winter tires and stability at high speeds

sanj101ca · Dec 8th, 2006, 09:03 AM

Hi Gang,

I just got new winter tires on my x-trail. 205/70r15 Winter king with 15" OEM steel wheels on.

Whenever I go around 120 km/h or higher the SUV does not feel stable when going on the highway...I have this pulling feel sometimes....I'm just wondering if this is a possible aligment issue....or is this a issue going with 15" wheels with this vehicle...

Yet on slow speeds I don't find any issues with stability.

Also how do you find your x-trails during windy periods do you find allot of pulling with the vehicle?

Thanks,
S.

ERBell · Dec 8th, 2006, 10:21 AM

If it's really windy I feel it. The XTrail is about as aerodynamic as a brick.

I know winter tires are softer compound tires. That is why they wear out quickly if you leave them on all year. They may be grabbing the dry pavement.
If I am wrong then I honestly couldn't tell you. I have never had winter tires on any car I have owned.

seven_b13 · Dec 8th, 2006, 11:32 AM

aerodynamics does play a big role.. plus the fact that your center of gravity is high up.. allowing air to flow under your car rather easily.. at higher speeds more air is traveling under your car, giving you the feel of unstability.. doubt it's fixable, it's a truck not a car..

babber · Dec 8th, 2006, 01:31 PM

Seems odd though cause on our trip to Toronto I was driving 140 with my all seasons and never felt anything and in some sopts can get very windy on the 401. It could be your winter tires cause 120 is not that fast! are your winters rated for that type of speed? maybe they do need to be aligned/balanced?

Lukasz · Dec 8th, 2006, 04:10 PM

It's probably your tires. Having driven my 2-1/2 year old x-trail in a wide variety of conditions, I've never encountered a situation where it pulled to the side excessively. It seems to handle like a sedan---although I would never recommend always treating it like one due to the obviously higher center of gravity.

Cheers