marc abrams

I'm interested how you guys handle staggered tire rotations? Obviously it can only be right to left. Does it help with the infamous 60 MPH 944 steering wheel shimmy from slightly out of round tires or do you guys just chuck the front tires every 6000 miles? I'm particularly interested from those with the early cars with manual steering.

Van

I don't think there's any benefit swapping right-to-left. However, i think there is benefit to periodically re-balancing your tires. And, new tires feel great - so don't hesitate to upgrade frequently!

snb13

I have staggered summer tires for my '83. No tire rotation and no 60mph shimmy.

Jon951

On the cars that don't have unidirectional tires, I have them flipped on the rims and swapped on the axels. In other words, the inside edge becomes the outside edge and is put on the opposite side. My cars have staggered tires.

By the way, there is also a correct way to rotate the tires on on a dually that is often ignored...

StoogeMoe

Staggered setup and no shimmy here either.

It's usually my rears that wear out first. The fronts are starting to get worn at that point, and then just replace all four.

Van

P.s. regarding your "60 MPH shimmy" - are you certain your rims aren't bent? I'd say at least one out of two 944 rims I pick up are bent. (I currently have about 36.)

924srr27l

Yeah +1

You' shouldn't have any Shimmy at all, somethings out of whack, distorted and / or bent.

Square set up no shimmy.

R

marc abrams

Thanks guys. My car doesn't simmy, I just want to keep it that way. I'm considering going from 15 to 16 inch wheels for the lack of performance tires in the 15 inch size. And was also considering the staggered route and wanted to know if shimmering would become a issue. Marc.

924srr27l

If anything is out slightly (Tyres out of shape / round, discs wharped, balljoint wear, worn shocks etc..) larger diameter wheels and smaller profiles may reveal some vibrations or if you had them they will be worse.

The large 65 series tyre profiles absorb a lot of vibrations and give a comfortable ride, smaller depth sidewalls will have less absorption and compliance.

205/55/16 & 225/50/16 is a popular staggered set up.

I once had a shimmy vibration on a 924S which had 17" staggered Cup replica wheels (7.5 & 9J - 225/255 tyres all Very Heavy) when I changed them for 7x15" Cookie Cutters and 195/65/15 tyres there were no vibrations at all! and the car was so much faster and more nimble.

R

marc abrams

Yes, I'm very aware how a slightly loose front end will cause shimmering on these cars as compared to other cars. I went through this when I first got the car.
205/55/16 & 225/50/16 is exactly what I'm considering.

V2Rocket

215/60 front and 225/60 rear for me...have done that for 11 years now. (7 + 8 inch wheels)
never rotate them side to side because most tires i've run are "directional"
never had unusual tire wear...just lots of it


and never experienced any shimmy-at-speed in any 944...aside from tramlining which is due to either alignment or your TIRES.

924srr27l

These car's are no different to any other car with worn and unbalanced components.

The only snag with the staggered Tyres can be the Front & rear Slip angle Balance change.

If you push the car hard? the front will understeer first before the rear even thinks about moving, you can alter the tyre pressures to assist (Higher front / Lower rear) but many Street and Race users use a Square set up as these chassis are very balanced with the rear Transaxle design, although I appreciate some people's fun and priority is for "Kool Look"

I've ran this set up (205/55/16 & 225/50/16) on the street and it's ok until you push hard, I also did a trackday but it wasn't that good as the car "PUSHED" a lot.

R

marc abrams

Yes and no. Manual steering lets everything go to the steering wheel where as a hydraulic piston absorbs that extra energy in the power steering cars.

You've heard about the shoe makers shoes? A friend of mine asked if I could take a picture of the steering knuckle on my Daytona. I jacked up the car and discovered about an eighth of a inch play from the inter tie rod. Guess what, no shimmy. So I do kind of believe these cars are a little more sensitive.

Spencer, that's an interesting tire sizes you run. Doesn't that hurt acceleration being an 7% larger tire diameter?

V2Rocket

maybe, but not enough to notice.

Flammulator

Square setup on my '83 with a manual rack. I just swap front/back each time I change the oil. I've only managed to put 16,000 miles on the car in the last 18 months, so my input probably isn't very helpful, but I haven't experienced any undue wear or steering wheel shimmy. I definitely wouldn't swap right/left, since the tread pattern is directional.