Extremely sketchy handling when wet

[MerlintheMad]

The Luddite in me wants to blame the traction and stability control and electronically monitored suspension software. My inner eye sees the interface cutting "in and out" or "on and off", irregularly, intermittently.

But those tread pics look really bad at less than 6K miles. I have 10K on my AWD Pilot summers, and the fronts look almost new and the rears are at 80% tread left.

I bet that putting on your lowering springs completely messed up your alignment; i.e. somebody did a hack job putting on the springs. Heh, just reading through this thread reveals more competence than you probably received: adjusting for the lowered ride with toe in/out. If they put your springs on and didn't adjust anything that could be everything to blame (and no Luddite "explanations" required!).

 

[Kamauxx]

Maaay be toe. Rear tires are shot @ 5,300 miles.

Welp, opportunity is knocking and you get to gift yourself with a nice new set of sticky rubber.

 

[Callum]

I'm up in Cobb County.

You are not too far. I'm in Roswell

 

[Callum]

The Luddite in me wants to blame the traction and stability control and electronically monitored suspension software. My inner eye sees the interface cutting "in and out" or "on and off", irregularly, intermittently.

But those tread pics look really bad at less than 6K miles. I have 10K on my AWD Pilot summers, and the fronts look almost new and the rears are at 80% tread left.

I bet that putting on your lowering springs completely messed up your alignment; i.e. somebody did a hack job putting on the springs. Heh, just reading through this thread reveals more competence than you probably received: adjusting for the lowered ride with toe in/out. If they put your springs on and didn't adjust anything that could be everything to blame (and no Luddite "explanations" required!).

Yes, the alignment was done after the springs. The print out shows it was all in the green. I can only assume the machine is not calibrated properly. This was all done at a KIA dealership, by a master tech. I noticed the side to side hope over large cracks in the pavement, but just recently had the issue of instability at highway speeds.

Guess it's time to order up a set of back tires...already

 

[LeoG20]

I've ran R888's, Super Sport Cup II's, etc in high performance sedans without these issues though. That's what makes me think it's the Stinger. The AWD is open diffs, so not related to the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) stepping out. It just feels very unnatural. I might need a second opinion on my alignment TBH.

Just wondering if anybody has had the wiggling/stepping out in the wet when cruising in a straight line.

Yes, I have the same car as you and this has happened to me as well, but only when there is puddles of water on the road. Even small puddles of water get the car to slip a little, but does not make the car bounce around. I honestly think it's the tires, as my wife's car tends to to the same and she has summer tires as well. My Kia Optima with all season tires, does not do this.


EDIT: Seems like me and my wife need new tires lol

 

[TwiceStung]

Wow. Only 5300 miles and tires are shot. Continued best of luck getting this fixed and good replacement tires. I’ve got RWD with winter all weather (Nokian WRG4’s) tires since I noticed that the POS Bridgestones would hydroplane pretty easily in just plain rain.

 

[Callum]

Wow. Only 5300 miles and tires are shot. Continued best of luck getting this fixed and good replacement tires. I’ve got RWD with winter all weather (Nokian WRG4’s) tires since I noticed that the POS Bridgestones would hydroplane pretty easily in just plain rain.

Yep! The fronts are in fantastic shape.

I thought for a second..."I'm sure I can call and complain to consumer affairs and get a set warrantied", at the end of the day I lowered the car, and it's on me...it sucks but it's on me.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I've lowered just about every car I've owned until the Stinger which I probably won't bother lower since it sits low already. My experience is that when you install springs you should drive for a couple weeks to let the springs settle and then get an alignment. If you get an alignment right away it might be all in the green but the moment things settle your camber/toe is out.

Are you sure it's bad toe and not negative camber? Easy way to tell is to run your hand along the worn part of your trend, if it's smooth and only worn on the inside it's from negative camber, if it's lumpy feeling with high and low spots it's probably bad toe.

 

[Callum]

I've lowered just about every car I've owned until the Stinger which I probably won't bother lower since it sits low already. My experience is that when you install springs you should drive for a couple weeks to let the springs settle and then get an alignment. If you get an alignment right away it might be all in the green but the moment things settle your camber/toe is out.

