Coming to work this morning in the rain, car felt a bit twitchy in the corners, like it was going to oversteer, going into a roundabout it did, with a full turn of opposite lock managed to recover. Didn't feel I was going to fast, checked the tyres when I got to work and all was well. Does anybody else's Croma do that? Don't like getting the heart rate up to high in the morning.

Sounds like something could be wrong with your ASR system. This is a system which helps in corners by braking appropriate wheels to keep you on the black stuff. I take it nothing feels mechanically wrong?

Have you had any work done recently where the wring could have been put back on incorrectly? It souns as if the ASR thinks left is right and vice-versa.

You've checked the tyres - the tread or the pressure? The Croma needs pretty high pressure in its tyres, so I do keep an eye on mine more regularly than I've needed to for previous cars.

Also check the back springs - mine was saggy at the back. Then when I got an oil change, they showed me that the bottoms had snapped off the springs. They stayed in place, but obviously they were sloppy with a coil or two missing off the bottom.

Also check you have the XL-rated tyres if your wheel size requires them (see manual). I know mine, with 18" wheels needs them, but the previous owner fitted the cheaper non-XL tyres which were like driving on jelly.

It could be as simple as the road conditions though - if you've had a long dry spell then some rain it can be quite "greasy" underfoot.

Is your boot full of bricks? Actually, no weight on the back wheels can be worse. The handling on mine improved when I swapped the space-saver for a nice heavy full-size 18" spare.

For the record, mine feels very solid on the road. Being tail-happy is not a normal Croma trait.

Doofer said:

Being tail-happy is not a normal Croma trait.

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Exactly! This chassis is known to suffer extremely from under-steering.
What make are your tyres. Cheepo chinese ones are known to be dangerous in the wet, no matter what anyone might say.

Incorrect rear wheel alignment can also cause this, but tyres are favourite. Even electronic systems have limits...

Newer tyres on the front than the back can result in this behaviour. I had my Bravo 90 degrees to direction of travel due to swapping the wheels front/rear just prior to getting the worn ones replaced.

Think your right, the car has Maxxis MA-Z1's on the front which look nearly new and Infinity INF05 on the back which look about half worn. Swapping them round this morning, will let you know if it works, sure it will. I'm also going to get the alignment done next week. Towing the caravan with it for the first time later, will post a thread for any prospective caravanners next week. Still really happy with the car, a work mate was impressed enough to swap his Bravo for one yesterday

fishmick said:

Still really happy with the car, a work mate was impressed enough to swap his Bravo for one yesterday

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A new Bravo? uh oh!

Always keep your best tyres on the back in a FWD. You have no control over the rear axle (except the handbrake) so you need to do all you can to make it follow the front! Front wheels you can turn, power and even the foot brake works most on them so it's not as important to keep the grip there.

Understeer creeps up on you, and easing off tends to get rid. Oversteer as you have found out is sudden, and requires heroics! :devil:

The fronts should wear more quickly than the rears.

When the fronts get worn out, new tyres onto the back, old back tyres onto the front. Repeat for ever.

However, a car with 50% worn rears and new fronts should be no more likely to slip than one with 50% all round. The guideline about having newer rears is about ensuring that it slips safely IF it slips (i.e. it understeers, not oversteers).

I don't think you've fixed your problem. If you're not driving like a nutter then there's still something wrong with the car.

Just found a nice sum-up on those INFINITY INF05 tyres on another forum:

quote:
Yeah .. there's a reason they are cheap.
To infinity and beyoooooond. Hard as granite so will last for ever, long after you've spun off into a tree at 20 mph the first time there's a bit of drizzle in the next town.




There was another thread on chinese tyres in croma forum.
I guess people will learn when someone gets hurt, but I would not wish that even to my worst enemy. I know that everybody is looking for savings now and buys cheap. But just think what will you do with the money you saved on tyres when someone gets hurt.
If I had an adventure like you those tyres would be in the skip 20 minutes later. Croma clever electronics can deal with VERY bad conditions if it has the right tools to do the job.

You now know that those tyres have got bad grip and you will put those tyres on the front where the most braking force is applied - brake EARLY then, and pray that nobody's child will jump out in front of you.

Thats it from me, have a nice day.

fishmick said:

... the car has Maxxis MA-Z1's on the front which look nearly new and Infinity INF05 on the back which look about half worn ...

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Infinity ... a.k.a. LingLong

.

I agree. Tyres >> skip sounds like a good plan.

Let us know how you go on.

Swapping tyres round did the trick, now have good old understeer. I will consign the Infinity's to the bin as soon as funds allow and put some Maxxis on.