048s and steering vibration

General General Lotus Talk
1

I was talking to someone knowledgeable about 048s last week and they were surprised by my comment about what I perceive to be a common problem of steering vibration at around 85mph. I had it (to some extent) with every set on my previous car (a VXR) and subsequently on my Exige, although the current set seem fine for once. A friend who races an NSU on 048s gets it too.

If you’ve encountered this could you add a comment here as I’d like to guage opinion as to whether it’s as common a problem as I believe.

2

Yes, but if you find somewhere that actually knows how to balance wheels correctly you can get rid of it.

Most general tyre fitters cant do it …

Also its not uncommon in my experience that you need them re-balanced after a few hundred miles.

3

Yep - after a few heat cycles, I’ve experienced terrible vibrations at around 85mph. Balancing the wheels only briefly cured it.In desperation, I ended up changing the wheel bearings, & track rod ends - but the problem continued!

Changing to Toyo 888s worked - for me anyway.

PS I’ve been using 48s since 2002, & probably got through 10 sets. It was around 2006 that the problem started, & in 2007 I switched to the Toyos.

4

I’m backing Rob again here my first ever post was due to the wobble…balancing never quite got rid, got better but always got worse. Switched to R888’s and gone-nothing-naught-zero wobble not a thing! Grips as good, maybe better IMHO and they’re lasting well. Three full track days, a little road fun and I’ve just passed my MOT! Oh and the wobble was bl00dy harsh I mean a real distraction!

5

So lots of thumbs up for the 888 then?

6

Me too - 85mph on the dot and it all starts shaking - PITA!

Tried messing around with the pressures but it doesn’t make any difference?

I also get a loud humming from 30mph up to around 50mph, which the dealer said (after checking bearings) was tyre noise - had the rears swapped and it is still there, so if after changing the fronts it remains, I may have to consider the Toyo route, if only to possibly eliminate this noise?

7

I had it big time then had a Geo. Result, well it moved the wobble from 80mph to 85mph.

Definitely R888 for me next time.

8

Changed to Toyo T1-R
85 mph shake problem gone away

9

Changed to Toyo T1-R
85 mph shake problem gone away

Same for me. Will be getting 888s soon though.

10

Same here. I’ve always had a problem with them on my S2. Strangely, I don’t remember having any problem with them on my S1.

To be fair I haven’t really tried to address the problem, or tried other tyres so I can’t be 100% sure where my problem lies. (Though I’m happy to accept the majority opinion here )