The official "my Yaris handles bad on the highway/with crosswinds" thread

[arcath]

Im in Nashville.

I thought it might just be the new tires and after couple hundred miles, it might even out. Just got the car on monday, brand new. right now, im sitting at 120ish miles.

This actually has me scared to drive on the interstate now. Your right though, Im not used to driving this yet.

I have been reading though, everything is stock, so im going to add a bit of air in the tires tonight before I leave.

[arcath]

I am very happy with my manual Sedan. :)

well, cept for driving on the interstate.

But Im hoping that inflating to what the sidewall suggests will fix that.

[blacksan]

Originally Posted by arcath

I am very happy with my manual Sedan. :)

well, cept for driving on the interstate.

But Im hoping that inflating to what the sidewall suggests will fix that.

I think that you will find the max sidewall inflation different then what the manual calls for. Does your sidewall inflation say 44 PSI max?

[arcath]

Originally Posted by blacksan

I think that you will find the max sidewall inflation different then what the manual calls for. Does your sidewall inflation say 44 PSI max?

I am at work and I cant check it for another hour.

But I'm heading to the nearest gas station after work and inflating to max sidewall pressure.

Ninja Edit:

Originally Posted by deebrown

well, the main reason i started this thread was to see if the max tire pressure would improve the stability of my yaris sedan on the highway. I just tried 40 psi (the sidewall of the tire says max is 40) and I noticed a BIG difference in stability at 75 mph...I am beginning to think that the main culprit in the yaris' poor highway stability is the very narrow wheelbase and that this can be compensated for by a strong/max sidewall on the tires - i think i am going to try 44 psi given that the max pressure found at the below link says 44:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...l=Potenza+RE92

So im guessing 40.....

[blacksan]

Originally Posted by arcath

I am at work and I cant check it for another hour.

But I'm heading to the nearest gas station after work and inflating to max sidewall pressure.

Ninja Edit:



So im guessing 40.....

Yikes, way to much (IMO). I would stick with 32 PSI cold unless you are loaded down.

[arcath]

why?

I was under the impression that 32 was stock. Hence my problem.

[blacksan]

Originally Posted by arcath

why?

I was under the impression that 32 was stock. Hence my problem.

If you over inflate without the factor of heavy load then you cause the tire to assume a more rounded, or U shaped profile. This causes less of a contact patch/profile in relationship to tire on the road surface. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination so try to imagine the difference between this ) (over inflation) and this ] (correct inflation) in relation ship to contact patch with road surface. Which would you consider more stable?

[grampi]

Originally Posted by blacksan

If you over inflate without the factor of heavy load then you cause the tire to assume a more rounded, or U shaped profile. This causes less of a contact patch/profile in relationship to tire on the road surface. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination so try to imagine the difference between this ) (over inflation) and this ] (correct inflation) in relation ship to contact patch with road surface. Which would you consider more stable?

Not true. As long as you stay under the max pressure listed on the sidewall, you'll suffer no ill-effects (with the exception of a stiffer ride, of course). Tires are made to hold their shape up to the max pressure regardless of vehicle weight. According to every tire expert I've talked to, running with the pressure listed on the driver's door plus 5 PSI is optimum for traction, handling, max tread life, and lowest road noise. The only benefit to running right at the recommended pressure is a smoother ride, but then everything else suffers.

[blacksan]

Originally Posted by grampi

Not true. As long as you stay under the max pressure listed on the sidewall, you'll suffer no ill-effects (with the exception of a stiffer ride, of course). Tires are made to hold their shape up to the max pressure regardless of vehicle weight. According to every tire expert I've talked to, running with the pressure listed on the driver's door plus 5 PSI is optimum for traction, handling, max tread life, and lowest road noise. The only benefit to running right at the recommended pressure is a smoother ride, but then everything else suffers.

http://www.thedieselstop.com/content...re%20Inflation

[nsmitchell]

Originally Posted by blacksan

http://www.thedieselstop.com/contents/getitems.php3?Proper%20Tire%20Inflation

Great article!

[deebrown]

Originally Posted by blacksan

http://www.thedieselstop.com/content...re%20Inflation

no offense, but "the diesel stop" website looks pretty cheesy - like it was put together by some guy with Frontpage in his basement. Plus, and more importantly, the person who wrote the article doesn't list outside sources or detailed studies - seems like he's pretty much just giving his opinion...

[deebrown]

Originally Posted by arcath

why?

I was under the impression that 32 was stock. Hence my problem.

My sedan tires do say 40 psi max but i found a link on the tire manufactures website that said 44 psi - i have since (for the last 6 weeks/2000 miles) been at 44 psi - I would say the improvement has been about 50%. I have looked at other message boards (including ones for the prius - which comes with the 185's on them as well) and it seems that upgrading to 195's makes a big difference (not sure if that's really true or not)...apparently, corrolla's also have this problem as well. i'm going to keep my current tires (like you, strapped for cash) until late November and then upgrade to 195's - as the 160 tread on those stock tires doesn't cut it in the wisconsin winters...

