View Full Version : New tire issues


trippinbillies4
12-31-2007, 02:25 PM
Hey all,

I just bought new tires for my 18” rears. The fronts still had about 50% tread life left when the rears fell apart (no idea how that happened… :^) ), so I started some research online, and every said ditch the run flats. So I bought the OEM tires, just non-run flats. They’re Potenza RE050A’s. Right now I have 50% worn run flats up front, and new non-run flats in the rear. I had tire rack say that mixing the tires was ok, and more than a few recommendations from other Z4 owners.

My problem is that now it seems like the car tramlines worse than usual on the highway. Driving around town seems normal if not better with the new tires in the rear. But if I hit some even moderately grooved areas on the highway, the car pulls very hard from side to side, to the point where the traction control light blinks.

I’ve also found that if I change lanes quicker than normal, that traction control light comes on and cuts power just for a second. I really don’t believe that I’m flicking the car hard enough to cause it to start sliding and use the DSC, so it makes me think that it’s overacting because of the mix matched tires. If I turn the DSC completely off and do the same flick, the car obviously lurches, but it doesn’t feel unstable, and it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s sliding laterally.

I just wanted to pick everyone's brains and see if there’s something in the way that the traction control works that would cause it to freak out because of mixed tires.

Thanks!

The HACK
12-31-2007, 02:32 PM
Brand new tires need some time and miles to wear off the mold release. Typically the first two weeks and up to the first 500 miles they're far less effective and grippy than tires that has worn in.

Result is if you put brand new tires in the rear with used tires in front, for a short while you will experience exactly what you describe because the fronts are actually grippier than the rears. Once your mold release has been worn-off, the rears will grip better than the fronts and your symptoms should decrease quickly.

trippinbillies4
12-31-2007, 02:57 PM
I have heard of mold release before, but didn't think it was supposed to take that long. I'll take your word for it though and hopefully it gets better soon!

The HACK
12-31-2007, 02:58 PM
Or you can just hand over your keys, let me do a few burn-outs or a track day or two. I can guarantee that the mold release will be gone by then.

innerconx04
12-31-2007, 04:05 PM
Made my day:)
Or you can just hand over your keys, let me do a few burn-outs or a track day or two. I can guarantee that the mold release will be gone by then.

trippinbillies4
12-31-2007, 05:45 PM
Hehe, I'm trying to kick the ol' burnout/donut habbit... Last set of tires didn't last too long :)