I just wanted to see what WE as a community come up with on the issue of the squirmyness the smart cars have at highway speeds.
I feel that its not just a size issue or a tire size issue, I ussed to experiense a similar issue driving a 90s jetta that obviously was much heavier.
Has anybody tackled the problem and found a solution worth mentioning?
I feel that its not just a size issue or a tire size issue, I ussed to experiense a similar issue driving a 90s jetta that obviously was much heavier.
Has anybody tackled the problem and found a solution worth mentioning?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on -
why solve the problem? you can only carry 500 pounds, that will eat into your gas milage a bit, put it this way... it'll keep you on your toes and not lull you to sleep on the highway. with low winds, my smart is quite stable at 70mph (i try to keep it at 60... it likes to go faster!) as our european friend says.. TEMPOMAT! !TEMPOMAT!!! i'm sure they're working on it, they want to sell units as much as we want to buy them.
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No, its not a noise issue. I think the smart is rather quiet at speed, other than the hum of the engine and exhaust (nice!) I'm talking about the smart moving side to side. my wife says it makes her nervous. I play it off but shes kind of right...
If I drove 60 here, I would not last long before I had unwanted pasangers in the boot of the car!. anyways I feel that while driving slowly maximises mph it also sais alot about the cars as people will start relating the smart with cute but SLOW funky cars in the slow lane. I pass every hummer/tahoe/escalade I can, and look at the drivers with a grin.. Oh they dont like that!
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I've been thinking about that myself... the wind is one thing, but it dooes seem to be a bit squirmy at 65 - 75 mph on a non-windy day. I'll be driving from Cleveland OH to Washington DC tomorrow, I hope it doesn't get to be too bothersome.
I know on some grooved pavement it's more noticeable and on a bridge grate, it's really bad... tires maybe?
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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on
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i think up-sizing the tires would stabilize the car 155/175 tires have little grip and the sport/lowering springs would help as well, i'm sure. i had skinny 155/80-13 tires on my metro, went to 195/50-15's that doubled the rubber on the road and made it more stable. my smart loves to go fast, i try to keep it at 60mph, and if i take my eyes off the speedo, i end up going 70 in not much time!
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I have the 145/12s on my '91 Metro, never had any problems, even at 80 mph.
The Continentals on my MINI always seemed to be a bit weird at times... they are the ContiContact Touring. I've had a few wear out with funny patterns (yes, it was aligned right).
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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on
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you can throw 195/50-15 on the rear, for fronts, you'll need wider wheels, the 4.5" wheels limit what you can throw on the fronts, but 195/50-15's all around would more than double the rubber on the road with a smart, i'm sure if you put some rear wheels on the front and went with 195/50-15's, your ride would be more firm and directional, a metro is the same weight as a smart 1800 lbs, but a bit shorter in length. funny thing is a mini is 1000 pounds more that a metro/smart. when my rears wear out, i'm putting 195/50-15's on the rears, most likely yokahama avids.
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Everyone sure their tire pressures are correct? Day one was interesting. Day two to day about 55 now and all is well at anything considered normal speed. Realize a wider tire will just add unsprung weight, which is actually something to consider on this car; and more friction. Probably only 1 mpg worth, but I'm sure still measurable.
Consider also, the bazillion Rabbit's that had 155-13 tires. My old '78 Scirocco 30 years ago had 175/70-13's. High performance!
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I'll be checking mine in the morning anyway, before I leave. I'm good about the tire pressures. :)
I've only put about 700 miles on the smart. After 6 years, 130,000 miles, and 3 sets of stock Continentals on the MINI, I wonder if it is the tires. I never had Continentals before these two cars, and never noticed anything like this.
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went to the dealer today and talked to them about it. they checked psi and it was dead on.. so I'll be making a toe check on the allignment to see if its too agressive. I'll post the findings.
has anyone solved it with wider wheels in front? what would be the down side of meatier frfronts. I know they would look realy good..humm...
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Those smarties in the UK have been playing with vortex generators. They report that the "squirmyness" is solved using them. I can neither confirm nor deny since I don't have my smart yet. OH, if I only had a smart.
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I just feel the squirmyness when the wind is blowing. It would also be helpful to know how power steering or lack of effects the problem. I have power steering on my smart.
I am also interested in knowing if putting the 175's from the rear on the front and buying 195's for the rear would help. BTW, the smart fortwo Pulse in the UK comes with 175's on the front and 195's on the rear.
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It's the aerodynamics. But if you think it's the tires, I'll trade my rear set (wheels and tires) for 3 fronts. 2500 mi on my rubber. Meet you half way to swap if you're in California.
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