tires are
>> 225 width while the rear are 245 and this difference causes this squirming
>> around. In some cases it is rather disturbing and if a cop were behind me
>> he might have some cause to think I've been drinking.
>>
>> Anyone else experience this with a difference in tire width from front to
>> rear?
>
> It's called tramlining. Very common. The different widths have
> less to do with it than the low profile: /45 front and /40 rear IIRC.
> Worn tires cause this effect to be more prominent, as does worn
> suspension ball joints and bushings.

I had the ball joints and bushings replaced about a year ago. Car needs
some maint soon so I'll have them re-check the front suspension


--

thepixelfreak
 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm 

thepixelfreak <not.DeleteThis@dot.com> wrote:
>
>I had the ball joints and bushings replaced about a year ago. Car needs
>some maint soon so I'll have them re-check the front suspension

Wouldn't hurt... you may have other stuff wearing out there too.

I'll say, though, that the old Goodyear Aquatreads used to have severe
tramlining problems for me, especially on grooved pavement. I moved to
the Michelin Hydro-Edge and found it was much more pleasant on those roads.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm 

On 2008-11-20 12:58:51 -0800, kludge.DeleteThis@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) said:

> thepixelfreak <not.DeleteThis@dot.com> wrote:
>>
>> I had the ball joints and bushings replaced about a year ago. Car needs
>> some maint soon so I'll have them re-check the front suspension
>
> Wouldn't hurt... you may have other stuff wearing out there too.
>
> I'll say, though, that the old Goodyear Aquatreads used to have severe
> tramlining problems for me, especially on grooved pavement. I moved to
> the Michelin Hydro-Edge and found it was much more pleasant on those roads.
> --scott

I'm currently running the Yokohama AVS Sport. Last set was the Goodyear
F1 GS-D3. The current Yokohama's aren't that worn and I don't recall
this 'tramlining' problem with the previous set of AVS'es or the F1's
but I lived in a different part of town then and didn't drive this
particular section of highway that I frequent now that is heavily
runneled.

I think I'll go back to the Goodyear's this next go around and see what
happens.

thanks for everyones replies.

--

thepixelfreak
 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm 

"thepixelfreak" <not RemoveThis @dot.com> wrote in message
news:2008111912445416807-not@dotcom...
>
> So where I live the roads tend to get 'runnels' or channels from
> progressive use of the road. I find that my 2001 e46 330Ci tends to squirm
> around in these excessively. I _think_ this is because the front tires are
> 225 width while the rear are 245 and this difference causes this squirming
> around. In some cases it is rather disturbing and if a cop were behind me
> he might have some cause to think I've been drinking.
>



I seriously doubt that a cop would notice the car jumping around as it
follows the ruts in the road. I get that the feeling can be uncomfortable to
you, but on the other hand, you paid extra to have a car that actually feels
the road. You could have bought aa car that feels like a box of pillows
underneath you ...
 >> Stay informed about: Tire squirm