Re: Gross Misalignment? I think not!

[Huw Powell <human@nh.ultranet.com>]

> >But lower profile tires will not make the steering vague.   They'll make
> >the car follow ruts more accurately, but not vaguely.
> 
> It's not the profile, it's the width of the contact patch.  The tire width
> may not make the steering feel vague directly - but indirectly, wide tires
> WILL amplify any slack in the rack, and will often result in said wander.
> -snip-  Wider tires can and usually will affect steering feel.  Tradeoff for
> lateral grip.  All relative.

I agree.  Wider tires make the car a bit "jumpier".  Running 215's
instead of 185's on my coupe this is really obvious.  But with the bad
rack, the jumpiness resulted in a feeling of lack of control.  With the
rack replaced (or in other cases, whatever is causing the slop) it's
still a bit jumpy but I am back in control.  Random torque steer on
acceleration with low traction reduced tremendously too.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.thebook.com/human-speakers

82 Audi Coupe; 85 Coupe GT
http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~human