Help with handling

[Chublo]

Just joined up, so hopefully this is the first post of many and apologies if this subject is old hat...

I've had the Bad Banana (4.0L Chimaera, Halcyon Midas, 1997/P, Black half hide, 24k) for about 5 years, more or less trouble free apart from an embarrassing overheat that brought part of central London to a standstill. Usual quirks aside (electrics, water leaks) it's been a riot since day one and she's definitely a keeper.

The car is basically stock, apart from a fan override (too late), battery isolator and baffle free exhaust (could listen to it burble all day). I've been wondering what to do to sharpen up the handling and performance for a while, but a recent tyre change has maybe forced the issue.

I changed from SO2s to SO3s which has radically changed the handling on anything other than pancake flat tarmac. No shortage of grip but the car tramlines really badly - like driving a squirrel! I've had the tracking/alignment checked by Micheldever tyres - it's spot on - so think the problem is likely due to a stiffer sidewall on the SO3s. Does anyone else have this problem? I've tried playing with the pressures but can't get near the sweet set up of the original.

I'm considering two options:
1) flog the SO3s as they only have 1.5k road use on them (any bids?) and fork out for some Toyos; or
2) get a suspension upgrade (nitrons?) and see if a bit more adjustability can sort the problem. The car gets pushed pretty hard, so I would want a fast road set up, but I haven't yet contracted the track day bug...

Any advice?

I reckon it's pointless shelling out for any more bhp before sorting the handling, so will have to leave that for another thread.

[greenv8s]

What pressure are you running the S03s? I have found they work better with a lower pressure than the equivalent S02. You might try dropping the pressure by about 2 psi all round. This should take you to something like 22/24 (cold).

[Chublo]

Currently 23/25, which definitely helped a bit, but I'm still nowhere near how it felt with the SO2s. I know new boots need a few miles to bed in, but i would have thought 1500 of them enough to get over that problem.

[shpub]

I run my so3's at around 20-21. We are talking standard wheels here arn't we?

[Chublo]

yep, standard size 7 spoke - I’m told they're referred to as Griffith wheels but I see them all the time on Chimaeras. I had heard they are standard on the 5.0L?

Anyway, thanks - I'll give those numbers a try. Do you run your SO3s on stock suspension?

[shpub]

Yes. The only thing I haven't tweeked yet.