I picked up an MY00 wagon about 2 weeks ago. Had a nice test drive along some B roads in the dry and having only driven an Impreza a few times the handling (compared to my Audi anyway) seemed secure http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

It has been peeing down with rain here for the last few days and when pushing slightly round a damp roundabout it feels as though the car is sliding. I would say that my old 1999 A4 quattro had more grip http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif I am v. surprised at this as everything I have read here on Scoobynet suggests that the Scooby should be more secure in the wet.

I have repeated this on a few different corners so it's not just one specific roundabout.

I checked the tyres (should have checked them when I bought it - doh!) I've found I have 1/4 - 1/2 worn original Bridgestone 010's on the front and what looks like brand new P-zeros on the back.

Now some questions ..

Could this be the reason why the grip is so pants? (different grip back/front?)

If I could change the P-zeros to a half worn set of Bridgestone's would this improve the grip?

Looking at the tyres I have, would you expect this behaviour ? .. I mean everything I have read suggests that a scooby can be driven almost as quickly in the wet as in the dry .. if I was to try this I'd be facing backwards more often than forwards?


What would you suggest? (and unfortunately replacing all 4 with some lovely grippy tyres at the mo. is a no go!).

Any help much appreciated.
Doofus.

Doofus, yes this could be the problem. Are the P-Zeros on the back 'New' or do they have a few miles on them?

Swapping to a set of S-02s will improve things buy quite a bit.

Also get the wheel alignment checked. This could also be an issue.

Dan

Cheers Dan,

They were on the car when I picked it up. Taking a quick look at them I would suggest that they are not brand new (i.e. just on) but not that worn in.

I bought the car from a Scooby dealership and it was serviced before I picked it up .. I take it though that they are unlikely to have checked the wheel alignment?

I'll see if I can get 'em to swap the P-zero's for some similar wear SO2's.

I take it that what I am describing is unusual for a scooby (i.e not much grip in the wet?).

Doofus.

Doofus, its not that unusual for a scoob to be sliding in the wet, I would leave the P-Zeros on the back. I would look more at replacing the front tyres. I have found that when they get low, they start to slide with ease (depending on make/model tyre). RE10's slide well in the dry, let alone the wet. I then moved on to Toyo T1's, also at this point I moved up to 17's. They was a lot better in the dry and a good deal better in the wet, they gave good information about what is GOING to happen. I have now moved on to S02's, again these are another step up on the grip scale. They just give so much convidence, in the wet, what more can I say.

When fitting new tyres, do them in pairs. Either the front or rear. NEVER side by side.

My opion would be to get some new P-Zeros for the front, i.e. You will then only have to buy two tyres. They take about 750-1000 miles to bed in and start giving proper grip.

Dan
PS. All the above is MY OWN OPION.

Doofus,

I know your in Scotland but bumpsteer, bumpsteer, bumpsteer, bumpsteer, bumpsteer.

It will transform your car. I know I've just had it done.

Ian

The wet handling of this car is an enigma. Sometimes it slides like its on ice, next it has incredible grip. The main factor which affects this is driving style, I think. I have tried a variety of tyres (RE-010, T1s, Firestone and most recently PZero). The end result is similar. I have not however tried SO2s. I have also tried different tyre pressures and standard pressures (33 and 28) are best (MY98 5 dr).

I find that, invariably, sliding in the wet is caused by cornering on a trailing throttle. I've not been on track days so far so I've not tested this to the limit but I find that if you brake hard just prior to the turn-in and then drive through the corner even with just a little throttle, understeer disappears.

I would not recommend PZeros. I think these are slightly worse in the wet than the previous tyres.

D.

The Bridgestone S-0x Pole Positions are very good IMHO, although I have not tried the S-02PP on my own car (on a m8's STi 4).

They do take about as long as the P-zeros to get really grippy (Looong run-in), but are better in the wet than Pirelli's or Michelin's finest (IMHO again).

If you can't get a full set, then the first place to start is to get 4 of the same tyres on your car I reckon'. Best of luck http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif