Tramlining is gone

[Postal Bob]

OP, maybe your steering settings are set on comfort. A lot more movement in the steering wheel needed, to correct any tramlining. I always have it in sport mode, and feel I have more control. But never had the tramlining feel that bad.

Sponsored

 

[NDALLAS40]

Same size. From Stock tires to the continental ones. Only fronts, havent replaced rears, i was told rears are on back order.

Mine are down to about 2mm tread. I'm going to follow your lead and order the Conti's.

 

[Joe Mac]

Mine are down to about 2mm tread. I'm going to follow your lead and order the Conti's.

I put Nitto 05's on only tire I could get I put 305's all the way around
I love these tires no tramlining track bar helped too

 

[Angrey]

Tramlining is a first world problem. It's a sign of high grip. Each wheel has so much grip that it fights the other side when there are imperfections in the road/track surface.

Whenever you "eliminate it" it's a sign of reduced grip.

Tramlining is almost always/exclusively a symptom of very wide tires as narrower tires don't have enough grip and have more cross sectional flex/give.

Tramlining is the car communicating that one tire is saying "Hey, I'm not budging, you come my way" and the other tire responding "nope, I'm good over here, you give and come my way."

Yes, the result is an annoying darting and jerking motion as the road varies.

But like harsh/stiff ride in track mode (vs soft, cushy cadillac suspension settings), like brake squeal and dust (when using high performance pads), it's just race car life.

Whenever I hear someone say "I swapped to these tires and the tramlining is gone" all I can think of is yeah, at the expense of less grip.

There's a reason the Cup2's suffer from it much more and there's a reason it's usually solved with going to a lesser tire.

Granted, if a little less grip and not having to keep both hands on the wheel like an OCD maniac is a good tradeoff for you, knock it out. Just know that the car bites harder when the tires are gripping so much that they fight each other over grooves and imperfections on the roadway.

 

[Hack]

Tramlining is a first world problem. It's a sign of high grip. Each wheel has so much grip that it fights the other side when there are imperfections in the road/track surface.

Whenever you "eliminate it" it's a sign of reduced grip.

Car reviewers used to call it "numb" steering when you didn't feel any road imperfections through the steering wheel. Now with electric steering almost all cars have numb steering. The GT350 is a notable exception. Tramlining does take some getting used to and you probably shouldn't relax too much when driving at highway speeds or greater.

Yes, Ford engineers could have programmed it out. I'm glad they didn't. I see it as a feature, not a bug.

 

[Postal Bob]

Tramlining does take some getting used to and you probably shouldn't relax too much when driving at highway speeds or greater.

Yes, Ford engineers could have programmed it out. I'm glad they didn't. I see it as a feature, not a bug.

I agree it takes a little getting used too. But I don't find it too much of a problem, except when the tires are cold, and haven't warmed up yet.
But like you said, I see it as a feature in that it lets you feel the road.
I like to use this analogy: You drive the GT350. In other vehicles, they drive you. In other words, you must be in total control of this car, especially if going fast. This car is a racecar. You don't get in it, and sit back, and leisurely drive with one hand loosely on the wheel, while drinking coffee with the other. I can do that in my truck, not being too focused on the road, coffee or food in one hand, sitting all the way back, totally relaxed.
That is the nature of this car. It's a driver's car, and should be approached that way. If you do, it'll leave you feeling exhilerated. Any other attitude, or expectation, it will leave you fustrated.

 

[WildHorse]

I went to a Ford dealership to get an oil change and they told me i needed a wheel alignment.

How does a oil change morph into a wheel alignment ? Did you ask them to check, or did they outta the goodness of their heart put it on the alignment rack, seen it was out, and gave you the printout ?

 

[NDALLAS40]

How does a oil change morph into a wheel alignment ? Did you ask them to check, or did they outta the goodness of their heart put it on the alignment rack, seen it was out, and gave you the printout ?

90% of service writers suggest additional repairs or maintenance whether it's needed or not. The owner and service manager demand it or else. My wife was told she needed a transmission fluid conditioner in her hybrid. It has a CVT.

 

[TonyNJ]

I have a 2016 tech pack GT350 and while i love the car, the amount of tramlining was so annoying. I search it up when i first bought the car and learned there was an issue with these cars. I just changed the tires this weekend to continental extreme sport and the tramlining is completely gone! I couldnt believe what a difference the tires made. Car went from trying to follow every single crack/line on the road to nothing. I’m so surprised how easy it was to get rid of this tramlining issue.

Before I changed the tires, I went to a Ford dealership to get an oil change and they told me i needed a wheel alignment. Now i’m aftaid of getting a wheel alignment, I dont want that tramlining issue to come up again.

Same results here with the Continental Extremes on a PP2. Not as grippy but still plenty for street use. Glad to read you can enjoy your car now.

 

[DansFLHTI]

How does a oil change morph into a wheel alignment ? Did you ask them to check, or did they outta the goodness of their heart put it on the alignment rack, seen it was out, and gave you the printout ?

I took my car in to the dealer for an oil change a couple of weeks ago. When it was done I stepped up to pay and the service writer said they did a complimentary alignment check. I was surprised when she said it was all good,no alignment needed.

 

[galaxy]

I took my car in to the dealer for an oil change a couple of weeks ago. When it was done I stepped up to pay and the service writer said they did a complimentary alignment check. I was surprised when she said it was all good,no alignment needed.

I'm calling BS on that one. No way they took the time to get a car all set up on a rack and numbers checked as a complimentary. No way.

 

[lunatect]

I have a 2016 with the tech package. The front Super Sports corded on the inner edge at 12,000 miles. Had an alignment shop align it and they took out front toe out and some front negative camber. Installed camber bolts to do it. Have got about 8,000 miles on new Super Sports and there is no cording and the tramlining is not nearly as extreme. Fyi: I'm a "retired" club racer and will not track this 350. Seat of the pants feel tells me what I did would slow the car on track, but I don't care since I'm not tracking it.

 

[DansFLHTI]

I'm calling BS on that one. No way they took the time to get a car all set up on a rack and numbers checked as a complimentary. No way.
[/QUOTE
All I can say is they provided me with a printout with my VIN on it and everything was in the green. The local GM dealer checks the alignment in the drive-thru while you are checking in..I dont know how accurate it is..but the Ford dealer has a standard looking alighnment lift. Maybe they were thinking mine was out of alignment due to the look of the asymetrical Pirellis..the outside do look worn.

 

[Joe Mac]

I got 5,500 miles on my sport cup 2's no track days . The fronts were toast.

 

[Battlerob]

OP, maybe your steering settings are set on comfort. A lot more movement in the steering wheel needed, to correct any tramlining. I always have it in sport mode, and feel I have more control. But never had the tramlining feel that bad.

It wasnt the steering settings. Before I bought new tires, i tried every single combination of settings (suspension, steering wheel, sports mode, track mode) I played around with every setting. I mostly drive in sports mode with exhaust open and steering on normal mode. I was just waiting for tires to wear out to get new, different brand tires. The stock michelins got just under 17k before i had to replace. I dont doubt the michelins are way better for track. The amount of grip i lost is probably significant but since i dont track car, i dont care.

Rather have zero tramlining than going all over the place especially on the roads where i live, some are so messed up around here. I daily car since i bought it used last year, got about 12k miles on it since i got it. Only spirited driving and just started taking up to the mountains for some drives.

Sponsored