[MarkW19]

I've just got my Works (2006), and have already covered 600 miles in it, the vast majority on motorway between 60-90.

I've just had Goodyear Eagle F1s (215/40/17) fitted so did most of the 600 miles on those (except a few miles the day I got the car).

The main problem is, when at 60+, the car feels like it's slightly wandering from left to right all the time, I'm sort of constantly making slight adjustments to the wheel to keep it straight. This is even worse when accelerating (ie. not just cruising at say 70) from 70-90mph, and also quite evident when accelerating at slower speeds. It's just worse on the motorway with there being so much straight driving.

Also, if I let go of the wheel on a perfectly smooth and straight road, it pulls to the left; and also if I hold the wheel 100% horizontally, it pulls to the left - to keep it straight I have to hold the wheel slightly to the right.

It's definitely not torque-steer, as I also experience this as well under ultra-hard acceleration, it's something different. The car just feels a bit uncomposed and slightly difficult to keep in a straight line. I've experience tram-lining on my Cooper, and while it does do that also, it seems to do this practically ALL the time even on perfectly straight and smooth roads. Surely it can't be normal to "tramline" constantly and be wandering left to right? I phoned the place who fitted my tyres (Hi-Q) and they said they had heard of this complaint before with the Eagle F1s, and put it down to the tyres just constantly tramlining slightly, but I can't think they're meant to do this?? It's that bad, that my right hand really ached for quite a while after (no jokes ) and was quite red, as I was gripping onto the wheel so tightly to try and keep control and keep it straight.

Tyres set at 32PSI all round by the way, full balanced etc. I also didn't notice this problem on the normal Dunlop runflats, but then again I only had them on for a few miles and only got onto a 60 road a couple of times. I first noticed it when I got to speed on the motorway after the new tyres were fitted, but as I didn't do any motorway driving on the original tyres I can't say.

Can anyone help?

[GR33NIE]

Sounds weird mate, definately sounds like they haven't been balanced properlly or something to do with the fitting??

Anyway wheres the pics of your motor!!!!!

[MarkW19]

The manager personally looked over the balancing and made sure it was 100%, as he could tell I was picky

Can't think it's the tracking either as it's a brand new car?! Will keep an eye on it and take it to the dealers if it carries on, I can't think these tyres are meant to do this.

Pics due tonight matey!! They messed up a few things (didn't do the gril in the aero bumper, just left it mesh with the S grill above it, idiots!) and the aero stickers aren't here yet for the back, but other than that it's just minor things that need to go on (Halo slidelights, black rear brake light) so yep, I'll post pics when I get it back tonight

Absolutely loving it though, it's an awesome car. Got to 600 miles now...should I start to open it up a bit and rag it, or be sensible and mostly keep it under 4500revs until 1250 miles, as the manual states?!

[Richard Crofts]

Tracking???

If not front tracking then have you had a proper four wheel alignment? If you haven't it might be worth a try as this can make the car feel wandery.

I also run my car on 34 all round and this seems to make it feel a bit better, but I am running 18s on 35 profile.

My missus had a corsa sri on 17s with eagle f1 tyres from factory and the book said to run them at 36psi-38psi !!!! Seemed excessive to me but allow for the body roll the car felt pretty snug at those pressures.

[GR33NIE]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

or be sensible and mostly keep it under 4500revs until 1250 miles, as the manual states?!

Yeah good luck with that!!!

[cristo]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Can't think it's the tracking either as it's a brand new car?! Will keep an eye on it and take it to the dealers if it carries on, I can't think these tyres are meant to do this.

!

My MINI had 3/8 " of toe in when brand new. I re-adjusted it myself the first week I had it.

[Vitesse]

It sounds like tracking to me. I had exactly the same sort of symptoms on my Mini but it was running on runflats. The fact you didn't notice it on the runflats, could be as you said, that you weren't on them long enough.

It's not unheard of for a car to come out of the factory with slightly askew tracking, could of got mis-aligned it transit, Ii don't imagine they check the tracking in the pre-delivery. I would get the dealer to check the tracking before you go any further.

I've got a 2005 Works and whilst it suffers a bit from tramlining it's not as you describe and is only really apparent under heavy right foot but I 'm running that on 18" runflats.

[A13EX F Cooper S]

i know it sounds stupid but have they got the directional tread the correct way round??

[MarkW19]

I think the tread is the correct way...

Will get the dealer to check the tracking then before I go any further! I can't think that increasing the tyre pressures will sort it out though.

Thanks for the quick responses guys!! Driving me mad a bit this one.

[MarkW19]

On second thoughts, how do I check the directional tread is the right way round?

[Vitesse]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

On second thoughts, how do I check the directional tread is the right way round?

should be an arrow on the tyre wall showing direction of travel.

[GTT 280]

I had these at all four corners - they have been so far the best tyre ever. You can grip and slide perfectly.

Never had any steering issues with them, so i suggest you retrack.

[MarkW19]

Looking more and more like the tracking then, will take back to the dealers, cheers guys.

[A13EX F Cooper S]

try folding the passenger mirror back but leave the drivers one sticking out this will increase drag on the right hand side of the car therefore correcting the steering. lol

only jokin i was bored so thought i'd post it.

just becasue the tracking between both wheels is correct it doesnt mean the tracking between the wheels and the steering wheel is correct you need a really good allignment setup to check this though and can take a good half an hour to even start setting the tracking up

[MarkW19]

So I go to my dealer and ask them to check my tracking and alignment?

[MarkW19]

The place that fitted my tyres did say that others had complained about the F1s tramlining a lot, and that's what mine feels like - constant, very slight tramlining all over the place.

Would increasing the PSI sort this? I read somewhere that Goodyear recommend quite a high PSI (36-38) for the F1s?