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Slight Shimmy Feeling on Steel Bridges

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Steve Gibson, Sep 26, 2012.

  1. Steve Gibson

    Steve Gibson Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Sunbelt Region of USA in TSS Edition
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    When traveling over bridges that have a ribbed steel ramp over the draw portion of the bridge, my 2012 Gen III does a slight shimmy...

    Does anyone else experience this? BTW Could tire pressure be affect it?...

    THX
    Steve
     
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    III
    I travel over such a bridge every day on my daily commute. I do not have an issue with this with my current tires.

    What I have found over the years is that the determining factor in how the car travels over the ribbed steel is the tire tread pattern. If the pattern is straight grooves without any cross pattern and the grooves are pretty close to the width of the steel ribs, the car will tend to wander as the tire treads move in and out of the steel ribs.

    I had one set of tires like above and it felt like I was almost swerving from side to side every time I crossed the draw portion of the bridge.
     
    Plasmahidef likes this.
  3. dmvp

    dmvp Member

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    I have the same situation when I drive on lined cement roads. No sure if it's the tire pressure or the type of tires.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i get it on the steel ribs. immediately take my foot off the gas and put a death grip on the wheel.:eek: