HI Gang,

I have an '87 TII which I love to drive. However, it eats rear tires. Twenty five thousand miles and they're bald. The tire guys say it's b'cause I didn't rotate them every block or two (or something like that).
Also, it's very unstable on damp and/or snowy pavement. Doesn't take much. In a medium rain storm, I have to be very careful or the car will fish-tail. On snow...forget it. I have to crawl (20mph max) or spin-out.
I suspect there's something up with the rear end. Any input about what...and more important what I can do about it?

THX!

- k -

 

Hi, welcome to the world of performance cars.

 

The chip doesnt fall too far from the block.

 

its called REAR WHEEL DRIVE, get used to it.

 

Yep its rear wheel drive. Also you should rotate your tires so they last longer (even wear on all 4 instead of rears completely worn and fronts with lots of tread). I never tried this with a 7...but I know with my 86 benz (also front engine rear wheel drive), I put concrete brick things in the trunk (those heavy gray things), one tied down to each side when it snows or rains a lot, and it helps A LOT with traction (doesn't fishtail no where near as much). Now keep in mind the benz only has 120HP (I think, but its a 2.3L-8valve), but it can still fishtail just like a 7...

 

that is the usual amount of mile sports car tires go out at. and about the fish tailing that is because it is RWD and your tires are bald. with good tread on tires it is harder to fishtail in the rain. and keep the speed down, in bad weather conditions down need to be zipping around every where.

 

Hey guys,
Thanks for all the replies, but I think you're off the mark. I had an '87 NA which I bought new, and it handled like a dream in ALL kinds of weather.
No, it's not because the tires are bald (I replaced them when they got worn, it was just way too soon).
Really, gang, I'm not stupid. I don't think that it's just a "high performance" car. I mean, on snow I have guys driving Saturns & Cavaliers blow past me like I'm parked, but if I add 2 more MPH, I spin out.
I drove my 1st RX over Red Mountain Pass (SW Colorado) in Feb during a blizzard and never felt the least bit at risk. Something is definitely out of order with this thing.
I'll let you know what it is when I get it corrected, I just was hoping someone here could provide some useful input.

THX just the same.

- k -

 

Your tII has more horsepower than your 87 na for one; that increases the tendency for the rears to spin when you hit the gas hard in low traction conditions. Also, your tII may have wider tires than your 87 na which also reduces snow traction. A front wheel drive Saturn or Cavalier with all its weight on narrower tires is gonna be way better in the snow than a lightweight rear driver with wide performance tires.

I drove my 90 GTU through six snowy Pittsburgh winters and without dedicated snow tires with plenty of tread (not just all seasons and definitely not summer tires), it was borderline useless when there was real snow or heavy slush on the ground. Now on packed snow, it did OK.

I also added weight to the rear by putting 20 lb. in each storage bin and it may have helped a tiny bit in the winter. Mainly I just had to slow down.

 

Hey- It's a turbo.
It was born to eat tires.

Also tire treadwear ratings can be useful.
A 120 tire will grip more & wear faster.

If you want or need to save tires & gas, stay off boost & short shift at around 2K..

 

Is the tread gone all they way across the tire? Or just on the inside or outside? It could be an alignment/suspension issue.

 

I also have that issue... My rear tires are eated from the inside after 10k km, the outside looks almost new though... Also i have that rubber-slipping sound when i'm starting a bit faster than normal... I did alignment, but it didn't helped, because rear camber is not adjustable... I think it's something wrong with the suspension...

 

what kind of tires are you using?

 

Sounds like an alignment problem to me also. If the tire is bald all the way across it is most likely the camber. If its just worn on one side its probably the toe.This could also affect handling.

 

AIR PRESSURE-
I bet you're running 35-40PSI on low profile tires.
Try running at 28PSI.
That will give you a full footprint on the rear & change the handling from loose to on rails.

 

get an alignement and throw sand bags in the back

 

welcome to the wonderful worrld of Torque, the TII has toruqe unlike your n/a

 

Hmmm....

....I go through a set of tires per summer. I wish I could get 25k miles, LMAO!!!!!

 

Rear toe in. Any noticeable "dog tracking" when you drive? There are adjustment cams in the front of your rear trailing arm when adjusted correctly fixes rear toe in and thrust lines

 

A rear camber adjuster can be purchased from RacingBeat.com

 

Do you still have the stock suspension in the rear? Low air pressure could help but if you still have your stock struts I'd look more into that. Old sagging springs would cause ride height change which would be a direct affect on camber.

 

Yes! You are right! :-) I'm runing 2.5 bars (which is around 35psi). If i lower the pressure in the tires will i not break the rims? In place where i live roads are in no good shape...


I do have an old shocks and springs and thinking about renewing it :-) You think that also can be the cause?

 

Did your NA have a LSD? Driving in less than perfect conditions is a little different depending on what you are used to having in the rear. How long have you had the turbo?

 

Yes i do have an LSD, but not sure in what condition it is...

I do not have a turbo, because i own an n/a... :-)

 

You need to take the car to get an alignment so they can get a measurement on all your angles. If your camber is outin ther rear, then more then likely your springs and shocks need to be replaced. When they wear out, it changes the ride heigh thus causing negative camber wich leads to tire wear on the inside edge. Then again, it could be something as simple as your toe being out wich is adjustable by a cam on the control arm. Good luck...

 

Thanks man! I think i firstly go for a new shocks and springs, 'cause i definitly need a new ones and than i'll do an alignment again...