2002-996 drifting?

Hi: I am a new member and would like to get some feedback from the forum. I have a stock 2002 C2 coupe, with 18" Carrera wheels mounted with Continental Sport Contact 2 tires, 225/40ZR18 in the fronts and 285/30ZR18 in the rears. When I am driving on the freeways at 70-80 MPH, the car feels like it wants to drift right when I am making a left turn and vice versa. I had a 1984 928S before I purchase the 2002 C2 coupe, so I could be use to the tracking of the 928S or now that the engine is the rear instead of the front, the drifting is normal or is anyone else experiencing the drifting problem with their 2002 C2? Thanks for any advice you can give me. Bocky

Hi and congrats on your new purchase. If this helps ( I am presuming you have checked the tension on all bolts holding wheel & that the wheels have been correctly balanced) - the drifting may be down to tire PSI. Check them as the general opinion is that your Porsche dealer may have the PSI as follows 36 fronts 44 rears This would be cold air PSI. Your tires warm up when you travel at any considerable speed and the PSI would ordinarily rise by as much as 20%. Reduce the PSI down to fr=32psi rear=38psi or less. I had similar problem to yours and upon reducing PSI I solved the problem and the car tracked more progressive at all speeds. This is the most cost effective change you ought to try before approaching dealer if problem persists.

Get rid of the Conti�s and replace them with S03�s, that worked for me. I can�t believe they are OEM on the 996... whats next, a SUV from Porsche? Carlos from Spain.

Thanks 996cab for the info, I will do that immediately and report what the results are. Sorry Carlos, can't get rid of the Conti yet, my dad just brought me the car and he is having a fit about me changing everything.

As mentioned above, check your tire pressure(s) first. The Conti's are a reputable tire. Your car may be balanced and you are just overly sensitive (new car)to road/bump steer feedback. Most roads are crowned in the middle. Find an open road and ride in the the middle of the crown of the road. Does it drive straight? Try the wrong side of the road. Does it pull/drift left? If so, your car suspension/tire pressure is fine. Hope this helps. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> Tom 97 C2S 02 C4 Cab

Thanks Tom for your advice, but when I am make a turn in a left bend on the freeway, the car feels like it wants to drift to my right side. My 84 928S seems to track better, but it is a wider and heavier car. Maybe I am not use to the lighter and rear engine aspects of the 996? Your comments please.

bocky, how did the tire PSI changes affect the issues you mentioned? Pls comment.

996cab: It has been raining, so it is difficult to judge the tires and lowering of the tire pressure. I will give you a report after a sunny day run. Thanks for the advice. bocky

Bocky, just a thought because this kind of thing occured on a friends Ferrari 512 TR a few years back. Turns out the rear was improperly aligned, the rear tires were toed out instead of being toed in and that made the car squirrely under acceleration and cornering. Anyway, just a thought. K

Kaz: thanks for the advice, I will contact the dealer to check out the car completely including alignment. bocky

How many miles do you have on the tires themselves?? Reason for asking is that when I put Michelin Pilot Sports on they were loose and squirrely at first, but after a few hunderd miles that sensation went away. Just another thought. Can I borrow your Dad to get me another Porsche? - wow, nice!

Bocky: Does your car drift, OR, does it FEEL like it wants to drift right in a left hand bender? Are you lifting off the gas? <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" /> Physics and or PSM might be what you are fighting/feeling. I'd get your car out to a DE; jump in the PASSENGER seat (turn off PSM if you have it) and let the instructor throttle steer some turns through the limits of adhesion, until the back end is hanging out. If he/she says it's good to go, then you give it a try. FWIW, the wifes C4 with PSM on handles scarrily well vs. my C2S. Too many computers correcting the car to get it sideways. On the other hand, the speed and slip angle to do so would have my C2 ground looping. My .02$ Tom

Brent: I have 2,000 miles on my Conti's, thanks for the dad compliment. Tom: Thanks for your input. The car feels like it wants to drift, really loose like, unstable, as if the back end is ready to lose traction. As Brent puts it, squirrelly. No PSM on the car. The rear alignment is OK, the lower PSI has helped I will progressively take the bends faster, to see if the lower PSI has corrected the problems. Thanks to all for your input.

bocky, Keep experimenting with the PSI, particularly with the rear tires, as you may find optimum grip at a lower PSI. Thinking more of your issue now, I do remember the high PSI on the front made the car too 'sharp' for me. So again try the PSI at the front tires - I did find 32 to be the optimum for me however in the UK the weather may be different to where you are - hot or cold climate also affect tire PSI behaviours! Before you start taking bends faster on streets, get to know the cars limits on a race track preferably with a tutor - I did mine fortunately with Johnny Mowlem, Porsche Cup driver from the 98/99 season, in a Boxster a 993 C2 and a 996 C2 & C4. C4 had PSM - It was a real eye opener! Funny thing was his first few comments were and I quote, �Tire PSI makes a big difference to how any Porsche handles on the limit�. At the time I thought brakes, suspension and engine power made the differenc to how a car handled on the limit.

Bocky - 2000 miles is plenty to get rid of any new tire squirelly feel. Give your Dad a hug and tell him you love him as many chances as possible! Brent