New tyres have made my MX twitchy
Discussion
I had some new Eagle F1 GSD3's fitted to the back of the MX-5 three/four weeks back. The car was really twitchy afterwards and remains so now. When cornering at reasonable speed the whole car feels "on edge", and the handling is very different to what it was before these tyres were fitted.
I swapped the tyres back to the front (so I have new tyres at front, old ones at the back) and the handling is back to how it was before - still precise but not twitchy at all.
What might be causing this reaction to the tyres?
I swapped the tyres back to the front (so I have new tyres at front, old ones at the back) and the handling is back to how it was before - still precise but not twitchy at all.
What might be causing this reaction to the tyres?
If the old pair are very worn, it could just be down to an imbalance in the cars' geometry I guess (not an expert)?
Just one note of caution: when I first got my car the rears were very worn compared to the fronts and this led a particularly exciting entrance onto a m'way slip road in the rain....I caught it but the back end was very lively in the wet..
Just one note of caution: when I first got my car the rears were very worn compared to the fronts and this led a particularly exciting entrance onto a m'way slip road in the rain....I caught it but the back end was very lively in the wet..
Have you checked the tyre pressures? The monkeys at most tyre places usually pump them up to 35psi or so. You need them down to 26psi.
Also, the tyres have a "releasing agent" that causes them to be a bit slippery for the first 2-300 miles or so, often more if it's been wet. How many miles have you done so far?
One more question - which tyres did you have before and what are the other pair of tyres?
Also, the tyres have a "releasing agent" that causes them to be a bit slippery for the first 2-300 miles or so, often more if it's been wet. How many miles have you done so far?
One more question - which tyres did you have before and what are the other pair of tyres?
MX-5 Lazza said:
Have you checked the tyre pressures? The monkeys at most tyre places usually pump them up to 35psi or so. You need them down to 26psi.
Tyre pressures weren't right when I got home, but adjusted once they were cool to correct 26psi.MX-5 Lazza said:
Also, the tyres have a "releasing agent" that causes them to be a bit slippery for the first 2-300 miles or so, often more if it's been wet. How many miles have you done so far?
I've done about 1,000 miles now - though probably did about 700 before I changed the tyres over.MX-5 Lazza said:
One more question - which tyres did you have before and what are the other pair of tyres?
Previously there were 4 Brigestone Turanza's, so I now have 2 Turanza's (on the back) and the Eagle F1's on the front.Could it be that the geometry needs adjusting and the slightly different shape of the F1's has affected this?
Edited by rfn on Wednesday 29th April 10:14
it's down to driver preference but i find that the v-grooved tyres are just more 'busy' than the circumferential grooved tyres. even going from hankook rs2 track tyres with stiffer sidewalls to F1's, the car would move around a lot more and follow every little rut in the road on teh F1's. my current toyo T1-R's are similar but not quite as bad as the F1's were.
admittedly they gave nice grip when loaded up and you could lean on them well but for motorway or bumbling around i didn't really rate the F1's.
admittedly they gave nice grip when loaded up and you could lean on them well but for motorway or bumbling around i didn't really rate the F1's.
Maybe the 'edginess' you are feeling is just more feedback? It would obviously be beneficial to have the same tyres on each corner as well. When I 1st put GSD-3s on mine I immediately noticed more feedback through the wheel and the car does move around in the corners a bit more. They also tramline some, though I put this down to going from 14" to 15" wheels and the wider tyre.
Just goes to show how sensitive to chassis changes the 5 is!
Just goes to show how sensitive to chassis changes the 5 is!
The F1s have fairly stiff side-walls compared to the Turanzas so along with the different tread pattern as Skinny said, this would cause it to feel odd with more feedback from the rear than the front. They will give a lot more information through the steering & seat so will feel like they are skipping around more when in fact they aren't doing anything the softer tyres weren't doing, they just let you know it's happening.
The ideal would be to have a full matching set of tyres. For a while it would feel "wrong" as you would be getting more feedback from all corners but you soon get used to this and use it to your advantage.
