So about a week ago I blew a rear driver tire (EOM Bridgestones). I put the spare on and got new tires the next day. My brother in law is a GM at Discount tire so he set me up with new Nitto's for the rear only. He said they were good tires. When I drove the car home it felt a little funny, but I only drove the car about 3 miles, so I didn't think much of it.

I went out of town for a week and when I got back I drove from Dallas to Austin and started to notice a big difference in how the car felt. The car sways much more now. I specifically notice it when I hit bumps on the highway or when I steer side to side a couple of time (just playing with the feel). There is enough of a sway that it scared me a couple of times on the highway when a big truck was next to me.
Once I got to Austin I took the car to Infiniti to have them see if anything came loose in the suspension. The guy drove my car around with me for about 10 minutes and said it just felt like my alignment was off. But he never looked under the car to see if anything was actually broken/loose and that short drive wasn't really enough to feel how bad it was sometimes.

So I can't decide if I should take it back to a dealership in Dallas and have them look at it, or if these new tires (with taller tread) just sway more. The sway is bad enough that I would want to change the tires already. I have a second car that I have driven to work the last couple of days. So I don't have to do something today..

So, whats going on/what should I do?

1. There is likely something broke/loose in my suspension?
2. My alignment is pretty off (due to blown tire and new tires)
3. These tires just feel like that


Any help would be great!


(pics and more info below...)

 

Could you be more specific on the tire models that you replaced?

Ie Bridgestone Potenza RE050A with Nitto 555R?

 

When you had that blow out did you end up jarring the wheel or any serious impact that could have jacked w/ the toe/camber bolts? If the tire blew and you just came to a slow stop w/out any serious contact I doubt the alignment would be the culprit. Like Lego said, need more tire info, and did you replace them w/ the exact same size? It sounds like you went to a tire w/ a taller &/or softer sidewall, or they put on all seasons and your fronts are summer tires (I sure hope that last one isn't the case).

 

Two issues going on, mixing models/brands of tires and full tread depth new tires on the rear. New tires will move around quite a bit more since they are at full tread depth. More they wear the better handling you'll have. The two different brands/models of tire can cause handling issues as well. Difference in compound, construction, tread design, etc will amplify that. Best to get a full set that match all around.

 

I was in the center lane of a highway going about 55mph, when it blew. At first I thought I ran over something, but then the car steering was all sloppy and I knew I had a flat. No major jarring except when it first blew, I didn't hit anything large, probably some debris/nails/screws or something.

I pulled over to the right lane and just happened to be at an exit. Took the exit and pulled to the side of the service road and then changed to the spare.

The new tires are Nitto motivo UHP all season. 245 /40 R19 98Y XL BSW

Here if you select 11 G37 sport rear, they come up.

http://www.nittotire.com/passenger-t...formance-tire/












Also a side question, why is my spare rim black?

 

I think part of the issue is you replaced a high performance summer tire that has a stiff sidewall with an all season tire that isnt stiff or as performance oriented.

As Neal said, there is a break in period on tires, but IDK if thats going to help the swaying. My PSS seemed slick until they were broke in.

I assume you've checked and they're inflated properly?

 

They are at 34 and 35 cold. Factory says 35, Nitto says 37. Ill bump them up a couple PSI.

 

Was there a reason your Brother in law recommended mixing all seasons w/ summer tires? This is a significant change that will result in what you're experiencing and like Neal & Lego mentioned the new tires w/ slicker & thicker tread also plays a part in the unsettled feeling you're getting.

I'd either take the hit in performance and get a matching front set or see if your bro in law can do what should have been done initially and get you two similar summer tires in back (and match the fronts up when they need to be replaced). If you're going to have a mismatched set you should at least have tires in the same category/class.
G/L w/ this

 

So yesterday I went and traded out the back tires for some michelin super sport tires and there is basically a night and day difference. They feel much better.

 

Not sure if you're getting a real impression of the tire only having a pair... This thread confuses me, lol.

 

Glad you're back on track w/ summer tires all around, should really come together when those fronts are ready to be replaced

 

Yes, I only replaced the rear 2 tires. My tires did not need replacement yet, but I had a blow out and had to get new tires. I will get new front tires in the coming weeks, also remember front tires last longer than back tires.

I was so concerned because there was a big, obvious difference in feel when I got the new nitto motivo tires. At first I thought something might be loose in my rear suspension.

Now with the Michelin super sports, everything feels like it should.