Have the '07 Fit base and I live in Los Angeles, so I never see snow or ice, only occasional rain.

A few weeks ago I bought four brand-new Hankook tires (like the last ones I had) and got a wheel alignment. Driving side streets is fine, but driving on the freeways makes me feel like I'm driving on ice, particularly when driving on bumpy roads. Feels like I'm going all over the place.

I had this problem last year, and someone on this forum very wisely mentioned that it could be my tires are over-inflated -- which they were.

However, that's not the issue now -- I even went back to the tire store and watched them double-checke that they were inflated properly (at 32 psi).

Any other ideas? I can't keep driving side streets all the time.

Note: Here in LA there is "The Grapevine", a 40-mile stretch of canyon driving with no steel barriers. A few years ago I almost died sliding on this road when it snowed, and the sensation of sliding brings me damn near to panic attacks.

What else could it possibly be?

 

go drifting? jk. which hankook tire did u get? maybe they are directional tires and they were installed pointing the wrong way?

 

They were the same tires as last time and a reputable shop (sorry, don't remember and receipt is in the car). I would imagine they would notice something wrong when I took them back to check the pressure, no?

 

nope, i have had them remount my snow tires which were directional pointing the wrong way. i knew it would happen.

 

I never had problems with Hankook tires. In November I almost died going down a curvy hill as my Fit lost control and hydroplaned doing 30mph. I had some cheapo tires from Firestone and I'm never cheaping out again. I currently am using one of the higher end yokohama all season tires and have fell back in love with my GD. Maybe it's your tires because I used to drive 80mph through curvy up and down highways through some crazy north west rain and never had issues sliding around.

 

I'd go back to the alignment shop and tell them what is going on. A good shop will be able to 'tweak' the alignment settings (within specs) to minimize the wandering (if that is what it is).

If they say you need bushings or something, you should protest...as a good shop would check those BEFORE any alignment. (But, you didn't have the sliding or wandering issue before the alignment/new tires, right? So, be wary.)




PS: FWIW, I've installed/rotated tires the 'wrong way' (on purpose) without issue. For street tires, the directional tread mostly aids water evacuation. Dry handling was unaffected.