BMW UK Don't want to know about stearing problems.
Discussion
I'm guessing that you have Bridgestone Potenza RE050's or 040's which as a previous poster has mentioned are summer tyres. I'd guess that's your problem. My BMW (850 Ci) has Bridgestone Potenzas too, thy're great in the dry and in the summer and they're crap in the cold wet (good in warm wet). As said, they are summer tyres / sport tyres and are not great at coping with low temperature wet conditions.
I once drove a very wet Silverstone with just legal rears and new Eagle F1s on the front (FWD car). It did tend to oversteer a bit that day. Should I take it back to the dealer and complain about the steering?
As I see it, these are the factors to be considered in such a case:
(1) driver skill - if you're not happy with sideways, go slower or get some tuition
(2) tyres - good condition, pressures, wear? Check it all.
(3) runflats - i'd change these last if (1) and (2) don't help.
(4) oversteers left or right only? Look at suspension, rims, etc. and inspect for damage
Remember that the following items will tend to make a car oversteer more:
- lower profile tyres (less flex so tyre can't cope, look at the profile of F1 tyres)
- sports suspension (more easily upset by large bumps, rally cars are set softer on gravel to cope)
- wider tyres (more likely to aquaplane as the water has further to travel to the edge)
- front engined cars (less weight on the rear)
- poor transitions (on or off the power/brakes, sharp steering)
IMHO:
- poor drivers complain of oversteer
- good drivers complain that it won't oversteer enough
- skilled drivers don't complain at all
HTH.
As I see it, these are the factors to be considered in such a case:
(1) driver skill - if you're not happy with sideways, go slower or get some tuition
(2) tyres - good condition, pressures, wear? Check it all.
(3) runflats - i'd change these last if (1) and (2) don't help.
(4) oversteers left or right only? Look at suspension, rims, etc. and inspect for damage
Remember that the following items will tend to make a car oversteer more:
- lower profile tyres (less flex so tyre can't cope, look at the profile of F1 tyres)
- sports suspension (more easily upset by large bumps, rally cars are set softer on gravel to cope)
- wider tyres (more likely to aquaplane as the water has further to travel to the edge)
- front engined cars (less weight on the rear)
- poor transitions (on or off the power/brakes, sharp steering)
IMHO:
- poor drivers complain of oversteer
- good drivers complain that it won't oversteer enough
- skilled drivers don't complain at all
HTH.
Edited by noumenon on Friday 20th February 17:30
noumenon said:
I once wet to Silverstone with just legal rears and new Eagle F1s on the front (FWD car). It did tend to oversteer a bit that day. Should I take it back to the dealer and complain about the steering?
As I see it, these are the factors to be considered in such a case:
(1) driver skill - if you're not happy with sideways, go slower or get some tuition
(2) tyres - good condition, pressures, wear? Check it all.
(3) runflats - i'd change these last if (1) and (2) don't help.
(4) oversteers left or right only? Look at suspension, rims, etc. and inspect for damage
Remember that the following items will tend to make a car oversteer more:
- lower profile tyres (less flex so tyre can't cope, look at the profile of F1 tyres)
- sports suspension (more easily upset by large bumps, rally cars are set softer on gravel to cope)
- wider tyres (more likely to aquaplane as the water has further to travel to the edge)
- front engined cars (less weight on the rear)
- poor transitions (on or off the power/brakes, sharp steering)
IMHO:
- poor drivers complain of oversteer
- good drivers complain that it won't oversteer enough
- skilled drivers don't complain at all
HTH.
Ha Ha - you must drive for a F1 team - or Top Gear! I've been splitting my sides!As I see it, these are the factors to be considered in such a case:
(1) driver skill - if you're not happy with sideways, go slower or get some tuition
(2) tyres - good condition, pressures, wear? Check it all.
(3) runflats - i'd change these last if (1) and (2) don't help.
