What causes Tram lining?

[SilverShadow]

Boys just wondering whats causing my car to tram line?

Is it the width of the tyre (205/40/17) or the size of the wheel 17''?

Im running 205/40/17 rubber on 7.5x17 wheels

Any feed back would be much appreciated

[jam172]

IMHO usually caused by mis-matched tyres although i have known it on a brand new set of yokos, the lower the profile of the tyre the worse it seems to be. Some tyres just don't seem to suit some cars

[E30BeemerLad]

all sorts of things can cause tramlining

1- incorrect offset used - so the track width of the vehicle is altered
2- worn tyres, if the inside of the tyre is scrubbed away due to poor alignment
3- poor alignment
4- worn suspension bushes causing poor alignment/ suspension geometry

[Rosc0PColtrane]

5. Not sporting the immortally brilliant and god like BBS wheels.

[garyp_E30_325i]

all sorts of things can cause tramlining

1- incorrect offset used - so the track width of the vehicle is altered
2- worn tyres, if the inside of the tyre is scrubbed away due to poor alignment
3- poor alignment
4- worn suspension bushes causing poor alignment/ suspension geometry

All of the above plus worn or badly adjusted suspension (if it's adjustable), wrong suspension bushes (don't laugh, I've seen it!), incorrectly sized / fitted wheel spacers (are you using spacers?), bent track rod arms... anything which affects your suspension/steering geometry...

Have you had the car a while? If it's just started to 'tram line' then check what's changed first (general rule for all issues), I assume that's why you're asking about the wheels & tyres.

[SilverShadow]

I have had the car for more than 5 yrs!

OK OK, im riding on BK's, the tyre look ito be in good condition, plenty of tread on them. The car passed it MOT in June with no issues on suspension, bushes etc?

Im not using any sort of spacers etc, all tyres are matching??

Could it be due to the wonderful wheels i'm riding on?

[maxfield]

Could it be due to the wonderful wheels i'm riding on?

Yes.

[SilverShadow]

Cheers MAxfield!

I need shot of these wheels! lol

[maxfield]

Took you this long to work it out?

Get some BBS on there

[SilverShadow]

I've got some lurrrrrrvly 16'' Hartges which are waiting to go on!

I don't want disappointments when i put them on!

[maxfield]

I've got some lurrrrrrvly 16'' Hartges which are waiting to go on!

Not arguing with that...

[garyp_E30_325i]

I have had the car for more than 5 yrs!

OK OK, im riding on BK's, the tyre look ito be in good condition, plenty of tread on them. The car passed it MOT in June with no issues on suspension, bushes etc?

Im not using any sort of spacers etc, all tyres are matching??

Could it be due to the wonderful wheels i'm riding on?

As E30 Beemerlad said: wrong offset.

As I said: spacers

i.e. BK's are mostly VW offset (at least the 4x100 PCD are) in which case you'll need c20mm spacers, or change the wheels.

If you have 16" Hartge's go for it!

[munky30]

16: stretched tyres.

Mainly caused by big wheels and low profile tyres.

[Simon13]

E30's are bad on 17's, 18's are terrible

they will tramline with 16's if they are on mismatched sh!te tyres too

[chief]

sorry to butt in guys

what is tramlining !!

[E30BeemerLad]

when your car gets caught in the grooves in the road and the wheel gets pulled about in your hands

[ian332isport]

You don't need to have any faults on the car to have tramlining issues. My car used to tramline really badly on Bridgestone S03 tyres, but not at all with Goodyear GSD3's.

Ian.

[chief]

aagghh

thats what it is

had this in the mrs diesel fiesta when in grooves on m3(road that is not one of gods beautiful creations)

[murran]

can happen in any car driving in the slow lane of a motorway due to the trucks and lorrys rutting/effecting the tarmac!