...now there's a strange thing.

Post by **Peter.N.** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:48 pm

I went to Exeter in the white estate this morning, nothing ground breaking in that except that I don't drive it very often now as since the red one was scrapped my son Martin has adopted it. Ever since I bought it about three and a half years ago the steering has wandered to the right and in recent months has been pulling quite strongly, I have checked the camber angle, wheel position and everything else I could think of with no success.

When I drove it this morning it steered as straight as a die, I kept letting go of the wheel just to check, the technological breakthrough that brought about these results? we changed the n/s front tyre. When I bought the car it had just had two new Goodyear tyres fitted to the front so not unaturaly I didn't suspect them, what I noticed a few weeks ago was that the n/s one was worn out on the inner edge although the rest of the tread was still good, the o/s tyre was wearing normally so it wasn't a tracking problem, as its steering perfectly now with a replacement secondhand tyre from the red car I can only assume that the tyre was faulty from the time I had it.

Driving the car again made me realise why I like the XM so much, I hardly had to change gear while I was out except in the town itself and then not much, I came round the corner off the A35 in 4th gear! Niether the 406 or the C5 are anything like as flexible although they are nice cars in there own right, the XM will pull smoothly from tickover, the Hdi's complain when you try to do the same.

Peter

Post by **Dieselman** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:09 pm

Tyres can have a bias and it sounds like this one did as a result of a manufacturing defect.

I agree about the flexibility of the 2.1td engine, it's great.

Jan-hendrik · Post by **Jan-hendrik** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:00 pm

Tyre wear always affects steering, be it the front or the rear tyres.
When I change summer to winter tyres and vice versa, the angle of the steering wheel changes slightly. The same when rotating tyres front to back and vice versa.
I just had new rear tyres fitted, Michelin Primacy LC 205/65-15. Again I noticed the steering wheel angle had shifted a fraction!

rowanmoor · Post by **rowanmoor** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:58 pm

Jan-hendrik wrote:I just had new rear tyres fitted, Michelin Primacy LC 205/65-15.

I wish we could get those in the UK. They stopped doing Primacys for 15inch wheels years ago here! Last time I got new tyres I had trouble finding anything with a decent name on it - the size has become too rare for many places to both with anything but budget tyres.

Post by **robert_e_smart** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:52 pm

I run Michelin Energy Savers in 205 65 15.

Post by **Dieselman** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:26 pm

I've got Michelins all round on both my cars.

White Exec · Post by **White Exec** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:54 pm

Me too. After years of running with the superb Primacy's, it was disappointing to find the Michelin offering was simply the seemingly 'basic' Energy Savers. However, after first two and then another pair, they do seem really good, and suit the rest of the French engineering perfectly. If anything, they're even better at making the car feel as if it were on railway lines when taking a corner really fast - quite BX-like, in fact!

Chris

Post by **robert_e_smart** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:18 pm

I didn't rate the primacies much whenever I had them on cars. I much prefer the Energy Savers.

Post by **Dieselman** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:24 pm

I haven't had Primacy on an XM, but have Primacy HP on another car and do rate them and would expect them to outperform an Eco tyre due to them having more grip at eh expense of higher rolling resistance.
I recently fitted part worn Michelin Eco tyres on place of 2nd line tyres and immediately noticed an increase of grip.

Post by **Peter.N.** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:32 pm

I go down to my local tyre place and bend all the tyres he has in my size to find the one with the softest carcass, its surprising how much difference it makes o the ride, usually cost about £50.00 a piece and last about 30,000 miles - its the way I drive them

Peter

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