Loose Steering (Understeer)

[21Nemesis]

Since switching out my stock 16" GTS rims to RH Evolution T6 18" rims, I've noticed a significant amount of understeer/ loose handling. My Celi used to feel real right and crisp when turning. But now that I've put the 18's on, my car feels like my mom's '04 Altima (Loose and slow to react). To make matters worse, I was driving to work yesterday and took a turn on the freeway, which is posted @ 40 mph, but I take it @ 75 - 80 mph with no problem. Well, yesterday I had my car going @ 75 mph when I started the turn and everything seemed to be going OK, until all of a sudden I felt the wheel turn into the turn causing my rear to begin to fish tail, luckily, I noticed this in time and countersteered ever so slightly to correct it while I tapped the brakes. I was pissed, cuz from what I've heard, switching to a wider and bigger tire size should give your better turning/cornering ability, but I feel it hasn't. If NEthing, I feel like my Celi is handling like a SEDAN. I've only had the set up for about 2 weeks, but I'm seriously thinking of switching back to stock, which would suck, cuz I was planning a getting a Veilside I kit real soon. Please some1 offer some SUGGESTIONS to remedy the problem. If not then I guess I'm gonna have to switch over to the Action Package (TRD) kit.

[pr0file]

What you actually experienced was oversteer :)

With new tires, you have to take it easy for the first 250-500 miles because of the mould release compound on the tires. It also depends on your cars setup. Tire selection also matters. What type of tires did you mount?

Recommendation: break in your tires for a couple of weeks and then make a decision.

[21Nemesis]

In the front I've got Khumo ASX, I believe, and in the rear I've got Nankankg NSII. I didn't know about breaking in tires. But as far as the rest of the suspension goes, it's been untouched since the change. So, I guess I shall keep breaking in the tires and sees what happens.

P.S. sorry about the wrong terminology, I thought it was understeer.

[pr0file]

It's cool, about the terminology. :)

Hmmm...IMHO, those tires aren't really that good. You'll be amazed at how much difference stickier tires make :) I know the more sticky the tire, the more it costs, but do you want to trust your life with crappy tires? ;)

BTW, what is your suspension setup?

[DopeCelicaGT]

^^^I believe his suspension set-up is still stock. Too be honest with you man I have gone through a few different suspensions set-ups and a few different set of tires and honestly it seems like the more I do to my car the worse the handling gets. I think a lot of this has to do with alignment issues but damn. Seriously, I have almost every suspension component you can get for the celica and I seriously believe it handled better when it was stock, it wasn't as responsive but it handled better or in other words I could take turns faster. I have no idea why but this is just how my car feels LOL.

Justin

[XlonelydrifterX]

isnt it better to have smaller rims to increase turning radius and the response of aceleration and deceleration.

[pr0file]

^^^I believe his suspension set-up is still stock. Too be honest with you man I have gone through a few different suspensions set-ups and a few different set of tires and honestly it seems like the more I do to my car the worse the handling gets. I think a lot of this has to do with alignment issues but damn. Seriously, I have almost every suspension component you can get for the celica and I seriously believe it handled better when it was stock, it wasn't as responsive but it handled better or in other words I could take turns faster. I have no idea why but this is just how my car feels LOL.

Justin
Justin,

Check out my setup on the Autocross section. I know it's not the best setup, but I've had a few National level drivers drive my car and they say it's pretty good. :)

[kimGT]

I think it was the Nankang tires that made the handling worse. Having the 18 in front will actually help with understeer, because it will have a larger rotational diameter, so its harder to break tires loose during turn acceleration. the over steer came from the lager diameter rim and the crappier tire in the rear, but mostly the crappy nankangs