All over the road..with 18" S-03 Pole positions!!??

[highpsi93tsi]

225/35/18s.. I just got em and Iam trying them out for a week before the snows go back on. The car is all over the place, white knuckle 2-hand driving. Its like a race car. Stock suspension also. I also let go of the wheel and it darts to the right. Wheels and rubber are new. My buddy says I need an alighnment as I actually raised the car a bit. They dont have the spacers in the rims (Tenzo R Sinkos 18X7.5") is this the problem or what? the car goes straight with the 205/5516s on stock wheels.

 

[igs]

Your buddy is right, alignment is way off.

 

[calebmilla]

I would think it's because the tires are wider and lower profile. The wider tires tend to follow the unevenness in the road surface and since they're lower profile they'll transmit it to the steering wheel even more. So you'll be able to feel every little change in the pavement surface.

 

[UCSLugRacerX]

225/35/18s.. I just got em and Iam trying them out for a week before the snows go back on. The car is all over the place, white knuckle 2-hand driving. Its like a race car. Stock suspension also. I also let go of the wheel and it darts to the right. Wheels and rubber are new. My buddy says I need an alighnment as I actually raised the car a bit. They dont have the spacers in the rims (Tenzo R Sinkos 18X7.5") is this the problem or what? the car goes straight with the 205/5516s on stock wheels.

I'm sorry--but you're on crack. The Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions is probably THE BEST street performance tire out there. The manufacturing tolerances of those tires are better than several other high-end tires. Hence, the bone-chilling price for a set of four. The SO-3 beat out the highest end AVS sport, the Goodyear Eagle F1, the highest end Toyo's, and MANY others.
I heavily question your subjective analysis claiming the SO-3 tire is an inferior tire.

You said: “The car is all over the place, white knuckle 2-hand driving.” What evidence do you have?

You also said: “Its like a race car.” Good racecars have VERY refined suspension set-ups, and very sticky tires. Most importantly, real racecars almost always HANDLE WELL. (Such as an F-1 car)


I would question your DRIVING ABILITY.
Next, I would question your wheel alignment.
Next, I would see if anything is broken on your suspension system. (Such as: Do you have a broken lower control arm?)
Also, what brand/model, and size tires did you have on your car previously? The tires you have on now are much more responsive. Plus with the 35 series, you will feel EVERYTHING on the road. Every pebble and grain of sand. You have less tire distortion, thus sooner turning response.

Finally, if you're still not happy with them after you've considered all of the above, give me your tires, and shut up.

 

[UCSLugRacerX]

Your previous tire size: 205/55/16R. This NUMBED the driving characteristics of your car, and masked the suspension and alignment poblems. There was more tire distortion, and more turning delay. The 205/55/16 sized cushy tires maked the car's problems.

Now that you have responsive tires, your suspension and alignment problems are more EXPOSED.

-----------------
If you did a side-by-side track comparison test with BOTH sets of tires, the winner would be very obvious.

I am certain that if you calculated the levels of understeer, and the capacity of steady state turning, as well as yaw characteristc, and degrees of tire slip anges, you would find that your claim the SO-3 is inferior are COMPLETLY subjective and groundless. Also, read up on the "TRACTION CIRCLE." The traction circle expains alot. It would indicate you have larger G-force capacity on the SO-3's compared to the stock 205/55/16R's.

 

[98spydert]

I heavily question your subjective analysis claiming the SO-3 tire is an inferior tire.

Where did he blame the tire? I re-read the post a few times... I'm not seeing it?

You said: “The car is all over the place, white knuckle 2-hand driving.” What evidence do you have?

Um... he probably drive the car... That's how he could tell it's all over the place... Are you serious with this post?

You also said: “Its like a race car.” Good racecars have VERY refined suspension set-ups, and very sticky tires. Most importantly, real racecars almost always HANDLE WELL. (Such as an F-1 car)

Who cares!? He needs an alignment!!

I would question your DRIVING ABILITY.

Is this really NECESSARY?

Next, I would question your wheel alignment.
Next, I would see if anything is broken on your suspension system. (Such as: Do you have a broken lower control arm?)
Also, what brand/model, and size tires did you have on your car previously? The tires you have on now are much more responsive. Plus with the 35 series, you will feel EVERYTHING on the road. Every pebble and grain of sand. You have less tire distortion, thus sooner turning response.

Finally, if you're still not happy with them after you've considered all of the above, give me your tires, and shut up.

Someone needs to shut up If you want to show off your knowlege of tires, start a new thread and title it, "I think I know a lot." Please don't write insulting posts like this when someone has a simple problem with a simple answer. Thank you.

 

[96TSi_Chris]

Alignment. Really there was no need for the book in post 4 and 5.

 

[UCSLugRacerX]

He compares the stock 205/55/16 with the SO-3.
"the car goes straight with the 205/5516s on stock wheels."

Thus implying it doesn't with the SO-3 set-up.
------------

Also, I don't intend to sound arrogant about my explainaton about the tires. Some questions just seem too f*cking stupid, and comments seem too broad. Nonetheless, sorry if I offend.

 

[jtmcinder]

One way that tires differ - even when they are the same dimensions - is in how much they "tram-line" (which I've also seen written as "trammel," but that hides the point). In other words, some tires track the grooves and bumps in the road more than others.

The two main contributers to tram-lining are large tread blocks and stiff sidewalls. If you compare your old tires to your new ones, and find that the new tires have more of both of these attributes, then that's the likely explanation. Azenis Sports are the extreme in this regard - huge tread blocks and very stiff side-walls - but it wouldn't surprise me if S-03s also do it. My MXs do it a lot more than my 712s did.

All of this assumes that you have a decent alignment.

- Jtoby

 

[98spydert]

He compares the stock 205/55/16 with the SO-3.
"the car goes straight with the 205/5516s on stock wheels."

Not that it matters now but he was compairing the 205/55/16 to the 225/35/18s. I understand you like these tires but just try and ease up a bit on people who don't know the science of suspension. Thanks.

 

[highpsi93tsi]

WHOA! guys. I typed this after a 1 KM drive home with the new shoes. Its THAT much different. Ive grown use to it. it does pull to the right still (alignment) and the S-03s are sooo much better than the stocker that its a completely different car. They have a harsh ride (expected) and pick up all sand and lil rocks (like slicks) and throw them at the wheels wells. The car handles like a ####ing slot car...it'll go on 2 wheels or flip before it slides. Note to the guy up top with the hate post, dude, Iam, not some rich kid that just bought what I could get. I got these in a trade (with rims) and they replaced my BALD RS-A 205/55/16s. So thats the situation...damn though..these tires kick ass. There would be also less deaths (ive been thinking) If more kids spent more money on GOOD tires. I cant even faze these things..talk about incredible tires! S-03s kick ass!!

 

[jtmcinder]

...it'll go on 2 wheels or flip before it slides.

Yeah, right.

- Jtoby

 

[My96AWD]

Yeah, right.

- Jtoby

i think it was sarcasm.