2008 Mondeo Tracking problem?

[NZ XR6]

Originally Posted by Treny

NZ XR6 / Yeah spot on tramlining! It is not pulling to one side and on decent roads it steers perfectly.

There is no tramlining with the 16" wheels.

A bit of background to my story. Mondeo wagons in NZ all come in a basic specification with 16" steel wheels - roughly equivalent to the LX spec in Oz. About 6 months ago I fitted 17" Zetec alloys and 235/45 Bridgestone RE001 Adrenalin tyres. The grip on smooth roads was way better, but I wasn't happy with the steering feel on bumpy roads - some tramlining, and slight wheel shimmy felt through the steering at times. Plus the steering felt less accurate, and the initial turn in was slower. I refitted the standard wheels at Christmas, and the steering feels much better - no way will the 17s be going back on.

So I'll do my best to wear out the standard Goodyear Excellence tyres before winter and try to sell the 17s. I'll then fit a set of light 16" alloy wheels with some decent tyres.

If you have 17s, and do most of your driving on rough roads, then I would thoroughly recommend changing to 16" wheels. You will not believe the improvement in the steering and ride.

[AlanD]

Originally Posted by NZ XR6

There is no tramlining with the 16" wheels.

A bit of background to my story. Mondeo wagons in NZ all come in a basic specification with 16" steel wheels - roughly equivalent to the LX spec in Oz. About 6 months ago I fitted 17" Zetec alloys and 235/45 Bridgestone RE001 Adrenalin tyres. The grip on smooth roads was way better, but I wasn't happy with the steering feel on bumpy roads - some tramlining, and slight wheel shimmy felt through the steering at times. Plus the steering felt less accurate, and the initial turn in was slower. I refitted the standard wheels at Christmas, and the steering feels much better - no way will the 17s be going back on.

So I'll do my best to wear out the standard Goodyear Excellence tyres before winter and try to sell the 17s. I'll then fit a set of light 16" alloy wheels with some decent tyres.

If you have 17s, and do most of your driving on rough roads, then I would thoroughly recommend changing to 16" wheels. You will not believe the improvement in the steering and ride.

I'm getting confused used:

Mainly because I have always understood "tramlining" to be the feeling that you get when you want to change direction but the car maintains a straight line - as though it is on tram tracks. And this makes sense as I got caught on a set in Riversdale Rd and it was this effect exactly. Much narrower tyres involved : .

I thought the original question was lack of straightline tracking which is a different effect.

Difficulties also with the idea that "heavier wheels" might acerbate the problem - on the basis that a heavier wheel and tyre would have more inertia and need greater forces to operate to push it away from a straight line.

This said, as experience is the best teacher, we need to be guided by NZ's comments - he's been there and done that. (But I would be interested to know if his 17" alloy wheel with its 45 profile tyre is heavier than the replacement 16" steel wheel with a greater profile tyre 55(?). I was led to believe that the use of alloys (originally) was to get a lighter unsprung weight which makes for better roadholding. These days, I suspect it has more to do with the asthetics of the car)

Perhaps the OP can provide more detail about the effect that is being experienced by means of a description rather than the use of a tag such as tracking or tramlining. Would help with a potential solution, perhaps.

I haven't experienced any abnormal steering effects and we have travelled on pretty much all types of surfaces, both paved and unpaved.

To the OP thanks for the reply, it is nice to get an acknowledgement from time to time - I'm suspecting many newer contributors are not aware of the availability for positive feedback via the "snowflake" below the members information column.

Cheers

[Treny]

Alan D / Ok sorry about the wording the best way to describe it is the car wanting to steer itself slightly be it left or right on a rough uneven road. I also think NZ is on the money with 16" instead of 17" so I will check out other possibilities.
Cheers Treny

[Treny]

Thanks NZ XR6 I will probably do the same. Is the wheel nut pattern same as falcon?

[NZ XR6]

Originally Posted by Treny

Thanks NZ XR6 I will probably do the same. Is the wheel nut pattern same as falcon?

No, it's specific to Euro Fords and can also be found on some Jags and Volvos that used the Mondeo platform. So your wheel choices are limited. If you do want to try 16s, you should be able to find someone who's upgraded a Focus or Mondeo LX and still has the standard 16" wheels.

[Treny]

NZ XR6/ Thanks mate!