Sensitive steering at highway speeds

[Silverghost]

Hi Members,
I just had my winter tires on rims put on my 2018 stinger. The steering sensitivity on the highway surprised me. It was so much more sensitive than I was used to or expected. I checked the air pressure and those were fine. These winter tires were exactly the same ones that came off at the end of last winter.
I did not have an alignment done. I presumed they would be fine since I stored them where they were undisturbed. I am planning to go back tomorrow and get them retorqued but also to address this issue. I would appreciate any of your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.

 

[MerlintheMad]

"Sensitive" as in the slightest movement of the steering wheel changes the direction? Or the steering feels too light? I prefer the Sport steering which is somewhat heavy: and the first thing I noticed driving a Stinger is that there is zero play in the steering wheel, the slightest pressure left or right starts the car moving left or right.

 

[7Andrei7]

.. and the first thing I noticed driving a Stinger is that there is zero play in the steering wheel, the slightest pressure left or right starts the car moving left or right.

Which is exactly why even the slightest out of round tire or unbalanced wheel or misalignment will be instantly felt. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it

 

[vipeboy2000]

Hi Members,
I just had my winter tires on rims put on my 2018 stinger. The steering sensitivity on the highway surprised me. It was so much more sensitive than I was used to or expected. I checked the air pressure and those were fine. These winter tires were exactly the same ones that came off at the end of last winter.
I did not have an alignment done. I presumed they would be fine since I stored them where they were undisturbed. I am planning to go back tomorrow and get them retorqued but also to address this issue. I would appreciate any of your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.

it could just be muscle memory? how wide are the winters vs your summers? going from a wide sticky tire to a narrow snow tire would feel much more sensitive in the sense there is much less friction/weight . I noticed how much heaver/less sensitive the steering in our e39 was going from 225mm front to a 245 mm.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

it could just be muscle memory? how wide are the winters vs your summers? going from a wide sticky tire to a narrow snow tire would feel much more sensitive in the sense there is much less friction/weight . I noticed how much heaver/less sensitive the steering in our e39 was going from 225mm front to a 245 mm.

I too am going through this right now. Going from 255s in the front to 225s.... I have to use custom mode to have the steering in sport now.

 

[JSolo]

What psi are the tires at?

 

[n8hegr8]

What psi are the tires at?

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

What psi are the tires at?

36 square just like the door card says.

 

[Silverghost]

OP answers to members' questions and thoughts:
Summer tires are on 20" rims
Front: 245/35/20
Rear: 275/30/20

Winter tires are on 18" rims
Front and Rear: 225/45/18
PSI front: 36
PSI rear: 38

What do you think causes the extra sensitive nature of the steering?
By sensitive, I mean a very slight turn of the steering wheel generates an immediate corresponding change in direction. At slow speeds, that does not worry me. But at highway speeds, that immediate change in direction seems to be exaggerated compared to the steering wheel input. It seems brutal - at highway speeds.
Is it a case of getting used to different tires/size or should I get an alignment done?

 

[Rodtheviking]

How old are the tires? Production date age not how long you have personally had them. Possibly the rubber has hardened?

 

[JSolo]

This makes no sense.. I would completely expect the summer combo above to be more sensitive than the winter package. I'd check tire pressures with a different gauge.

 

[Silverghost]

Manufacture dates are:
Rears now on front: 1918
NEW Fronts on rear: 2220

Why new fronts?
I hit a pothole early last year, and decided to buy 2 new ones (different brand and pattern) for the front.

Technician reckons the mismatch of tire wear and tread pattern front to back is the reason.

Car is showing psi as 38 on front and 40 on rear. I will get that changed to 36 and 38 respectively.

I told technician I am not buying 2 new tires to match and that he should leave the older ones in the front. If I get to hit another pothole, then I can buy the 2 new matching tires.

In the meantime, I will learn to drive according to my car's steering characteristics. It will be winter. Not racing season anyway

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Just a thought apart from everything else mentioned, you don’t have lane keeping assist activated.

 

[vipeboy2000]

yes, the tire differences won't change the amount of input needed to turn the wheels a certain amount, what it can change is the width/weight of the tire/wheel package that makes the wheel "ligher" requiring less Force to turn i guess which would feel like it is twitchier or more sensitive.
Without driving it for ourselves, we can't judge by what you say is different than it should be... This car has pretty much 0 dead zone in the middle so the smallest movement translates very well to turn in.. Which is one of the top things i love about the steering myself... I can understand if it is so touchy that it can be alarming.

However, like i said, the tires won't change the actual degree turn required to move the wheel.. just the weight/force needed to turn the wheel..
What tire pressures are the winter tires set at? and yes, if there is some toe out on the front it can feel very darty which would be exaggerated with narrower lighter wheel/tires vs the summer setup so not a bad idea to get an alignment check.

 

[Silverghost]

@Stinger GT SS - I have the base AWD 3.3 model which does not have those add-ons like lane keep assist etc.

@vipeboy - I like the adjectives you used "twitchier" and "darty". They seem more descriptive.

I will keep an eye on my tire pressures in the mornings and try and fine tune the readings.

I will also contemplate an alignment. Wouldn't be a bad idea given all the potholes that I come across - everywhere.

Thanks forum members for your considered inputs. Happy driving.

 

[7Andrei7]

Having different brands and thread/compound style front to rear can ABSOLUTELY cause strange behaviour in your steering.
I've had the same problem 2 years ago matching 2 Continental ContiSportcontact 5 on the front with 2 Nokian Powerproof on the rear. Both premium UHP summer in theory. The car was basically undrivable after 60mph. Very "darty" and "twitchy". It was scary at times.
I bought 2 new Nokian tires for the front and everything was magically back to normal.
Read more about my experience here: Can rear tires affect steering feel?

 

[NS_Stinger]

Mine feels the same way when I switch from my Michelin PS4S oem staggered wheels to my 18x8 square winter setup with 225 45r winters. Felt it tonight when driving for the first time with them this season and I remember it from prior years. I chaulk it up to the wheels being so much lighter, the steering is lighter as a result and the car almost feels twitchy when turning the wheel until I get used to it.