(4) oversteers left or right only? Look at suspension, rims, etc. and inspect for damage
Remember that the following items will tend to make a car oversteer more:
- lower profile tyres (less flex so tyre can't cope, look at the profile of F1 tyres)
- sports suspension (more easily upset by large bumps, rally cars are set softer on gravel to cope)
- wider tyres (more likely to aquaplane as the water has further to travel to the edge)
- front engined cars (less weight on the rear)
- poor transitions (on or off the power/brakes, sharp steering)
IMHO:
- poor drivers complain of oversteer
- good drivers complain that it won't oversteer enough
- skilled drivers don't complain at all
HTH.
Tis true though.
It's just this type of complaint that leads to most mainstream cars today being engineered to understeer, then understeer more, and be so stable they are bland.
Thank god BMW actually tries to deliver a product that won't assume you are a cretin who tries to drive too quickly in the wet.
My new Z4 has had a bite in the wet/damp already, probably at lower speeds than my fwd hatch did. But the hatch was stable, understeered and wasn't as responsive. Thankfully the Z4 will reward as well as bite, rather than just do little of anything (not quite as black and white but you get the drift
)
Dave
It's just this type of complaint that leads to most mainstream cars today being engineered to understeer, then understeer more, and be so stable they are bland.
Thank god BMW actually tries to deliver a product that won't assume you are a cretin who tries to drive too quickly in the wet.
My new Z4 has had a bite in the wet/damp already, probably at lower speeds than my fwd hatch did. But the hatch was stable, understeered and wasn't as responsive. Thankfully the Z4 will reward as well as bite, rather than just do little of anything (not quite as black and white but you get the drift
)Dave
mikez328 said:
noumenon said:
I once wet to Silverstone with just legal rears and new Eagle F1s on the front (FWD car). It did tend to oversteer a bit that day. Should I take it back to the dealer and complain about the steering?
As I see it, these are the factors to be considered in such a case:
(1) driver skill - if you're not happy with sideways, go slower or get some tuition
(2) tyres - good condition, pressures, wear? Check it all.
(3) runflats - i'd change these last if (1) and (2) don't help.
(4) oversteers left or right only? Look at suspension, rims, etc. and inspect for damage
Remember that the following items will tend to make a car oversteer more:
- lower profile tyres (less flex so tyre can't cope, look at the profile of F1 tyres)
- sports suspension (more easily upset by large bumps, rally cars are set softer on gravel to cope)
- wider tyres (more likely to aquaplane as the water has further to travel to the edge)
- front engined cars (less weight on the rear)
- poor transitions (on or off the power/brakes, sharp steering)
IMHO:
- poor drivers complain of oversteer
- good drivers complain that it won't oversteer enough
- skilled drivers don't complain at all
HTH.
Ha Ha - you must drive for a F1 team - or Top Gear! I've been splitting my sides!As I see it, these are the factors to be considered in such a case:
(1) driver skill - if you're not happy with sideways, go slower or get some tuition
(2) tyres - good condition, pressures, wear? Check it all.
(3) runflats - i'd change these last if (1) and (2) don't help.
(4) oversteers left or right only? Look at suspension, rims, etc. and inspect for damage
Remember that the following items will tend to make a car oversteer more:
- lower profile tyres (less flex so tyre can't cope, look at the profile of F1 tyres)
- sports suspension (more easily upset by large bumps, rally cars are set softer on gravel to cope)
- wider tyres (more likely to aquaplane as the water has further to travel to the edge)
- front engined cars (less weight on the rear)
- poor transitions (on or off the power/brakes, sharp steering)
IMHO:
- poor drivers complain of oversteer
- good drivers complain that it won't oversteer enough
- skilled drivers don't complain at all
HTH.
ETA: you should try out the Hifi, Watches, Aston, Ferrari and Porsche forums where you will find people spending large amounts of money that would pay for several families' heating oil.
Edited by Zod on Friday 20th February 23:45
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