Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site
 

 


 
Go Back   Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site > Technical Forums > Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack
 

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-22-2018, 11:38 AM   #1
theraymondguy
 
Drives: '07 Yaris sedan, '05 Sportage
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Sin City North Eh?
Posts: 4
Twitchy handling Sedan / carsick kids, headaches

2007 Sedan, auto with power group. Factory 15" alloys, stock tire size and recommended inflation. Generally it has no weight in trunk and is driver only occupancy. Car is box stock with the exception of synthetic engine oil.

It has been an overall fantastic car. We're the second owner, have had it for 2 years.

The car is not driven in a spirited fashion, though I'd like to use it for our "Florida Vacation road trip car" which has 2 opportunities:

My daughters (9 and 12) complain of headaches when road tripping, though no complaints when travelling in our '05 Kia Sportage. The Sportage has rear tint, I'm thinking this may be all that is needed, but was wondering if others had the same issue.

I've noted the car feels twitchy at highway speeds when road tripping, like it could change lanes merely at the suggestion. Playing with tire pressure hasn't had much effect, tires are Hercules brand non-directional. Rear suspension feels soft (has always felt soft), perhaps more so as our girls grow.

With a modest budget, what would be the most likely fix? Swaybar? I could swing a tire swap (Always happy to install Michelins)? I don't want to get heavy into suspension mods or lowering (My wife likes the stock ride height).

Thanks for input!
theraymondguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 12:41 PM   #2
tmontague
 
tmontague's Avatar
 
Drives: '08 2zr swapped Vios M/T
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Caledonia Ont.
Posts: 2,938
I'd recommend a simple tire swap, go with a directional tire and fill the tires up above the factory recommendation. No need to go crazy spending money on suspension.

I would however inspect your suspension, the oem struts/shocks last a long time (~180k km) but if they are worn your car will be less stable
__________________
No one ever wants to give a Yaris the point by...
tmontague is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 04:15 PM   #3
kimona
Super Moderator
 
kimona's Avatar
 
Drives: 2014 White VITZ
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Huntington Bch, CA
Posts: 4,938
On the highway, my 2007 behaved as you describe. I installed a TRD rear anti-sway bar, which certainly improved handling, and provided some sense of stability at speed, but didn't eliminate highway wander. Actually, the car was a bit scary to drive on the highway.

After experimenting with numerous tyres, I discovered that tread pattern makes all the difference in highway behaviour. I've been running tyres with a non-aggressive tread pattern and a wide continuous centre band. Without the antisway bar, I completly eliminated "twitchy handling" and highway wander.
kimona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 05:30 PM   #4
theraymondguy
 
Drives: '07 Yaris sedan, '05 Sportage
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Sin City North Eh?
Posts: 4
Thanks guys!

Tmontague, It's just rolled over 175k KM, so I'll definitely have a look at the suspension. I replaced the stabilizer links last year and didn't notice anything then, but I'll have another look to be sure.

Kimona, if I'm on the same page, you mean a tire similar to this, with a substantial center band?
https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires.j...n&autoModClar=
theraymondguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 07:03 PM   #5
kimona
Super Moderator
 
kimona's Avatar
 
Drives: 2014 White VITZ
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Huntington Bch, CA
Posts: 4,938
1. This was the first tread pattern that worked very well for me on my 2007. I ran 2 sets of these Zeetex tyres.

2. This Kumho was also excellent on my 2007. Now, I'm running a set on my 2014.
Attached Images
File Type: bmp zeetex.bmp (281.3 KB, 48 views)
File Type: jpg Kumho11.jpg (12.6 KB, 45 views)
kimona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 07:37 PM   #6
malibuguy
Obsessed with 1.5L
 
Drives: '10 PW Yaris Sedan
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Westminster, MD
Posts: 907
Toe out will cause the car to dart and tramline on crappy pavement. Toe out is desirable on performance alignments as it helps with ackerman typically and results in more mid corner grip. I run a bit of toe out on mine...with summer tires its ok...when I put the 225 hoosiers on its almost uncontrollable.

It sounds to me your alignment might be suffering from a bit of toe out...due to possibly worn out control arm bushings, tie rods or even worn ball joints.

And as said higher quality tires and maybe slightly increased tire pressures could help.. Our cars are spec'd at 29psi. I used to run over 50psi when I cared about gas mileage. However these days I typically run 34f/31r cold.
__________________
-Greg...the Exhaust Freak.

-10 PW sedan 107whp/110wtq, full exhaust, suspension bits, TRD LSD
-06 Highlander 3mzfe Limited AWD
-82 Malibu, 1uzfe swap
-97 Tercel coupe, 1nzfe/4.31
-96 Tercel coupe, Turbo 5efe, autoX
-96 Tercel 4dr
malibuguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 07:52 PM   #7
kimona
Super Moderator
 
kimona's Avatar
 
Drives: 2014 White VITZ
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Huntington Bch, CA
Posts: 4,938
^^^ Interesting. When I ran higher tyre pressure, my little car bounced all over the place like a basketball.
kimona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2018, 09:19 PM   #8
malibuguy
Obsessed with 1.5L
 
Drives: '10 PW Yaris Sedan
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Westminster, MD
Posts: 907
Quote:
Originally Posted by kimona View Post
^^^ Interesting. When I ran higher tyre pressure, my little car bounced all over the place like a basketball.
I was up to 56psi at one point. In my old xB i ran 64psi for a while.

When you commute 110miles a day like I used to You try to find a way to stretch out them fill ups.
__________________
-Greg...the Exhaust Freak.

-10 PW sedan 107whp/110wtq, full exhaust, suspension bits, TRD LSD
-06 Highlander 3mzfe Limited AWD
-82 Malibu, 1uzfe swap
-97 Tercel coupe, 1nzfe/4.31
-96 Tercel coupe, Turbo 5efe, autoX
-96 Tercel 4dr
malibuguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
NEWS: TOYOTA REVEALS ALL-NEW YARIS SEDAN AT 2006 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW VitzBoy General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 7 09-20-2023 07:50 AM
2012 Nissan Versa Kal-El Off-topic / Other Cars / Everything else Discussions 22 06-15-2012 04:48 PM
2007 Yaris Pricing Info ! YarisBueller New YARIS Purchase Forum 104 06-24-2009 04:54 PM
Question??? Improving handling on a sedan CASTREX Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack 3 12-06-2006 01:19 AM
sedan handling sucks punch Performance Modifications 16 09-29-2006 09:26 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:25 AM.




YarisWorld
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.