Hi guys, been a while since I last posted here! Had an odd problem with the Fiesta last couple of days, driving down certain bits of road, the steering is really writhing in my hands! The car has always wandered a little naturally, as it follows the camber of the road but this is really unpleasant! Tyre pressure are correct, and tracking done not too long ago (I get my cars done at least twice a year). Any ideas as to what could be causing this? Only thing I can think of, is my front left tyre is about 2.5mm on the edges and 3.5-4mm in the middle.

Sounds more like a tracking issue. Also what pressures have you been running to wear the edges first?

 

I would definitely be inclined to agree with you, but I don’t remember hitting any potholes or anything recently (only started a few days ago). Will get it checked. Running 32psi at the front as per recommended specs, though the Ford garage did pump them to about 37 when it was serviced.

51 minutes ago, dtulip8 said:

Running 32psi

That seems low for a Mk8 Fiesta, of course it depends on the tyre/wheel size but for the front 36 psi is normal for most, maybe the ST is different.

1 hour ago, unofix said:

That seems low for a Mk8 Fiesta, of course it depends on the tyre/wheel size but for the front 36 psi is normal for most, maybe the ST is different.

Actually good point, it’s 36 on the 1.0 isn’t it?! My MK2 Focus ST runs 32 on the front so think I’ve got a bit confused doh! Will still have an alignment check done in it too!

Edit:

Sticker inside of door definitely says 33psi for fronts?

1 hour ago, dtulip8 said:

Actually good point, it’s 36 on the 1.0 isn’t it?! My MK2 Focus ST runs 32 on the front so think I’ve got a bit confused doh! Will still have an alignment check done in it too!

Edit:

Sticker inside of door definitely says 33psi for fronts?

Hi,

As you and others have said it could be tracking but tbh I wonder if you gave an equally plausible answer in original post - tyre wear? I note you've an ST-Line - which wheel / tyre size is it on? I thought the more tyres wear the more prone to tramlining they are, & more so on wider tyres...

3 minutes ago, wordchild said:

Hi,

As you and others have said it could be tracking but tbh I wonder if you gave an equally plausible answer in original post - tyre wear? I note you've an ST-Line - which wheel / tyre size is it on? I thought the more tyres wear the more prone to tramlining they are, & more so on wider tyres...

I’m on the 205/40 R17 tyres. They were noted as getting a little low at the service, so possibly a good idea to get some new ones! Car is 2 years old and approaching 15000 miles, with an even mix of town and motorway miles.

It’s not just summer tyres on cold tarmac? Mine feels really odd when it gets below 7 deg and the summer tyres are out of their operating temperature 

3 minutes ago, dtulip8 said:

I’m in the 205/40 R17 tyres. They were noted as getting a little low at the service, so possibly a good idea to get some new ones!

Perhaps yes altho if you've 3.5-4mm central tread you could maybe eke out another mm or so of wear before replacement is really needed... 🙂

It's 33 front and 26 psi rear for up to 2 passengers and under 100mph on my 2019 ST-Line 140.

I had problems with vague handling and worsening reactions to cambers and uneven surfaces, I made a few posts about it on these forums.

SInce I had new front tyres in October it's been fine. I get the impression that the Michelin Pilot sport 4's are only good for about 15,000 miles before the handling gets a bit squirmy. It was getting a bit of a floaty feeling at motorways speeds around 13,000 miles and I was suspecting the dampers might have been leaking or something.

I had the supsension checked out but they found nothing amiss.

What tyres have you got and how many miles.?

I sort of got used to it in the end, it wasn't dangerous just didn't feel nice to drive. I persevered until the fronts got just below 3mm of tread and then replaced them.

Wanted to try something other than the Pilot sport 4's but that's all I could get in the size I required at the time. But on new Sport 4's it now feels back to normal.

I will need to replace the rears in about another 5000 miles, by which time the fronts will have done about 8000. I might see if I can get some Continental sport contacts and have them put on the front and the Sport 4's moved to the rear. I've always got on well with Continental tyres on previous vehicles.

 

 

 

 

13 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It’s not just summer tyres on cold tarmac? Mine feels really odd when it gets below 7 deg and the summer tyres are out of their operating temperature 

Could be, but it’s never been an issue before in the winter

13 minutes ago, wordchild said:

Perhaps yes altho if you've 3.5-4mm central tread you could maybe eke out another mm or so of wear before replacement is really needed... 🙂

Yeah I think I’ll wait until there’s some good deals on new tyres first!

10 minutes ago, Blatto said:

It's 33 front and 26 psi rear for up to 2 passengers and under 100mph on my 2019 ST-Line 140.

