Does ditching the run flats actually fix tramlining?

[bearded_ed]

So, I have only had my Zed for a day but I've driven it a fair bit. Almost 100 miles on all sorts of roads and I honestly love it.

Except for when you're going 40+mph and the car decides it's going to wiggle or dive in a direction other than forward.

The car came with run flats all round. Pozentas front and PS3s on the rear.

I was already planning to change them all out for Asymmetric 5s soon ish, but I might have to do it this week if it'll actually solve the problem?

 

[MKZ4000]

The general opinion is it can, providing it is not something else causing the tramlining.

I was on non-run flats and the car tramlined at 60+ mph, changed the tyres all round for ASSY 3's, no more tramlining.

 

[Spaniarduk]

Everyone say they notice a massive improvement in ride comfort and eradicating tram lining and general handling.

 

[obewan]

When I bought my E85 it had fairly worn Michelin RF's on and it did tramline. I replaced them (same type) and it stopped
Or you could go the route many do on here and replace with non run flats - personally I don't mind them

 

[road warrior]

So, I have only had my Zed for a day but I've driven it a fair bit. Almost 100 miles on all sorts of roads and I honestly love it.

Except for when you're going 40+mph and the car decides it's going to wiggle or dive in a direction other than forward.

The car came with run flats all round. Pozentas front and PS3s on the rear.

I was already planning to change them all out for Asymmetric 5s soon ish, but I might have to do it this week if it'll actually solve the problem?

YES!
Fit the 5s immediately, it took me 12 months with two cars to work out the problem - I am now in hogs heaven with my 5s on the front put 30psi in and enjoy.

 

[Rich8]

No guarantee it will fix it.
But pretty much guaranteed it will be better.

 

[Bing]

TBH, whilst changing them out helped the handling in my 3.0Si massively, once you know what it is you can learn to drive round it until the tyres need changed.

 

[Ewazix]

Runflats tramline worse as they wear due to the profile flattening, swapping to non-runflats made a huge improvement to mine but wasn't the whole answer. It required worn lollypop and ARB bushes to be changed with a competent 4 wheel alignment before it was perfect.

 

[buzyg]

It's what you are used to. I have never had run flats on any car. The Zed has, like many modern cars, a lot of rubber on the road. That on it's own causes some tramlining. The stiff side walls on run flats clearly magnify the effect.

 

[IRD]

Just swopped the runflats on my E89 today for Michelin 4s’s. It really does make a difference. I previously had an E85 and changed from runflats to Goodyear’s and again there was a big improvement. However, if you have a pre-facelift E85 there are other issues which affect the steering. You will find a few threads on here relating to the ‘sticky’ steering issue. Mine suffered from this problem and it really did impact on driving pleasure. There are cures and I managed to get mine sorted out eventually. But worth checking before you invest in new rubber.

 

[bearded_ed]

Thank you all!
Will defo start with the tyres, sooner rather than later. Its actually OK on my commute it turns out but for fun driving or whatever they've gotta be changed.

Happy to change bushes etc as well if needed, it is a 15 year old car after all!

 

[Traktion1]

Switching the Goodyear asymmetric 5s on my 3.0si made an enormous difference compared to my run flats. The ditch hunting had been present even when there was plenty of life left in them too.

My advice is, of you do much B road driving over mixed surfaces, get them changed at the earliest opportunity. I waited until my RFTs were worn down at the rear, as the previous owner had bought new front recently - I wish I had just got rid of them sooner!

 

[Magicarcher]

Did for me, went from 18" Potenza RFT to Dunlop Sportsmax 2 NRF.

There was a section of road on my way home that was really scary on RFT, the car pulled me all over the place so never went more than 50mph. Now can do up to 70mph without any problems at all.

 

[skelters]

Now can do up to 70mph without any problems at all.

70? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: