New wheels are wandering on the highway

[TheV6Bird]

I recently bought and installed the 17x9.5 wheels and tires in my sig. They are WAY wider than my 215/60R16 16x7.5 "Flower Power" stock Pontiac wheels.

When I had my old tires, whenever I rode on crappy roads, the tires wandered every so slightly on the crappiest roads. This is mostly on bad highways that are worn and the tire marks and sunk into the lanes. With my new tires, I've noticed that the wandering has increased on the bad roads. I now have to hold the wheel tighter, and be extra cautious because of the wandering. Is this normal for wider wheels to do this? Is it my rubber? The Kumhos are strictly summer performance, while my Pirelli P4000s were more of a touring tire.

I'd like to reiterate it's only on the REALLY bad part of the highways. I've felt wandering in my moms Voyager, dad's Sable, brother's salad shooter Camaro, and my older tires. It just seems like it got worse with the new rubber.

[V6Bob]

Absolutely to be expected. It's possibly the major drawback of low profile tires (like your new 40 series).

[O0oSKAMo0O]

i have the same problem my wheels are wider but i get the same thing and a couple adjustments in the alignment helped its normal dont worry. it only happens to me on bad roads

[JAM]

Yep had the same thing before. On bad road yes, that can happen.

Howerver, if it happens on flat smooth roads have a tire shop check the wheel balance. It may be off, or one of the tires could have less air in it.

If all of that checks out ok. Then check the alingment of the wheels. If none of it works... uhh use a BFH.

[TheV6Bird]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by V6Bob:
Absolutely to be expected. It's possibly the major drawback of low profile tires (like your new 40 series).<hr></blockquote>Whew!! I thought it was just me [img]smile.gif[/img] No trouble on smooth roads, just the crapola ones.

I'll just hold the wheel stronger on bad roads [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Dominic]

The extra grip is whats pulling you around - be happy you're not sliding across those bumps :D

[NBMA4V6]

its the kumho's also..they are good tires over all but they follow every crack in the road and are the crappiest off the line tires ove ever seen

[Guardsman]

Like Dominic said, they grip a lot more. Try getting the alignment redone, maybe have them add a bit more toe-in (or put it back it stock if it's out of whack).

[xdamxincx]

when i got my new rims i encountered massive wandering on all roads..
i couldnt cross any lines in the road without it grabbing a hold of them...
i tolerated this for about year and two sets of different tires and finally i just decided to go to a smaller all around tire up front..
225 /45 /17 and it is a kumho
i went from a 100% wander to a 10 % wander...
it cured my problem.