The ideal would be to have a full matching set of tyres. For a while it would feel "wrong" as you would be getting more feedback from all corners but you soon get used to this and use it to your advantage.
I'm a big fan myself. You just have to get used to how they feel. Coming from "normal" cars with all weather tyres most people aren't used to feeling real feedback and feel like they don't have enough grip whereas in fact they usually have more grip but the feedback is telling them exactly how much grip there is rather than hiding that information from you.
As an example, there are some roads where I feel safer driving fast in my Focus with GY Hydragrips than my 5 with F1s but that's only because the Focus hides the fact there isn't really a lot of grip and that the road surface is breaking up. If I was to push to the limits I know I could drive the same road a lot faster in the 5 but it wouldn't feel as safe.
As an example, there are some roads where I feel safer driving fast in my Focus with GY Hydragrips than my 5 with F1s but that's only because the Focus hides the fact there isn't really a lot of grip and that the road surface is breaking up. If I was to push to the limits I know I could drive the same road a lot faster in the 5 but it wouldn't feel as safe.
toyos are the dogs dangleys got these fitted to mineCombover said:
Jeeeez am I the only one who REALLY rates the F1s? I love em.
I like them too. I've had them on my 5s a few times, as well as Toyo T1Ss and Michelin Pilot Sports. I like the F1s on the rear, on the front, I think the soft sidewalls blunt steering feel a little. My F1s have always 'gone off' and I am finding this is a common problem with them if you track the car. The tyres can look absolutely fine a couple of weeks after being tracked but have no grip whatsoever - then it will come back and go off again. Obviously this is not the problem with yours though. I just put some Toyo T1Rs on, and love them. They have the grip and control of the F1s, although are a bit noisier - They are suppossed to be harder wearing on the track as well. Lets see, I guess.
I currently have kingstars on the front and knackered GT radials (replacing soon!) on the back, it can be quite *entertaining* at times.
I've been very impressed by Eagle F1s on the Legacy but will probably stick with something a bit harder-wearing on the MX5 so my sideways tendencies don't chew them out too quickly.
Combover said:
Jeeeez am I the only one who REALLY rates the F1s? I love em.
I really rate them too - had them on my Mondeo and they were excellent. The MX-5 obviously just responds to different read patterns a little more than other cars.I'm in two minds now - whether to replace the other two tyres with F1s and see what it's like, OR to put T1-Rs or something else on when they need replacing?
GravelBen said:
I currently have kingstars on the front and knackered GT radials (replacing soon!) on the back, it can be quite *entertaining* at times.
I've been very impressed by Eagle F1s on the Legacy but will probably stick with something a bit harder-wearing on the MX5 so my sideways tendencies don't chew them out too quickly.
rfn said:
Combover said:
Jeeeez am I the only one who REALLY rates the F1s? I love em.
I really rate them too - had them on my Mondeo and they were excellent. The MX-5 obviously just responds to different read patterns a little more than other cars.I'm in two minds now - whether to replace the other two tyres with F1s and see what it's like, OR to put T1-Rs or something else on when they need replacing?
The F1's will accentuate any geo problems too - when was the last time the geo was checked?
MX-5 Lazza said:
I'd say stop mixing tyres. Having a pair of F1s and a pair of T1R won't be much different from what you have (except the T1R will have more grip than the current tyres). You'll still have a pair of stiff tyres (F1) and a pair of soft tyres (T1R). You'll be better off fitting another pair of F1s then giving yourself a while to get used to the new handling feel.
The F1's will accentuate any geo problems too - when was the last time the geo was checked?
I see where you're coming from.The F1's will accentuate any geo problems too - when was the last time the geo was checked?
No idea when the geometry was last checked. Potentially *never* - I've owned it since Christmas and the previous owner had it for 2 years. Something I didn't ask the previous owner.
Concensus seems to be get another 2 F1s to go on the back to match those already on there, and then get the geometry checked? How much do WIM charge for that - or is there a place closer to the Midlands that have as good a reputation?
Thanks for all the help so far!
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