i have been using Yokahama 205-60-13's for the past couple of months and they feel like crap! I think I have excessive sidewall flex, and it is making my car vague on turn in, twitchy when accelerating and braking, and at 90mph+ it feels like the front and rear end of the car have minds of their own!!!!
The shop I got them from suggested 31psi so that is what I have been running.

Could you recomend a psi that you like to use and possibly some effective and cheap suspension mods to make the car more nimble and stable at high speed.

ps. its not the steering box, I just put in a brand new one. and i got the allignment done.

thanks!

 

GT1 -

That's what I run also (AVS Intermediates 205 60 13). I run 32 psi all around, and I don't have the problems you describe.

I think what you are describing is more linked to other suspension components. For example, mine felt similiar to what you are describing when I first bought her in 97. However, since then I have replaced the front end bushings (tension rods, A arms, sway bar) and rear bushings (upper and lower control links, Watts links) as well as the springs and struts/shocks.

I think most of the play in my suspension was comming from the bushings. After all, these cars are at best 16 years old and if the bushings are still the originals, they are far beyond used and worn.

Other compentents to consider for wear are the ball joints and the tie rods.

One last thing to note, that tire size, being relatively wide for a fairly light car, will tend to follow road groves and things like that more than the stock size...

 

I would go with 32psi max - 26psi minumum cold. Us anything inbetween the two numbers above. I use 30psi

 

I've got the same tires and I usually run about 32-34psi up front and maybe 2psi less on the rears. Tire wear is even and the car feels nice and balanced. Then again tire pressure is always slightly different for everyone depending on your suspension setup.

 

thanks for the help!! seeing that the pressures i run are very simmilar to yours the problem must be in the bushings, control arms etc.. i think i must just be feeling other problems now cause the steering is finally fixed. i'll give an energy bushing kit a shot, and then do the springs and shocks/struts when i got more $$$.
thanks again.

 

make sure you check those tie rods and balljoints first. if they're bad, you're going to want to replace them right away. then work on upgrading. this is the only reason i haven't gotten my new front sway bar yet.... darn tie rods! they're sneaky little cusses! i checked all kinds of stuff before i looked at my inner ties. i rewarded myself with a big greasy slap to the forehead followed by a healthy serving of