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My Pathfinder drives like SH*T

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 5:35 am
by FindyourPath
I have 275/75/17.
my truck drives like a RC car.
The front end bobbles, its squirrely, it doesn't feel planted.
The truck over all is squirmy and drives like cr*p.

I was thinking of going to a 265/255 55/17 to thin the wheel slightly and the lower profile should track the road better.

I was considering that wheel size for the front only?

any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:49 am
by skinny2
For starters, that's the completely wrong size tire for the PF. I can see that drastically impacting handling. What kind of tires are they? I don't see anything available in that size....but a mediocre AT or MT would drive bad by itself let alone that size.

Stock is a 265/65-17. Alignment problems can also make the PF jump around funny on certain bumps. Mine drives quite good (i've upgraded shocks and added airbags) but I prefer it over my wifes Acrua MDX.

Re: My Pathfinder drives like SH*T

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:30 am
by ShipFixer
FindyourPath wrote:I have 275/75/17.
my truck drives like a RC car.
The front end bobbles, its squirrely, it doesn't feel planted.
The truck over all is squirmy and drives like cr*p.
Most are like that stock due to the soft rear springs bottoming out, and unsettling the front as the truck goes over bumps. Adding air springs (Airlift 1000) for $80 or so in the rear drastically improves both the overall ride and front end tracking.

Between that and some Bilstein shocks, mine went from driving like a low end U-Haul cargo truck to something like a big Camry.

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:16 am
by smj999smj
You definitely don't want to run different size tires between your front and rear! It'll throw off the ABS system big time!

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 1:08 pm
by FindyourPath
Thanks for the tips.
I was forced by a flat to buy 2 new Michelin LTX
truck immediately drives better, will do the two rear tires in a few weeks.

Hard acceleration, the back end really squirms, (SHIPFIXER) is that due to soft rear end??

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 8:26 am
by disallow
what kind of work did you do on the front end when you changed tires?

Hopefully an alignment, which might also uncover any worn suspension and steering components.

Just recently had to replace an outer tie rod end on my 05, and before I replaced it, I had some of the same issues you were having with handling.

Replacing the tires without repairing these types of issues will just mask the problem until your tire wear on your new tires gets so bad that you are back to square one.

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