Z4 coupe skittish?

T

thealphabeta

Member
 Leighton Buzzard, Beds
Hi All

I've had my Z4 coupe for about 2 months now and I find the wheels seem to track the road quite aggressively. I've never had a car do it to this extent and sometimes I find it quite un-nerving when the steering wheel seems to snap to the left/right at any moment. Is it a wheel/tyre combo causing this or something more serious?

Am I the only one? :?

Cheers
 
Have you got runflats on ? If so, tramlining is notorious in these cars as the stiffer rubber plus the geometry set up cause the tyres to catch ruts all the time. You do get used to it after a while - or change to non runflats :D

Loads of threads on this in the problems and wheels/tyres section :thumbsup:
 
Damn it, just came across this one...http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45844&p=663149#p663149

I did a quick search but wasn't sure what people would refer to it as.

Yep I have runflats on 135s. 18s. I guess maybe the tyres are a way to go, although I do fancy CSLs so maybe get them all at once
 
If you go 19" CSL's you will get the same feeling as there is very little sidewall in the tyre..
 
Ditch the run flats and get yourself 4 wheel laser alignment sorted (done by a man not a machine). Vreds and Falkens are popular and cheaper than run flats too.

Sorted mine right out, then a rear spring broke.

Then eibachs happened. It's now magnificent.

Go forth and prosper :driving:
 
Ha, thanks guys. Yeah I seem to remember reading quite a few people stating that runflats were to be ditched pretty sharpish!

I do have a squeak coming from somewhere, possibly the rear. Sign of a broken spring?
 
thealphabeta said:
Ha, thanks guys. Yeah I seem to remember reading quite a few people stating that runflats were to be ditched pretty sharpish!

I do have a squeak coming from somewhere, possibly the rear. Sign of a broken spring?
Click to expand...


Possibly, worth getting it checked I'd say.
 
I had run flats for quite a while - I did find that after a while I 'relaxed into it' and I found it less disconcerting. However at first it was extremely alarming for the wheel to suddenly move on a flat road at speed. During the summer I ditched the run flats for Michelin PS3s (20% off at Costco - thanks Jem :thumbsup: ) and the ride was much better. Then I had Eibachs fitted and had a proper alignment done which transformed the car. The ride is still hard, which is to be expected, but the car now goes where I point it when I want it to not when the road tells it to. Mostly :oops:
 
I think this is issue is more to do with tyre wear than runflats (although) I don't doubt that tyres with stiffer side walls i.e. most runflats and lower profiles are more prone. Make sure your best tyres are on the front - in my experience the rears have little impact on this behaviour.
 
Newbers, sounds like sage advice with regard to this behaviour... But I was always of the understanding that in general you should have your 'best' tyres on the rear, especially when that's where the drive wheels are. Or am I wrong ? I guess it doesn't really matter with a staggered set-up as you can't swap them...
 
Bing said:
Newbers, sounds like sage advice with regard to this behaviour... But I was always of the understanding that in general you should have your 'best' tyres on the rear, especially when that's where the drive wheels are. Or am I wrong ? I guess it doesn't really matter with a staggered set-up as you can't swap them...
Click to expand...

I take the view that stopping and steering are more important than having grip on your drive wheels. Even more important to have good tyres on the front in a front wheel drive car!

WRT to tramlining etc. my experience with my Coupe was that when I replaced rear tyres (which were most worn) it made no difference to the terrible tramlining. When I then swapped front to rear (good tyres on front) it stopped straight away. As you say not an option with staggered set up but I've stuck with the 17's on my daily driver for pot hole resiliance/comfort etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom