18's on AWD

[trx850]

Picked up a set of 18X8.5 second hand- w/ 3 tyres- 245x40x18- pretty cheap and pretty worn- found another tyre- different brand just to see if they were going to clear everything OK and work on the car. Tried them on and am getting some quite significant tram tracking through the steering- now feels quite nervous even on the straight. Sure cornering steering response is very good, but the nervousness at the straight ahead is, well, quite nervous. Is this typical of fitting 18's. Just like to clarify before spending $ on buying decent new tyres to fit the 18's. Does look good on the 18's. So far clearances don't appear to be a problem- close on the rear struts and guards but do actually clear on standard springs. 245x40 are about as close as I can get to the 215x60X16's

[grelise]

Get them balanced, and an alignment. And the wider tread does feel like a bit of nervousness but it's just picking up more imperfections on the road surface.

[Oggy]

245x40x18 are only 11mm smaller than the stockies, so no problem there.
I've got 235/45/18 on mine and no problem either.

But did you know that the 8.5" width wheel probably isn't legal? From memory, 8" width is as far as FWD and AWD cars can go, unless wider is fitted from factory.

When my tyres were new, they drove just fine, didn't notice any difference in behaviour, but now they have about 10,000kms on them and the steering does wander and twitch a bit when the road isn't smooth

[trx850]

Yes i know that 8.5 is pushing the boundaries- but right price and drive like a grandpa- rarely attach attention form Mr Plod- so unless they are going to look really close????

[Mecha-wombat]

balance and alignment plus check pressure I increased mine a little and it lessened the tramlining

[RussianMax]

225/45 or 235/45 are perfect for the 18 inch rims. Even better then 245/40 although since you are running 8.5 inch you are probably right to have 245s.

Wheel alignment is very important especially if you lowered your car as that has affected your suspension geometry.

Wider rims and tires ALWAYS tramline a lot more then narrow.

[RussianMax]

By the way. Whats the offset on your rims?

[Lugo]

Could also be the tyres that are causing that tramline effect more so than what you had fitted prior. I for one know the Dunlop SP Sport MaxxGT tyres I used to have on the VR-X tramlined more and felt twitchier than the Continental ContiProContact tyres fitted after, and the Maxxis MAV1's prior. That's down to how the tread pattern effects the way the tyres fall into the grooves and so fourth in the road.

[trx850]

By the way. Whats the offset on your rims?

Bin a while seens I bin on- sizes are 18 8.5 w offset of 38- cheap crap tyres (I think that is an economy brand that comes out of a province in china) 245 40 18.

[alscall]

So, no clearance issues on the inside - but do they sit perfectly,(legally), inside the guards?