New Tires Drifting on Grooved Pavement

[anniesartistry]

I just got a set of 4 Goodyear Wrangler H Radials and now I am having a horrible time with my Navi drifting whenever I have to run on Grooved Pavement. The best way to describe it is like being on ice in a 2WD Ranger, w/ bad tires.

I purchased two tires which were installed on the front and didn't have this issue. Then I got 2 more put on the rear, now the Navi feels totally unstable, but only on the grooved pavement. The area where this occurs appears to be Concrete and Grooves run in same direction as the pavement. Anybody know what will help? (Returning the tires is not an option.) I don't run on the interstate often, so I had not noticed this problem.

I think I may be running the tire over inflated for the Navi. They are all inflated to 35 Lbs. (Max listed on tire)

What is the proper inflation for "normal driving" on a 1992 Mazda Navajo not loaded? My door panel does not have that info., apparently the Navi has been repainted.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

maybe check your suspension over?

check for broken sway-bar links worn bushings etc.

the stock spec pressures for the early explorers etc were 26 psi, which is way too low.

I always run 35 to 40 psi in both of mine, never had any problems.

 

[anniesartistry]

maybe check your suspension over?

check for broken sway-bar links worn bushings etc.

the stock spec pressures for the early explorers etc were 26 psi, which is way too low.

I always run 35 to 40 psi in both of mine, never had any problems.

The suspension is all good. Believe me they would have let me know if it wasn't..... The tire store had me all freaked out that my rear breaks were on the verge of failing, which prompted me to take it in for a "safety check" at another tire store, which informed me that they aren't great but aren't on the brink of failing. So suspension definately isn't the problem.

I am going to try lowering pressure a bit, to maybe around 30 psi. Split the difference so to speak. The tires ride a bit "hard" anyway, so maybe that will give them a better ride.

The problem seems to be with the tread pattern on these particular tires. I spoke w/ someone else who's running the same tires on his blazer and he has the same issue with the grooved pavement. Another guy says he is running Continentals on his F250 and has the same issue on grooved pavement around here...... It probably has more to do with the road being paved poorly than the actual tires..... But in the meantime.... I'm going to see if "softening" the tires will help any.

 

[nitro71]

It's not like most roads are grooved.. Just hang on and go for it. As for the rear brakes. Buy a break tool kit at harbor freight, grab some new shoes and get em on. It's a very easy job. I did both mine in under 2 hours and the last time I did rears was over 8 years ago.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

are these Highway Terrain type tires?

 

[IZwack]

GoodYears are usually known for drifting aimlessly - most attribute it to the weaker side walls. I had GoodYears on my last tow rig and it was a little iffy. My new tow rig came with Michellins and they do just fine on grooved roads.

 

[anniesartistry]

Okay the latest... I lowered the pressure, but it did not help. I called Goodyear and they asked me to take it back to the dealer for them to check. The Navi may not really be slipping but it feels SO like it is that it freaked my passenger out when we hit the grooved pavement. Unfortunately, we have lots of grooved pavement out here in the desert as it is the "latest and greatest" to try and prevent hydroplaning and slippery roads from oil when it eventually does rain. Hopefully the dealer will take the Goodyears back and replace them with some thing less "slippy."

 

[Joe Dirt]

Annie, I don't think the tires are the issue. I've had Generals on a 2004 F-150, Yokohama Geolanders on the same truck, Coopers on my Ex, Goodyears, Michelins, and Nitto's on my Taurus SHO and all of them wander on a stretch of highway near home with parallel grooving in the pavement. I think it's a function of the width of the groove cut and the spacing between the groove cut. I know the contractors that laid the road there, and most cars will exhibit some form of wander on parallel grooved pavement, especially if the grooving isn't straight.