Oversteer on poor roads

[guest4572]

I have had my jazz since December, I drive on my own on mixed roads and motorways.

My problem is on roads with a poor surface - such as roundabouts the back will twitch and step out. There is no under steer just the back stepping out

I have two new tires and had the brakes checked

It slid on a wet roundabout that fortunately caused no damage

I am now considering getting rid

[guest4218]

Did you check the schock absorber??the situation you have is the same that happen to me but i had my car drifting on a roundabout

[monkeydave]

so are the two new tires on the front? and what state are the rear tires in?

[chrisc]

If there is recent rain, it might lift the oil deposited by other cars, resulting in poor traction.  Most times, people apply the brakes prior to entering an intersection and any oil drops under the engine will be forced loose by the braking force.

It is most unusual for a FWD car to exhibit oversteer.  Are the tyres inflated to the correct pressure or slightly higher?

The rear tyres would have to be in a very sorry state to allow them to lose adhesion.  I think Jazzman's suggestion about the shock absorbers is very relevant here

[culzean]

main thing to suspect is tyres, only time any car has done this to me it was due to cheap tyres,  the car doesn't have mixed types on front and rear, or on same axle does it ?  defo worth checking tyre pressures as well, as pressure too high will reduce road contact.

certainly worth checking shocks,  push each corner of car down release and see if it just rebounds once,  or bounces a few times.

[guest3250]

I have pushed my Jazz to the limits wet and dry now, and have no such issues so it can only be bad tires or poor
shock absorbers (dampers) as it shouldn't loose the back - UNLESS you have the rears seriously over inflated...
My  experience is the Jazz handles very well and is predictable- but I am fussy about tires and pressures.
I also have 195's on mine rather than 185/55/16 and cannot recommend that enough!

[chrisc]

I'll make a note of the 195 tyres as I thought the 185/55 were a bit skinny.  Trouble is you compare the Jazz' tyres with other cars and most of them seem ridiculously wide.  The BMW X5 has enormous tyres and very expensive

[emmerdale]

If tyres are changed to 195s does this become an insurance issue or would you not have to bother telling insurance company and in the event of an accident would insurance company wash their hands of any claim?

[degzi]

double check tyre pressures. rears can loose air without looking much different.

[chrisc]

If tyres are changed to 195s does this become an insurance issue or would you not have to bother telling insurance company and in the event of an accident would insurance company wash their hands of any claim?

It depends on how your motor policy is worded.  My broker told me that this would not be considered a modification.  He said that applied to mods like tinted windows (popular with gangsters), a spoiler at the front and devices that increased the engine output.  The width difference between 185 and 195 tyres is only 8mm

There is a handy chart here:  http://ejelta.com/tiresize/index.html?tiresize=185/60-15&minwidth=185&maxwidth=205

[Bentleymop]

Either rear shocks too hard or tyre pressures too high.
Or a combination of both + worn rear tyres.

[Eddie Honda]

Backing up what others have said > over-inflation of rear tyres > old rear tyres > cheapo teflon rear tyres.

Usually if only two new tyres are bought, they should be put on the rear.