Tire question -Z3

[balamove]

I have never driven my car out of FL until I moved to N.Va.
When I drive on the roads I feel that the car kinda self directs itself some times.
Its it due to the roads or my tires ?
(I've S03 PolePosition on my Z3)

B

[jkuper]

TireRack's Article

I have it on my M3 with S03s as well. Not sure if it's the S03s or the size, since my Michelin's were 18" and S03s are 19s. But I think some people have said that S03s tend to tramline more than others.

[balamove]

Thanks!
I wasnt sure about it and wanted to get my wheels aligned to check it.
Glad it common!
It must be the s03. I didnt change the size when I replaced the original michelin's with s03.

[jkuper]

I think this is basically your case "High performance tires with short sidewalls that develop lots of cornering power at lower slip angles will be more susceptible to tramlining than standard All-Season passenger tires that develop less cornering force until their slip angle increases. A wider treaded tire will encounter more longitudinal ruts and/or grooves in the road than a narrow treaded tire. A tire with large tread blocks that transmits the driver's input to the road with great precision will also transmit the road's imperfections back to the vehicle's suspension. And because tires become more responsive as their tread depth wears away (which is why tires are shaved for competition and track use), a tire will become more likely to tramline as it wears."

S03s have stiffer sidewalls and larger tread blocks than Pilots.