[arcath]

Yes, but the general consensus is inflating to the stock tires max sidewall pressure, whats printed on the side, is a good thing.

im not talking bout over inflating to 50-60psi.

In all honesty, the interstate driving is killing me, and I cant spend any money really to fix the problems with new tires or tweaking the suspension.

This just seems like a good no cost solution.

[blacksan]

Originally Posted by arcath

Yes, but the general consensus is inflating to the stock tires max sidewall pressure, whats printed on the side, is a good thing.

im not talking bout over inflating to 50-60psi.

In all honesty, the interstate driving is killing me, and I cant spend any money really to fix the problems with new tires or tweaking the suspension.

This just seems like a good no cost solution.

I really feel you just need a few more miles to get the feel for your car. I also had the sensation you described for the first few tanks full of fuel. How many miles have you driven this vehicle?

BTW, I also commute interstate to my job where I drive a company vehicle.

[arcath]

Okie a update, I checked, max PSI for the tire is 44, and when i checked at the gas station 1/2 mile from work all four tires are at 48-50psi.

Originally Posted by blacksan

I really feel you just need a few more miles to get the feel for your car. I also had the sensation you described for the first few tanks full of fuel. How many miles have you driven this vehicle?

BTW, I also commute interstate to my job where I drive a company vehicle.

i got about 140 miles on the car so far this week. Picked her up monday morning.

Originally Posted by Mead

"has me scared to drive on the interstate now"

"60-80mph the car is ALL OVER the road. almost uncontrollable"

"barely made it home from the dealer"

"the interstate driving is killing me"



C'mon, if the Yaris is such a liability, the DOT would never legalize it, hwy fatalities would be all over the news, Toyota stock would plummet on the bad press...

There is nothing wrong with this car and NO you don't have to TRD it to make it track straight. Did you guys come from a Lexus LS or Bentley? making the Yaris so hard to get used to? Sure the Yaris is buzzy but it's damn smooth for a sub 2300lb car. Short wheel base? same as the Fit.

I also have a Jeep wrangler with 93" wheelbase and high CG, I've passed semis doing 85mph in Texas crosswinds Quite frankly y'all don't know how good you have it.

ON a serious note, if you're really scared to drive the Yaris on the hwy you need a new car. Dont' mess with tire pressure or feel you have to lower it 2" to feel stable. Get a 3300 lb Camry with 110 in wheel base

Yeah, I have no problem with the car what so ever going under 60mph. Its a great car.

But since I am carrying a 2 year old in the back seat, the car should not feel like im driving drunk if I take the interstate. Say what you will about me, i dont care too much.

I have driven a 86 626, suburu loyale, taurus, f150, small japanese box cars when i was there, and a ranger. Small cars, big cars, none of them have handled like this at interstate speeds before for me.

Sorry if I'm a bit concerned for the safety of my family.

[foober]

My yaris seems to hit a sweet spot when it hits 80 and drives as smooth as silk. Don't know why you'd be having problems. Sometimes when the wind picks up over 20 miles an hour I can feel a pull.

Mines a stock yaris hatchback. My tires are at 36psi.

[Mead]

Originally Posted by arcath

Okie a update, I checked, max PSI for the tire is 44, and when i checked at the gas station 1/2 mile from work all four tires are at 48-50psi.

i got about 140 miles on the car so far this week. Picked her up monday morning.

Yeah, I have no problem with the car what so ever going under 60mph. Its a great car.

But since I am carrying a 2 year old in the back seat, the car should not feel like im driving drunk if I take the interstate. Say what you will about me, i dont care too much.

I have driven a 86 626, suburu loyale, taurus, f150, small japanese box cars when i was there, and a ranger. Small cars, big cars, none of them have handled like this at interstate speeds before for me.

Sorry if I'm a bit concerned for the safety of my family.

Hey no sweat, I'm not attacking anyone sorry for the misunderstanding... however bumping up beyond the recommended or even hitting max tire pressure is unsafe. It reduces contact patch and it'll be more dicey on the hwy, your stopping distance also suffers. Sorry againg for the misunderstanding.

[arcath]

Originally Posted by Mead

Hey no sweat, I'm not attacking anyone sorry for the misunderstanding... however bumping up beyond the recommended or even hitting max tire pressure is unsafe. It reduces contact patch and it'll be more dicey on the hwy, your stopping distance also suffers. Sorry againg for the misunderstanding.

thats the thing. I didnt do it. It came stock from the dealership this way.

I was actually surprised when I checked and it was over the max.

::shrugs::