squirly tires

[98outbackpdx]

my Hankook Optimo H727 tires on my outback(#2 rated in consumer reports for all seasons) are getting pretty squirly in the rain at about 70mph.
even in light rain with the road just damp.
suspension is tight.
tire pressure was down at 25psi, got them pumped back up to 35psi (i run them high) and had them rotated, they are still doing it.
gravel and dirt road and dry traction is very good.
driving at 60mph on the freeway it is not really getting squirly.
my previous Kumho tires did not get squirly like these.
i could drift (punch it on on ramps and could get the whole car sliding one specific on ramp) with the Kumhos in the rain, but they did not get squirly like the Hankooks.
They have about 8k miles on the tires.
Any ideas, they were $94 a tire and i really don't have the money to replace the tires already.

[Bookem]

my Hankook Optimo H727 tires on my outback(#2 rated in consumer reports for all seasons) are getting pretty squirly in the rain at about 70mph.
even in light rain with the road just damp.

Ratings aren't always one size fits all, tires will react different with variety in sizes and applications. Light rain or just damp road is the least traction friendly, next to when it just starts raining

tire pressure was down at 25psi, got them pumped back up to 35psi (i run them high) and had them rotated, they are still doing it.


You'll start losing traction at that high of psi, try closer to 30psigravel and dirt road and dry traction is very good.

driving at 60mph on the freeway it is not really getting squirly.
my previous Kumho tires did not get squirly like these.
i could drift (punch it on on ramps and could get the whole car sliding one specific on ramp) with the Kumhos in the rain, but they did not get squirly like the Hankooks.
They have about 8k miles on the tires.
Any ideas,

Awdrifting maybe? lol, you already bought and installed, just drive careful in conditions needing care required.

they were $94 a tire and i really don't have the money to replace the tires already.

[98outbackpdx]

yeah well they are rated for 100k miles so i am going to run them till there is wear bars, or i get a new car. i took it by a tire shop and they told me that my struts are the original which i don't doubt and they told me that they usually last 5-7 years and they are 12 years old and have 215k miles on them so i think that might be my problem

[rougeben83]

blown struts can cause the unsteadiness, but those are high-mileage all-season passenger car tires...I wouldn't expect much from them in terms of performance anyway.

[TGX4776]

I have blown struts and had some "fun" driving today. cannot wait till I can afford gr2's or someone gives me their bilstiens


or I could run h&r's on autozone shocks/struts (Gabriel ultra) with lifetime warranties and my 20% discount ftw.

[98outbackpdx]

you would be surprised what these tires are capable of, i can go in gravel and dirt roads faster than i should, and on dry they do very well, i have taken them up to 95mph in california over the summer going with traffic i should add, and they did just fine, although the roads were dry. they grip well in lots of water, but when it has just been raining, little scary. i will get a quote from my mechanic for replacement struts, i dont want to lower my car, my fat a$$ already has a hard time bending down to get into the car, if anything i would put a lift on it. but i want to keep it as stock as possible. keep costs down.

[Huffer]

Recently wet or damp pavement is the slickest surface. Its dust and oil mixed with water. Few tires are resistant to slipping on this. You're expecting too much from your 100k all seasons.

[jey]

What do you mean by squirrely - do they break traction on turns? Or hydroplane going in a straight line? Check your alignment too - out of spec alignment can cause weird traction problems.

Consumer Reports rates tires not solely based on traction - they take into account wear rate, noise, and comfort, probably all of that more so than performance :lol:

[98outbackpdx]

alignment was done when i got the tires and they are wearing evenly, squirly what i mean by it is hydroplaning is what it feels like going in a straight line. it will not break loose by gunning it around corners.

[dodik]

how are your swaybar bushings? when those go bad it will start to feel loose on straights but when under load in corners it feels fine

[98outbackpdx]

well i tried them out in the snow today, and they gripped pretty well in wet snow, the only time i had a problem was when i was in a few inches of wet snow and using the brakes. so i am pretty happy with the snow traction.