desmotesta

Hello all,

I spent a good amount of time trying to search the issues I am having with my low-mile .1 GTS but ddnt really find a definitive answer.
Apologies for a new thread but hoping to pick your brain because at this point the car is at the dealer and both the service advisor and technicians have no answers (except to slap on brand new tires and lets do an alignment)

History: Car spent the last 3 years (*and 12K miles) in philly. It was a weekend car for a rennlist member although he is not active here anymore. i know philly roads are a bit worse than those here in the South (NC) but dont know how much and to what effect that would have impacted bushings and toe links.
This is my 2nd 991 in the last 12 months, in addition I have test driven 6 other 991s (991.14S, 991.1S, 991.2 base and 991.2 GTS) in the last 12 months.

Symptom: The car doesnt like to track straight. On what I consider average roads, the car requires constant steering inputs just to stay in lane, any imperfections in the road make it wander all over the place.
Only on the most perfect of new and smooth roads does the car feel/drive like all of the other 991s i have experienced in the last 12 months.

Tires are 3.5 yrs old with 40% tread remaining, so yes tire change is on the horizon but I cannot stress this point enough, the car wanders all over the road like there is a tow link or something else missing/lose or bent, yet the dealer has not been able to find anything wrong with the car.
Sometimes it feels like the car just shifts 4-6 inches to the left or right out of the blue, kind of like going over a mini-snow bank in the road on day 1 of driving on fresh snow. (thats the best i can explain it)

I am looking for opinions and suggestions from 991 veterans, especially people who have driven multiple cars. Did the cars all feel so entirely different (steering feel, driving straight).
Alignment check is being done at the dealership right now, but other than them trying to sell me a set of new tires they are out of ideas.

Any other suggestions?

oolor13

What tire pressures are you running? I had similar issues when my tires were overinflated.

2-Rotor

What brand tires are you using? Summer, all season, or snow?

desmotesta

have tried 28/32, 32/38 and factory pressures.. all with same results

desmotesta

P Zeros on both current GTS and on previous 991.1S.. Tires on previous car were slightly older and more worn before it was totaled (while parked)

911.

Just to confirm, I would have a indy take a look at the car also. Not saying anything about your dealers capabilities but itll rule out there wasnt anything missed.

The rear alignment spec can also mess the track-ability of a car so hopefully that was looked into just as much as the front? Do you have a current print out?


Edit: have someone check the rotors for out of round. If not yet done.

Gripster

I had this on my last car (BMW) when I bought it. I would have sworn that the issue was mechanical and was a bit stubborn about replacing tires that were mostly good for another 5-10k miles, but when I gave in and bought new tires the car went back to being perfect.

Don't pay dealer prices for them though - buy them elsewhere.

polobai

my car had a similar feeling after being lowered-an alignment got everything back in spec. My rear settings were out of whack. Have you had the alignment checked?

2-Rotor

I know Pzero's at around 4-5 years can demonstrate some weird handling related to the compound of the tire becoming harder. So what i am saying i would try changing the old tires first then see if thats where the problem is. I honestly doubt at such low mileage that a suspension link or bushing is damaged unless the car went off the road or was in an accident.

desmotesta

Here is the alignment print out. Almost everything is out of whack. wonder f this is all there is to it

edirtaynine

def looks like a toe alignment issue

Wujohn

A track-focused alignment can cause tramlining.

BSO

While better tire manufacturing has mostly eliminated separating belts, this could cause many problems similar to what you describe.

Many posts have not been kind to PZeros and state to having better experiences after switching to the Michelin PS4S tires.

Definitely do the alignment. Be aware that Porsche alignment settings for the rears include negative camber which sharpens handling but will wear the rears on the inside.

Good luck.

Southbranch

It looks like the problem can be corrected with a proper alignment. Sometimes a tire will take a "set" and push or pull the car in one direction, but if the car wanders, that's probably not tires.

B Russ

Mine has a bit of wander too, Im going to see if they can check the alignment next week