Rear suspension upgrade on estate car

Vi0letandDavid
Vi0letandDavid Forum Participant Posts: 12
edited April 2018 in Towcars & Towing #1

I have just had 2 new rear tyres on my 3yr old Honda Accord Tourer, the old tyres were stepping. As the car was still under warranty Honda checked everything and found all was ok, all they could come up with was that I tow a caravan. I am now wondering if strengthening my rear suspension would stop this happening again.

I welcome your thoughts on this subject.

 

David W

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2018 #2
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited April 2018 #3

    I have a Skoda estate no problems with tyres, tyre pressures are 32psi all round solo and light load, full load and towing 44psi rear and 35psi front as per handbook, do you increase your tyres pressures for towing?

  • Toro
    Toro Forum Participant Posts: 48
    edited April 2018 #4

    Apart from ensuring your tyre pressures are correct for a fully loaded car as per handbook and checked when cold, what about your noseweight? What noseweight does Honda allow for your model and what noseweight do you tow with? 

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2018 #5

    The fact that the car is towing the caravan won't increase the tyre load because it must never exceed the plated limit, whether towing or solo. THe current tyres must therefore already be capable of coping with the maximum allowable load.

    An improvement may, however, be achieved by increasing the rear tyre pressure when towing.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2018 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Vi0letandDavid
    Vi0letandDavid Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited April 2018 #7

    Hi to all that commented and thankyou, I think it is a bit of a mystery.

    Manufacturers tyres were Yokohama Extra load I have just fitted Pirelli P7 Extra load. I am an ex lorry driver so am fanatical about tyre pressures and my Honda has an on board guage. Nose weight is 75kg though I must admit I have never checked it but I am very careful as to the loading of the van and it is always level when towing

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2018 #8

    The sidewalls of tyres with a higher load rating need not necessarily be significantly stiffer. Of course, if you go to a commercial grade of tyre these will be stiffer because they are designed to take more abuse.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2018 #9
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited May 2018 #10

    I would start with 4 wheel alignment before changing tyre spec. 

  • wallacebob
    wallacebob Forum Participant Posts: 89
    edited May 2018 #11

    +1 for 4 wheel alignment. I have a long tale of tyre wear, and noise. A good specialist garage sorted it in half hour. He said some cars are prone to mis alignment at rear , towing can make it worse. I had two VAG cars with similar issues. 

  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited May 2018 #12

    That's exactly what i experienced on a fiat a few years back. I was scrubbing  rear tyres out every 8k miles on a fwd car! ! The fiat data used to check alignment at Tyre centres was not correct for my actual model!  A chance conversation at the fiat dealer recommended a trip to a Subaru specialist with top notch alignment kit and all was sorted. Improved mpg  less road noise and rear tyres that lasted. 

    My last Santa Fe was checked at 25k for 4 wheel alignment after swapping tyres front to back and achieved a total of 50k on the originals.   It's not cheap but worth it considering tyre prices. 

    Our new Santa Fe will be checked soon as tyre wear seems excessive. 

  • GraemeWiles
    GraemeWiles Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited July 2018 #13

    Hello There

    Has anyone every Fitted MAD Progressive spring upgrade to there car. I have a Passat and one hooked up my wheels really sink into the arches. Everything else is correct and inflated.

    Any help is grateful

  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited July 2018 #14

    I have fitted these springs to my 2017 Santa Fe and it certainly prevents sagging and makes for a more stable ride. My last 2011 SF was very stiff on the springs but the latest models seem to have gone soft to the point where  even  car full of people  made it sit very low.  The instructions say the original ride height is only affected by 15mm max but i would say about 40mm. however I would say that solo and towing ride are improved or maybe put back to where the 2011 model was.

    do check your insurance first and play on the safety aspect rather than a performance upgrade.

     

     

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