Please help - Non-RFT Tyre Change Issue

[nathannjay]

Hey guys,

Please could you help? I recently had the RFT tyres on my E89 35i changed to Non-RFTs Goodyear Eagle F1 Assym 3s - had these on my previous E85 Z4 and had no issues whatsoever.

Since the tyre change the car has been handling terribly, even dangerously at times as the car snakes / wanders around the road dangerously at speeds of 60mph+

The tyre pressures are ok, I've gone off the owners manual (only used 1 pressure gauge so far) The tyres have had well over 100 miles now so all ok on that. The drive home tonight was horrendous handling wise - it wasn't cold, 9 degrees centigrade on the way home tonight so I don't think it'd be anything to do with that.

I didn't experience any of these issues before the tyre change.

Please can anyone suggest on where to start on this or what this might be?

Thank you

Nathan

[Wrs]

Are you feeling any vibrations through the steering wheel? I'd suggest getting your wheels balanced (if not done already) and a 4 wheel alignment carried out?

[mr wilks]

Is it a handling feel or is it slippery tyre feel ?
First being poorly fitted/ balanced tyres & second could be similar to what some forum members have experienced with new GYs which have been rectified once the tyres have properly bedded in ( 400/500 miles ? )

[Ewazix]

I have to say my Eagles took two or three hundred summer miles before the slippery feel went and were OK. They are asymmetric so just check they have the fitting instruction 'outside' (or "lado exterior" if they are euro supplied like mine) visible.

[nathannjay]

Are you feeling any vibrations through the steering wheel? I'd suggest getting your wheels balanced (if not done already) and a 4 wheel alignment carried out?

I don't think there's been any. Haven't had a balance since I've owned the car for about 6 weeks now, but I know the dealer I bought it off had it done before I bought it. yeah I think that would be a good idea!

[john-e89]

Have you had the tracking checked?

[mr wilks]

The tyre pressures are ok, I've gone off the owners manual

I didn't experience any of these issues before the tyre change

Please can anyone suggest on where to start on this or what this might be?

Thank you

Nathan

If the rubber doesn't settle in it may be worth playing with pressures as different brand tyres do perform better at different pressures , id suggest 33-34psi fronts / 36-38psi rears & try up or down from there

[Wrs]

Are you feeling any vibrations through the steering wheel? I'd suggest getting your wheels balanced (if not done already) and a 4 wheel alignment carried out?

I don't think there's been any. Haven't had a balance since I've owned the car for about 6 weeks now, but I know the dealer I bought it off had it done before I bought it. yeah I think that would be a good idea!

So the wheels weren't balanced after the tyres change? Even if they have, I'd start with getting the weights checked (this was the problem I had when I changed from run flats to MPSS last year) and if not sorted then go for a proper alignment. Preferably a Hunter system. Best of luck mate & welcome to the forum btw.

[nathannjay]

Is it a handling feel or is it slippery tyre feel ?
First being poorly fitted/ balanced tyres & second could be similar to what some forum members have experienced with new GYs which have been rectified once the tyres have properly bedded in ( 400/500 miles ? )

I'd say both handling and slippery tyre. My drive to work is all back roads, ( 20/25 mins in total depending if I'm stuck behind Mavis in her Micra) so it's not ideal haha.

[nathannjay]

The tyre pressures are ok, I've gone off the owners manual

I didn't experience any of these issues before the tyre change

Please can anyone suggest on where to start on this or what this might be?

Thank you

Nathan

If the rubber doesn't settle in it may be worth playing with pressures as different brand tyres do perform better at different pressures , id suggest 33-34psi fronts / 36-38psi rears & try up or down from there

Thanks Mr Wilks, I'll go with that before it goes back to the garage to see if there's any improvement. Im currently running 18s on the Z. Bmw state the rears have got to be 42psi? I thought that sounded a bit high, my previous E85 ran the exact same tyre and alloy size and only needed the 37-38 you suggested.

[Wrs]

Where's Busterboo when you need him?

[nathannjay]

Are you feeling any vibrations through the steering wheel? I'd suggest getting your wheels balanced (if not done already) and a 4 wheel alignment carried out?

I don't think there's been any. Haven't had a balance since I've owned the car for about 6 weeks now, but I know the dealer I bought it off had it done before I bought it. yeah I think that would be a good idea!

So the wheels weren't balanced after the tyres change? Even if they have, I'd start with getting the weights checked (this was the problem I had when I changed from run flats to MPSS last year) and if not sorted then go for a proper alignment. Preferably a Hunter system. Best of luck mate & welcome to the forum btw.

Thanks Wrs the balancing was done, just probably not very well! It was done by a local mobile fitter at my work on a cold day last week. I can understand that they'd want to get the job done quickly but hopefully not at the expense of the Z feeling dangerous. I forgot to mention that the fitter inflated one of the rear tyres to the correct 42psi as per the manual / door sticker and the other rear one only to 29psi!! I corrected this later on the day but still experiencing the above issues.

[Wrs]

I don't think there's been any. Haven't had a balance since I've owned the car for about 6 weeks now, but I know the dealer I bought it off had it done before I bought it. yeah I think that would be a good idea!

So the wheels weren't balanced after the tyres change? Even if they have, I'd start with getting the weights checked (this was the problem I had when I changed from run flats to MPSS last year) and if not sorted then go for a proper alignment. Preferably a Hunter system. Best of luck mate & welcome to the forum btw.

Thanks Wrs the balancing was done, just probably not very well! It was done by a local mobile fitter at my work on a cold day last week. I can understand that they'd want to get the job done quickly but hopefully not at the expense of the Z feeling dangerous. I forgot to mention that the fitter inflated one of the rear tyres to the correct 42psi as per the manual / door sticker and the other rear one only to 29psi!! I corrected this later on the day but still experiencing the above issues.

Our experiences are very alike! I used a mobile fitter to swap my run flat to the MPSS tyres and after the car not handling or feeling right for about 100 miles I took my 35is to a local garage and the weights were way off. £24 & problem solved.

[MACK]

I don't think there's been any. Haven't had a balance since I've owned the car for about 6 weeks now, but I know the dealer I bought it off had it done before I bought it. yeah I think that would be a good idea!

So the wheels weren't balanced after the tyres change? Even if they have, I'd start with getting the weights checked (this was the problem I had when I changed from run flats to MPSS last year) and if not sorted then go for a proper alignment. Preferably a Hunter system. Best of luck mate & welcome to the forum btw.

Thanks Wrs the balancing was done, just probably not very well! It was done by a local mobile fitter at my work on a cold day last week. I can understand that they'd want to get the job done quickly but hopefully not at the expense of the Z feeling dangerous. I forgot to mention that the fitter inflated one of the rear tyres to the correct 42psi as per the manual / door sticker and the other rear one only to 29psi!! I corrected this later on the day but still experiencing the above issues.

Have you rechecked the pressures since last week when you initially adjusted them? If not then I would double check them in case you have a bead seal issue, or even picked up a slow puncture.

[Busterboo]

Where's Busterboo when you need him?