front wheels / steering feel

[2003S]

What's the tire pressure up front? I'd look at that first. If its high, lowering it could adjust the under steer some degree. You could run a few PSI lower in the front than in the rear. If you're already doing this, then disregard.

[stephen wilson]

It's hard to "diagnose" over the Internet, but I'll take a stab.

When does the front feel light under acceleration? At lower speeds, or high speed?

The loss of front end feel sounds normal to me. There will be some aerodynamic lift, and every steering input is magnified because of the greater distance travel per second. You will still feel the loss of traction in the normal manner, the steering will get light, and the car will be unable to turn at the desired radius, with additional steering input having no effect. (assuming an understeering car, a car with high-speed oversteer is much more exciting! ) I think the main problem is that you can't get away with grossly overstepping the limits like you can in lower speed corners and still "save it".

[san rensho]

Originally Posted by 2003S

What's the tire pressure up front? I'd look at that first. If its high, lowering it could adjust the under steer some degree. You could run a few PSI lower in the front than in the rear. If you're already doing this, then disregard.

Not really. To get rid of understeer, higher pressure in the front, lower pressure in the rears. I run 36 front, 32 rear on my car and it feels much better.

[2003S]

Originally Posted by san rensho

Not really. To get rid of understeer, higher pressure in the front, lower pressure in the rears. I run 36 front, 32 rear on my car and it feels much better.

Do I have it backwards? I thought lower pressure up front would increase traction... (within reason of course)

The owner's manual recommends 29 front / 36 rear, I thought this was to dial out understeer, and make the front wheels grab a little more...

[stephen wilson]

How tire pressures affect handling balance can be very car-specific. If the tires are "rolling over", more pressure may reduce understeer. If the resulting increased tire spring rate is dominant, it will increase understeer. In either case, the change tends to be minor.

FWIW, on the street with 18" wheels on my 987, I've found lower front tire pressures to reduce understeer. YMMV!