I had problems with vague handling and worsening reactions to cambers and uneven surfaces, I made a few posts about it on these forums.

SInce I had new front tyres in October it's been fine. I get the impression that the Michelin Pilot sport 4's are only good for about 15,000 miles before the handling gets a bit squirmy. It was getting a bit of a floaty feeling at motorways speeds around 13,000 miles and I was suspecting the dampers might have been leaking or something.

I had the supsension checked out but they found nothing amiss.

What tyres have you got and how many miles.?

I sort of got used to it in the end, it wasn't dangerous just didn't feel nice to drive. I persevered until the fronts got just below 3mm of tread and then replaced them.

Wanted to try something other than the Pilot sport 4's but that's all I could get in the size I required at the time. But on new Sport 4's it now feels back to normal.

I will need to replace the rears in about another 5000 miles, by which time the fronts will have done about 8000. I might see if I can get some Continental sport contacts and have them put on the front and the Sport 4's moved to the rear. I've always got on well with Continental tyres on previous vehicles.

 

 

 

 

Very interesting that you had similar at a similar mileage to me. I’m on the original fronts at 15000 miles too, so I think I’ll be looking at replacements. I too had been getting a floaty feeling on the Mway around 13k too.

Some interesting points posted about the tyres.

Our fronts albeit on a Focus not a Fiesta are reaching 3.5mm/ 15k+, Rears 5mm and I have also noticed the squirmy issue particularly when the weather is cold almost to a point that it feels as though the tyre is flat ( if that makes any sense).

15k doesn't seem an awful lot of mileage to be getting out of the tyres though.

1 minute ago, dtulip8 said:

Very interesting that you had similar at a similar mileage to me. I’m on the original fronts at 15000 miles too, so I think I’ll be looking at replacements.

Yes I did about 15,000 miles in the first year (would have been 20,000 but lockdown/furlough knocked it back) so  the problems coincided with it's first service.

I was begining to think they had damaged something in the service but I think it was just a coincidence.

The new tyres made a big difference and it would be interesting to leave them on until they are at about 15,000 miles again (which would be about June 2022). I suspect the handling problems would resurface. But as I said I'm even more tempted to try out Conti's on the front when my rears need replacing to see how much difference they make.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Wino said:

15k doesn't seem an awful lot of mileage to be getting out of the tyres though.

Yes I was very disappointed in the mileage, I got about 30,000 miles out of them before they were below 3mm but based on my experience with them I suspect 15,000 miles is about where they start to go off. My previous 2016 St-Line 140 came with Continental Sport contacts (can't remember which version) and they still had quite a bit of life left in them at 35,000 miles and the handling never seemed to go off like I experienced with  the Michelins.

That's why I'm inclined to go for Conti's next time as I've had a number of cars over the years which have always felt good with those fitted.

I'm not knocking the performance of the Michelins from new, they are very good, I just get the impression it's a short honeymoon period before they decline.

 

 

Yeah I see what your saying about the mileage. I had some Continentals( Sport contacts 2 IIRC) on the Primera (14yrs ago) before I had a Focus and I do remember getting a least 30k out of them possibly more and were still on the car when I sold it. 

Was hoping these Michelins might of lasted until it's time to change the car which would mean rotating but even then be lucky to get another year out of them.

35 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It’s not just summer tyres on cold tarmac? Mine feels really odd when it gets below 7 deg and the summer tyres are out of their operating temperature 

They are definitely a bit odd until they warm up. With my new tyres you can still feel some vagueness to the handling at lower temperatures but it's much better than when the previous set were 15,000 miles old.

Not sure I'll get away with some F1 style warm up weaving and heavy braking manouvres to get some heat into them on my way to work though 🙂

 

So I think then I’ll definitely be replacing the fronts once some good deals come through in the new year. They’re very good tyres when fresh, shame that they clearly don’t last that long (the car will be long gone though by the time they need swapping again)

One good way to check is if the rears are still even and have more tread is swap them front to rear. adjust pressures and see how it feels. Bit of a pain on modern cars that don't come with a jacking kit even but if you have a friend with a trolley jack it's easy enough. Once the front is jacked high enough the rear comes off  the ground too.

Hi Daniel

How about swapping fronts to rear? That would tell you if it's the tyres, as the rears will be roughly 1/3 worn instead of the fronts which are roughly 2/3 worn (or possibly more!).

PS When you do replace them, I would also consider Michelin Cross Climates.

Sorry, Marky - crossed post - I got interrupted by a phone call!

Edited December 23, 20214 yr by alanfp