Does you euro have drift to one side tendency?

[aaronng]

I believe that a lot of the veering described by people in this thread could be due to tramlining.

I had a little play while driving home last night. My steering is happy to veer to the left, the right or to stay straight ahead -- all within a tiny fraction of a steering-wheel turn.

Since the car tramlines so readily, it really doesn't take much to get it to veer...

What you are describing is not tramlining. That is sharp steering response. That is different to tramlining and to drifting. Tramlining is when you go over a surface defect on the road and the interaction of the tyre with that groove/hole/line travels back up the steering rack and turns the wheel against your command. So if you were holding the steering wheel loosely, it would turn on its own. In drifting, the steering wheel self-centering point is not straight. So once self-centered, the car will veer off to the right (or left), but not as quick as tramlining and certainly doesn't pull the steering wheel from your hands.

[thezone]

I just tried the same thing this morning tobster and i think i agree with you. Although there is a slight tendancy to veer right rather than left.

[Tobster]

I'm aware of what tramlining is. What I'm trying to suggest (obviously unsuccessfully) is that it goes something like:

Wheel tramlines -- hence steering wheel moves.

But the steering moves only a tiny bit -- barely perceptible to the driver (if at all).

Therefore the car seems to drift...

The Euro tramlines easily, so if it only tramlines a minute amount due to road irregularities it's going to feel like the car is drifting around the place.

[ok2]

This thread is still going!

I occasionally experience the right pull but my car has been tramlining less since fitting Dunlop SportMaxx tyres. It's probably because they are new. I have gone against earlier posted advice and I have increased the tyre pressures to 46psi front and 34psi rear. Apart from the slightly "jigglier" ride (and great turn-in), it has reduced tramlining even more; probably because it has made the tyre cross section rounder. I don't think it will increase centre of tyre wear because tyres on the Euro wear the shoulders first anyway.

The maximum air pressure for the reinforced version of the 225/45R17 SportMaxx's on my car is 50psi. It seems that any rim bigger than 16 inch doesn't work well on the Euro. My original 16 inch tyres (205/55R16 Dunlop 2050M) did not have any problems in this regard. But then again, the Acura TSX has 17 inch rims but with taller (larger diameter and profile) 215/50R17 tyres (sorry, tires in USA speak). Maybe Acura recognised that larger width tires (sic) as huge, ultrawide, gi-normous as 225's cause tramlining problems and went for a taller and "rounder" cross section tire (sic).

I believe that the Type R in Europe has 215/45R17 tyres. Has anyone used this smaller and speedometer flattering tyre size on the Aussie Euro?

Thought that the 46 PSI was a typo but apparently not ! Over inflating by that much

a) is dangerous as when driving the pressure will increase by 4 PSI or more (especially if doing highway speeds) thus exceeding that maximum figure of the tyre i.e. it may blow or pop off the rim
b) will result on very poor wear / life

That said there are lots of discussions here, Accurazine (www.acurazine.com) about tyre pressure and a lot of people running 4-6 PSI over the Honda (Acura) recommended pressures and getting better fuel economy plus handing with excellent wear. You can find similar comments elsewhere easily enough for many tyres & vehicles.

I run mine 4 PSI higher (36 front, 34 rear) so I agree a little higher is OK and have noticed the improvements with only a little "sitffer" ride but 14 PSI over is IMHO crazy.

[aaronng]

I'm aware of what tramlining is. What I'm trying to suggest (obviously unsuccessfully) is that it goes something like:

Wheel tramlines -- hence steering wheel moves.

But the steering moves only a tiny bit -- barely perceptible to the driver (if at all).

Therefore the car seems to drift...

The Euro tramlines easily, so if it only tramlines a minute amount due to road irregularities it's going to feel like the car is drifting around the place.

When I had the problem, the car never veered left unless I was braking on a patch of road with uneven grip on the left and right tyres (road scored to re-tar on one side). Also, on a road which curved left and cambered to left very strongly, the car still veered right.

