There is this one particular intersection with some pretty severe ruts (like 2 inches, so severe being a relative term). If I'm not lined up correctly as I pull to a stop, the steering wheel will buck to whichever side is "down" the slope of the rut. The first time it happened the car nearly went off the road even though I was almost stopped, so I'd say it was pretty close to 90 deg.

It's the only intersection I've been through with bad ruts, and it's the only place I've ever had the wheel snap around like that. If I'm a little right of the center of the rut, it'll snap left. If I'm left of center it'll snap right. So I just center myself before I get there and it won't pull as much (cuz I'm not perfect and can't get perfectly centered on it). It does occur on other intersections with not-so-bad ruts, but not as much.

 

windy hill and 41 by chance? the left turn lanes off of windy hill onto 41 NB have really bad ruts, and the first time i experienced them, i almost side swiped a car.

 

Nope, the one I'm talking about is in the right lane at the intersection of Holcomb Bridge and P'tree Corners Pkwy (going south on HB).

 

I've experienced this on my 05 as well. It hasn't been severe but it def catches me off guard.

My car is stock except for painted calipers. The problem happened before that though.

 

Suggestion; if you have any friends w/different tires than yourselves..... might ask if you can drive their cars. I found changing tires made the biggest difference in this 'problem' area. Meaning some tires will be better, some the same, and some possibly worse.

But more likely differences in tire belt construction or tread design, or rubber composition...those types of things contribute more than anything else. IMHO blaming the car is the wrong direction to go w/this - Why? Too many people experience this and wonder for it to be something so unlikely as a misalignment, for example. Of course the cars inherent sport type handling contribute, but that is the nature of our beast. We don't have shock dampers in the steering mechanism, we don't have upteen turns lock-to-lock to softwn the feel, etc is what I'm getting at. Reflect on all those who have come before your experience and how they have come to a resolution.

For myself, this 'problem' pretty much disappeared after ditching the Bridgestones for the Falken RT-615s. Why? well, the Falkens are a much MUCH softer riding tire, a nice cushy ride in fact, w/far less bump thump, HUGHLY less tire noise and a slightly 'softer' steering response (you don't feel like the slightest twitch of the steering wheel sends the car off in a new direction instantaneously).

Maybe this helps you I hope?

 

There is plenty of road feel, just different. These are my track tires after all, and I'd rip them off in a nanosec if they were anything but stellar!

I got them when they were just out early '05, so no one had any tests or reviews of them. Pig in a poke, so to speak. So the day I put them on, when I was driving home from the dealer, I thought "Oh #!it!, I'm screwed! I've lost that 'on a rail' feel..."

Well, of course that was an a-b knee-jerk response right after the switchover, but I would say in retrospect it was probably a small, but yes, a noticeable 'civilizing' of the steering feel. I'm used to it now and it's a more comfortable feel, less paying attention to every little road irregularity. I have the feeling the treads just "engulf" any small road ruts or bumps.... it's a very reassuring feeling that you aren't going to go 'crash, bang' just because the road isn't perfect. They just go 'caflump' and roll on.

They were near the treadwear indicators after 10K miles, but that also included an active track season. I bought new ones this year, just wider. They're awesome really, supple on the highway, delightful on track....but I don't mean to sound like a commercial.