Low speed, full lock, tire slipping?

[Rupes]

I tried searching, and sorry for not having a more technical explanation, but it feels like I get front tire slipping (maybe rubbing) on low speed maneuvering (1-3 MPH), on near/total wheel lock, and while on a steeper incline.

My car clunks on full lock too, but this is different. Has anyone else experienced this and found a solution?

 

[kitkat]

Completely normal, especially in lower grip surfaces like some rain on the ground. This is a side effect of ackermann steering geometry.

Basically in a situation where there's no left to right load transfer, the inner wheel is turned more than the outer wheel -- this means the two wheels have a different turning radius. As you move along at this low speed the tires pull against each other basically and create a skipping effect.

 

[scc.131.fe]

search this forum for references to Ackerman Effect. Might be what you're describing. Is it more pronounced when reversing?

 

[Rupes]

Completely normal, especially in lower grip surfaces like some rain on the ground. This is a side effect of ackermann steering geometry.

Basically in a situation where there's no left to right load transfer, the inner wheel is turned more than the outer wheel -- this means the two wheels have a different turning radius. As you move along at this low speed the tires pull against each other basically and create a skipping effect.

search this forum for references to Ackerman Effect. Might be what you're describing. Is it more pronounced when reversing?

Thanks gents, you nailed it.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

I noticed this exact problem today. But it didn’t happen with my touring suspension car, only now with my sport suspension. Perhaps the camber makes it more pronounced

 

[SDY30]

I get the same thing. I have touring suspension. Pleased it’s been highlighted here and there’s an explanation. I was getting a bit worried!

 

[Nelumbo]

I get the clunk on full lock, too. It's more like a loud click, but I haven't looked into it. Subjectively, it feels like it's a pressure relief being activated.

 

[SDY30]

I’m going to get it checked out by my local Lotus service centre the next time I’m in for a service anyway, just to be sure! It’s quite aggressive when at full lock when manoeuvring at very low speed. Very much like the wheels are skipping/dragging.

 

[Frimley111R]

Yep, as above, my Elise did this and, IIRC, my Boxster 986.

 

[Russc]

Yep, you`re not the only one and it`s normal (more pronounced in cold weather)

Scraping sound in front wheel wells in tight turns

I have a 2024 I4 with touring suspension and Goodyear tires, and I hear and feel scraping/clunking when I'm slowly doing a really tight turn in a driveway or parking lot. It seems to come from the front (not sure I feel it in the steering), and is likely a tire(s), though I see no obstruction...

www.emiraforum.com

 

[Orchardbike]

Yep same for me and the same for my Evora.

 

[Stevie I wonder]

Yeah, I've noticed this lately especially with the cold weather here in the U.K.
When leaving my driveway with the steering near full lock,the front tyres seem to skip across the tarmac which feels quite unsettling,but when returning after driving with warm tyres and reversing onto my driveway with the same steering angle input the tyres track fine.
It must be relative to tyre temperature.

 

[Toomanyloti]

Taycan does same esp in the cold. It’s loud too very pronounced

 

[Stevie I wonder]

Never noticed this on my wife's RCZ or my old SAAB which we have owned for over 12 years,both of which are f.w.d. front engines,so it must be due to the r.w.d. rear engine layout of the emira.

 

[scc.131.fe]

Never noticed this on my wife's RCZ or my old SAAB which we have owned for over 12 years,both of which are f.w.d. front engines,so it must be due to the r.w.d. rear engine layout of the emira.

more likely a common trait of double-wishbone front suspension with wide tires. I've had tires this wide on Macpherson strut cars that never did this, even at -5F temps. Also, my wife's Vantage does this front wheel skip and it's a front engine car, but also with double-wishbone.

 

[marc1adrien]

Just a data point for people; there's a couple of things I had going on with mine.

The first was (still is) very much this effect. It actually feels like the car skips slightly and re-settles. Tends to happen in a more pronounced way in garages, which makes sense as the concrete floors are sealed with an epoxy which makes them a little less grippy than normal roads. This feels most pronounced at low speeds (say 5-10 mph).

However, I also had a clunk that was happening at the very end of lock, and it sounded like metal hitting metal, almost as if a bushing had been forgotten. Last time I took it in I mentioned it (logistically, I tend to leave it a week or two at a time at the dealers so there's no sense of a hurry for them, often when I'll be out of the country anyway). When I picked up the car they had secured an air-conditioning conduit that they said was being hit at the very end of travel. No damage was done, but they secured it and the car no longer does it. Just a data point for folks; if anyone wants me to look it up I can dig out the service report.

 

[Nelumbo]

Yes, please share the service report! My car still does this metallic clunk on full-lock.

 

[marc1adrien]

Yes, please share the service report! My car still does this metallic clunk on full-lock.

Sorry; im away for a bit but will do.

 

[marc1adrien]

Here you go. I was clear I heard a clink and verbally they said the AC line was at the very end of the steering travel.

 

[Nelumbo]

Thank you. Next service I will bring this up to the service manager.