[thezone]

Drove home from work tonight and car definitely veers to the right quite badly. I think this is a known fault and that Honda may be treading carefully in case of a big backlash. When I brought up the issue they replied "We have checked all specs and there is technically no fault with your car". They suggested that if I'm still not happy they would invite the principal or director from Honda Aust. over to the yard to personally test drive the car. I think i might just take them up on that.

[tony1234]

Drove home from work tonight and car definitely veers to the right quite badly. I think this is a known fault and that Honda may be treading carefully in case of a big backlash. When I brought up the issue they replied "We have checked all specs and there is technically no fault with your car". They suggested that if I'm still not happy they would invite the principal or director from Honda Aust. over to the yard to personally test drive the car. I think i might just take them up on that.

Take them up on their offer and make sure you take them on a stretch of road where you car veers to the right quite bad.Good luck!!!

[thezone]

Hi tony,

Do you have a bigger picture of your car that I can use as incentive to get bilstein/eibach setup? Your avatar is too small. I was quoted $1600 plus fitting today. So I just need a little visual incentive. Also, before i go changing suspension set up i should probably sort out veering problem otherwise I'm sure Honda wont touch it.

Cheers

[tony1234]

Hi tony,

Do you have a bigger picture of your car that I can use as incentive to get bilstein/eibach setup? Your avatar is too small. I was quoted $1600 plus fitting today. So I just need a little visual incentive. Also, before i go changing suspension set up i should probably sort out veering problem otherwise I'm sure Honda wont touch it.

Cheers

Yeah,i'll send you one.BTW if you get rid of those crap OEM tyres(RE040s)you'll reduce the veering markedly.$1600+fitting sounds like a good price.You WILL need a rear camber kit though.Get an Ingallls or ask your installer about the Eibach one.PS.You'll LOVE the setup when you get it done.

[thezone]

Hi tony, dont know if your getting my messages or not re email can you let me know? cheers.

[avid]

I had my 20,000k service done on Friday and got the tyres rotated.
My 10 yr old son pestered me to take him to the Auto Saloon show at the Gold Coast,so off we went on Saturday down the very nice flat Pacific hwy to the GC, and WTF,no noticeable drift to the right.
Why when i had rotated them at 10,000ks did it still drift, but not now???
Anyway, met a helpful Management guy at the Bridgestone display who very kindly offered to switch around my tyres on the rims for free in an effort to see if that would solve the drift problem i had been having, and at that point i wasnt sure if the drift had gone 100% or not.But it wasnt there on the return trip to Brisbane either,so i dont think i will be taking up his offer.Interestingly he hadnt heard of the problem with the RE040's,but seemed genuinely interested in helping me fix it.
BTW,the show was a bit disappointing.Not many Hondas and not one Euro.I was also on the lookout for a display stand selling some serious rims , nothing but bling anywhere to be seen.
What a wasted opportunity for those places that sell tuner parts and decent rims.
I know i'm getting old,but i really am unimpressed with the trend for "modified car" to mean how big and loud a stereo system they can cram in their vehicles.Personally i would rather see the money spent on adding custom made carbon fibre and alloy suspension components or polishing everything in sight(and out of sight).A lot of the cars didnt even have lightweight/racing rims.

[LXRY]

Drove home from work tonight and car definitely veers to the right quite badly. I think this is a known fault and that Honda may be treading carefully in case of a big backlash. When I brought up the issue they replied "We have checked all specs and there is technically no fault with your car". They suggested that if I'm still not happy they would invite the principal or director from Honda Aust. over to the yard to personally test drive the car. I think i might just take them up on that.

Don't let them fool you they know of the issue...when they send someone there (to your dealer) he or she will be there before you, to discuss what they will say, collaboration. Everyone's stories have to be the same. They will LIE to you, DENY it till they are blue in the face, then offer you tyres lol.

Give em hell trust me. Ask for a third party opinion....and you choose the third party.

I feel for you as you will get the run around.