tramlining
Author
Discussion

miroku

Original Poster:

261 posts

182 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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My Cayman had Goodyear tyres as original equipment. They have been great. Just replaced the rears at 24,000. The fronts are about 75% worn so soon to be replaced.I do a lot of motorway driving just in case you think I drive like a granny!
I have noticed recently that the car seems to tramline more than usual. Just wondering if a combination of colder weather and partially worn tyres could be causing this? Anyone else experienced this at all?
Many thanks in advance for any replies.

stevod

454 posts

169 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Did you look to the inside edges of the fronts too? If you do mainly motorway miles then the inside shoulders will likely be more worn - in which case 75% towards the outside could be completely bald on the inside.

miroku

Original Poster:

261 posts

182 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Fronts are wearing evenly. No signs of scrubbing so a bit of a mystery at the moment.

miroku

Original Poster:

261 posts

182 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Must be me then?

Rockster

1,515 posts

189 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Can't speak from experience with Goodyear tires but other brands: Pirelli and Michelin on my Boxster; Bridgestone and Continental on my Turbo, tramline sometimes something fierce. The road surface plays a role as does tire tread. Just replaced a set of rear worn out Pirelli tires on the Boxster that had me at times thinking a tire (or two) was low on air the way the rear of the car danced around.

Doesn't help that there have been lanes shifted some on the roads I drive which puts the tires out of the depressions that wear into the pavement from traffic or shift the lane so one tire tracks along a pavement seam or on one stretch of road tracks along the nice wide groove that was cut into the pavement removing an old lane stripe line.

At times the tramlining has been so bad I have pulled off the freeway to check for a low tire. Told this to the SM at the dealer the other day and he laughed and said he has experienced the same thing with his Audio on sometimes the same section of roadway.

All you can do it be sure the tires are inflated to the right air pressure -- remember cold weather will have the tire pressure down approx. 1psi for every 10 degs. (F) drop in temperature -- and if tire wear is uneven across the tread face seriously consider getting the car's wheels properly aligned.

ORD

18,186 posts

156 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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It is noticeable once the temperature drops below about 7c, in my experience over the last few weeks. But only at low speed. I have not felt it above about 45mph (which I guess may just be because the faster roads are in better condition). Big grippy tyres seem to like grabbing onto an uneven surfaces (uneven as in bumpy or as in with different grip characteristics) and pulling you one way or the other.

There is a strange little strip of new and very smooth tarmac on the Westway that tries to make special friends with my Cayman's tyres every time they touch it. Probably because they are afraid of the crappy surface on the rest of the road.

gsewell

721 posts

312 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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I found that the Goodyear Asymmetric 2 tyres tram lined on my Impreza when they were near end of life. Changing tyres (with no change to geometry) solved the issue.

miroku

Original Poster:

261 posts

182 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
Many thanks for the comments. Hopefully resolve this when I replace the tyres. Will probably have a full geo check at the same time.

Rockster

1,515 posts

189 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Really, I have to stress this again when temps drop in the fall/winter (or when they climb in the spring) you have to check the tire pressures. Overnight temps have dropped to 32F (or a bit lower) where I live and I checked tire pressures and found they down considerably from where they should be.

Buy a quality tire air pressure gage and check inflation pressures cold or after as little driving as possible every so often. When I had a garage and a place to store/keep a small electric air compressor -- one of the first "home workshop" items I buy when I have a place for one -- I'd top up the tires at night and then check the pressures and set them in the morning after the tires had time to cool down completely.

miroku

Original Poster:

261 posts

182 months

Sunday 5th January 2014
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Just a quick update on this. I think Rockster made a great point. I checked the pressures again today when the temperature was near freezing. Found them to be 2psi light. Adjusted them and found the tramlining much improved!
Still there but not as bad. Guess this is down to the fact that the tyres are nearly due to be replaced.
Many thanks.
Miroku

ORD

18,186 posts

156 months

Sunday 5th January 2014
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Thanks for the update. Good advice from the chap you mention.

jevansch

2 posts

113 months

Thursday 13th April 2017
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Read this for more info - blackboots.co.uk/portfolio-item/tram-lining/