Are you sure it's bad toe and not negative camber? Easy way to tell is to run your hand along the worn part of your trend, if it's smooth and only worn on the inside it's from negative camber, if it's lumpy feeling with high and low spots it's probably bad toe.

The entire tread is smooth, no cupping or feathering. Which is another strange thing in and of itself lol

 

[Jimmer]

Nope, not even a little bit. My car has been a beast in snow and rain. Complete control.

And my lane keep assist isnt all over the place either. Works exactly like it should.

 

[eflyguy]

I have not read all the posts, but from your first post, I wondered if it was LKA. I saw the discussion was going that way so here is my experience:

As you know, I drove mine home overnight from Kia of Muncie (8hrs), and it didn't take long once I hit heavy rain to realize the LKA makes the car feel VERY unsettled in those conditions. I have a feeling it's tied to the AWD active stability system.

I am sensitive to "feel" of the car, especially the feedback from the steering wheel. Not claiming to be a racer but I have taken barber classes and driven both raw/basic performance cars and exotics on race tracks, so I do know a little about how the feel of the car can give you a good indication of how things are going.

I generally don't take the Stinger out in the rain (I have other choices and I prefer not to wash it every time!) but the times I have been out in heavy rain, I've experienced the same feeling.

 

[eflyguy]

OK, with that much wear, you may also be experiencing aquaplaning in heavy rain, especially on smooth asphalt.

 

[Callum]

I have not read all the posts, but from your first post, I wondered if it was LKA (Lane Keep Assist). I saw the discussion was going that way so here is my experience:

As you know, I drove mine home overnight from Kia of Muncie (8hrs), and it didn't take long once I hit heavy rain to realize the LKA (Lane Keep Assist) makes the car feel VERY unsettled in those conditions. I have a feeling it's tied to the AWD active stability system.

The issue is the car jumping/jerking side to side. It's bad enough to make me perk up, and has scared me a few times. It will jerk from side to side so bad that I feel like people can see it behind me.

 

[eflyguy]

Perhaps one of us should follow you running a camera..

Supposed to rain overnight/tomorrow but I'm working.

I actually think the alignment issue, combined with low tread depth, is more likely, after reading the other posts and seeing your pics

 

[eflyguy]

I'm up in Cobb County.

I say Woodstock but technically Marietta - I just say that because Marietta could mean as far west as Alabama! I'm 2 miles from downtown Woodstock..

 

[Callum]

Perhaps one of us should follow you running a camera..

Supposed to rain overnight/tomorrow but I'm working.

I actually think the alignment issue, combined with low tread depth, is more likely, after reading the other posts and seeing your pics

It would be fun to see if it's noticeable. I'm not sure what the actual readings are on the toe, or what the alignment is in reality but it certainly turns in quick and loves to rotate!

I need tires soon now....I'm going to have some fun with these and see if the AWD can do a donut on dry pavement...

 

[robz32]

I need tires soon now....I'm going to have some fun with these and see if the AWD can do a donut on dry pavement...

Sounds like fun. Take a video to see if any of the nannies are intervening.

 

[Callum]

Sounds like fun. Take a video to see if any of the nannies are intervening.

I don't think it will. I tried to kick the rear end out this AM turning into the office. Even with everything turned off they kicked back in. I'm not sure if the car is trying to shift power to the front wheels and it needs to cut power to do so, but it certainly felt like traction or stability kicked in on me even with it off.

Kind of annoying. I want to burn these tires off lol

 

[Doel]

I don't think it will. I tried to kick the rear end out this AM turning into the office. Even with everything turned off they kicked back in. I'm not sure if the car is trying to shift power to the front wheels and it needs to cut power to do so, but it certainly felt like traction or stability kicked in on me even with it off.

Kind of annoying. I want to burn these tires off lol

my rwd does the same. I can get the rear end to kick out on turns no problem, but if I try to do a doughnut it'll cut power. Haven't tried drifting. I know these cars CAN drift, I've seen enough videos, so I'm pretty lost on how the traction control works and when it kicks in even when it's off.

 

[DoctorStiches]

I've got the summer tires and I've taken thing thing over strait ice and snow with them and I've never experienced anything like what's being described. Awd gt1 here so maybe that helps keep the car strait but it could be the ruts on the freeways you drive along with the wheelbase of the car (same as a new camero) it can right the ruts hard if your freeway is garbo.