[iqraceworks]

A few weeks ago I dropped my rear subframe in my 07' 335i and did solid poly subframe bushings, installed the M3 rear control arms from FCP, and put on a new rear set of Firehawk Indy 500 tires (replaced the worn out Michelin PSS that were on the car).

The car drives and handles great now, and the "Waggle" from the rear under hard acceleration is gone.

I do have a new issue now though......when I'm on the highway, it seems like the car wants to walk around a little bit....following the grooves in the road. It goes nice and straight if I let off the wheel, but it just feels like you are constantly having to make small little corrections.....its almost feels like you are driving in heavy wind. It didn't do this with the old tires, worn out bushings, and oem control arms.

I didn't get an alignment done after I installed the rear arms, but they shouldn't have changed anything....right?

The Firehawk 500 tires have some pretty good groves in the tread, so I'm wondering if this might be the problem?

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[freakystyly]

I'm running the same tires on my summers and experienced the same thing. I do remember a slight tram-lining at highway speed but went away as the tires broke in after a couple hundred miles. If it isn't temperature or alignment related I would just give it some time to break in.

I'm no expert but strongly believe an alignment should be done when replacing those suspension parts.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

I'm running the same tires on my summers and experienced the same thing. I do remember a slight tram-lining at highway speed but went away as the tires broke in after a couple hundred miles. If it isn't temperature or alignment related I would just give it some time to break in.

I'm no expert but strongly believe an alignment should be done when replacing those suspension parts.

Thanks for the info!

If those were the arms that affected toe or camber...then yes, I would get it aligned. Bot those arms "shouldn't" affect anything regarding alignment.

I guess at this point, I'll just put some more miles on the car and see what happens.

[6Inarowmakesitgo!]

I have these tires and it took almost 1000 miles for them to stop the tramline effect while driving.

Also, they flatspot overnight when parked. I raised the pressure to 38 psi and they dont do it anymore.

[Tambohamilton]

Check alignment first, then worry about other things. Chances are it's changed a bit, between the new M3 arms, and the worn non-M arms.

[213e90n51]

Hows the indy 500s and what made you get them? How are they compred to your pilot super sports? I wanted to get thae last year but got all seasons instead.

[freakystyly]

Indy 500s are cheap here, about 1/2 price or less than the PSS. I'd say unless you're constantly tracking the car you wont notice a huge difference in dry traction. The wet traction actually isn't as bad as the tread pattern would make you think it is, but not great either.

I'm in the summer / winter > all seasons camp because I live in a snowy area, I'll never buy all seasons anymore as long as I live here. If I lived in the south or somewhere that doesn't get below 0C or 32F I wouldn't bother with all seasons either.

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Indy 500s are cheap here, about 1/2 price or less than the PSS. I'd say unless you're constantly tracking the car you wont notice a huge difference in dry traction. The wet traction actually isn't as bad as the tread pattern would make you think it is, but not great either.

I'm in the summer / winter > all seasons camp because I live in a snowy area, I'll never buy all seasons anymore as long as I live here. If I lived in the south or somewhere that doesn't get below 0C or 32F I wouldn't bother with all seasons either.

Im in Los Angeles and were I live its always sunny and above 60f majority of the year. I want to know if the indy 500 has alot of road noise more than the PSS and does it feel the same everyday when ur doing high g turns!

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

Hows the indy 500s and what made you get them? How are they compred to your pilot super sports? I wanted to get thae last year but got all seasons instead.

The PSS's I had on the rear were pretty worn when I got the car....so I don't know if I can give a good review on them vs the Indy 500's. I will say that the 500's seem to hook up much better than the PSS's when doing hard launches from a stand still, but some of that could be from the fact that I installed solid subframe bushings at the same time I put the new rear tires on.

Aside from the loose feeling on the highway (which seems to get less and less the more I drive the car), I really like them. I think on the set, I saved several hundred dollars vs the PSS's.

It's good to hear that those tires tent to track around on the road when they are new....I'm not so paranoid about it now. I still need to get the alignment checked though.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

Im in Los Angeles and were I live its always sunny and above 60f majority of the year. I want to know if the indy 500 has alot of road noise more than the PSS and does it feel the same everyday when ur doing high g turns!

The new Indy 500's are much quieter than the worn PSS's I had.....if that helps you out at all.

[lowrydr310]

I'm not familiar with those tires, but it seems from the comments that they need some time to break in.

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

I didn't get an alignment done after I installed the rear arms, but they shouldn't have changed anything....right?

Get the alignment done, it's needed and you won't regret it. I replaced my suspension a few months ago ago but had been putting off getting an alignment until the old tires wore out. Well they finally wore and it was time for an alignment which I had done last week. I don't have the exact specs off the top of my head, but the rear was so messed up with excessive negative camber and toe out. The alignment made a huge improvement in handling and feel of the car.

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

The PSS's I had on the rear were pretty worn when I got the car....so I don't know if I can give a good review on them vs the Indy 500's. I will say that the 500's seem to hook up much better than the PSS's when doing hard launches from a stand still, but some of that could be from the fact that I installed solid subframe bushings at the same time I put the new rear tires on.

Aside from the loose feeling on the highway (which seems to get less and less the more I drive the car), I really like them. I think on the set, I saved several hundred dollars vs the PSS's.

It's good to hear that those tires tent to track around on the road when they are new....I'm not so paranoid about it now. I still need to get the alignment checked though.

Hows the solid subframe bushings? and any nvh or annoyance in the cabin or ride harshness? I have a 2009 328i

[iqraceworks]

***UPDATE***

Well, after putting some miles on those new Indy 500 tires on the rear.....it's finally starting to feel back to normal again. I guess it was just the new tires needing to be broken in.

I'm still going to have the alignment checked...but at this point, everything feels great.