Wind Problems

[jimvw57]

If you let it get pushed around a bit it will straighten itself out. I quit fighting it to keep it straight and it only moved a but, then straightened out.
My expedition makes full lane changes with a stiff cross wind, The Smart is a lot better at staying in place. Wouldn't hurt to check tire pressure, high tire pressure will make it swerve more in the wind.

I use the recomended 29 front and 35 rear pressures

[sunnyokanagan]

Allowing for the fact that my experience is with the Canadian 450, I have been driving the wee fortwo for 3-1/2 years now and tweaking it all the while, including tire pressure.

I have no idea why smart decided on the 29/36 spec for the 451. The 450 is spec'd 29/29. It could be a fuel economy tweak, or a traction-balance tweak, or...? I any event, I have experimented with this at considerable length.

The long and short of it is that I have found the best compromise of traction, ride comfort, fuel economy, and tire life to be with 32F/34R (in-town) and 34/36 (highway). Pressures must be taken at COLD, not after driving.

Further complicating the ride/stability equation is my addition of Bilstein gas shocks and springs. Lowering is minimal, and corner-balancing was perfectly race-tuned by my independent smart specialist.

Further still, before balance/tuning, we swapped out the stock front skinny tires for 175/55/r15s, the same as the rear.

Day-to-day handling is now superb, ride comfort is sweet, and wind buffeting is minimal.

Just my personal experience notes, FWIW.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by smark

Sorry your wrong!!!!

Puzzling comment .... Since my post briefly touched on several Issues, I have no idea what you're referring to.
You took pains to describe the obvious but its sophistry has little or no bearing on my post. Oversteer and understeer are characteristics that have several causal factors. Tire pressure is one of them and that was the topic under discussion.

A harsh ride and choppiness are also separate issues. The former can exist in vehicles of any wheelbase length, the latter is most prevalent in short wheelbase cars.

[PeteInLongBeach]

Originally Posted by bentoutofshape

Putting snow tires on doesn't answer the question. My car is getting blown around.

Your issue referred to being blown out of control on ice and snow, which my suggestion of snow tires and/or studded tires would help address. So that was my answer to the question.

With the short wheelbase and high profile, something needs to be resolved.

That "something" would be the laws of physics, which isn't so easily resolved. You can't lengthen the wheelbase, lower the profile, or add significant weight. It is what it is, much like any other purpose-built vehicle (buses, motorhomes, motorcycles, 18-wheelers, SUVs, dune buggies, etc). Each type of vehicle has its own particular purpose and dynamics. For example, I can live in my motorhome, but I don't expect it to perform like a Corvette. I can use the smart as an inexpensive commuter car, getting 50 mpg, park it anywhere, change out a body panel in a few minutes, etc., but I don't expect it to tour cross-country like a Maybach.

I can violently rock my car from side to side with my hands.

Yeah, we know... it's meant to be light and efficient. I can do that with my Citroen 2cv too, but it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it. It's a light car and is easier to push around. I buy such cars BECAUSE they are light, small, convenient, simple, economical, etc.

#2 - I'm not putting lowering spring on until we figure out what aftermarket shock/strut we need to be using.
Are you running lower springs? Its amazing what you figure out when buy it and have it installed. Or are you talking from what you heard?

I'm not sure what you are asking here. The stock front suspension is designed with relatively short wheel travel. My car is 100% stock and will likely remain that way, as I don't feel that I "need to be using" anything else. And even though I think smart could improve on the ride quality a bit, I generally don't believe in cavalier re-engineering with aftermarket retrofits.

[grwhitaker]

Originally Posted by jimvw57

If you let it get pushed around a bit it will straighten itself out. I quit fighting it to keep it straight and it only moved a but, then straightened out.
My expedition makes full lane changes with a stiff cross wind, The Smart is a lot better at staying in place. Wouldn't hurt to check tire pressure, high tire pressure will make it swerve more in the wind.

I use the recomended 29 front and 35 rear pressures

You really haven't lived until you drive an Expedition in from Palm Desert to LA on I-10 any night of the week. The prevailing headwinds not only slow you down, but you definitely are fighting to maintain your lane for the 25-30 miles between the Springs and Banning/Beaumont. There isn't a major electrical windmill farm in that area for nothing LOL. It's not for the faint hearted. I haven't tried it with the smart [yet], but very soon...

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by grwhitaker

You really haven't lived until you drive an Expedition in from Palm Desert to LA on I-10 any night of the week. The prevailing headwinds not only slow you down, but you definitely are fighting to maintain your lane for the 25-30 miles between the Springs and Banning/Beaumont. There isn't a major electrical windmill farm in that area for nothing LOL. It's not for the faint hearted. I haven't tried it with the smart [yet], but very soon...

Made that trip many times, many, many years ago in a 68 VW van Now THAT'S an experience

[wildman]

Just got my 09 yesterday, coming home in the high winds I did notice being blown around, lowering the speed from 65 to 55 did make a difference. Nothing was unexpected, My wife was following me in her Mini. The mini does better, but it has a longer wheel base, is heavier and sits lower. The smart reminded me of my old Suzuki Samurai when I lifted it and put on big tires. With the 33's and 30 lbs of air it was all over the place (without wind). I tested the weight and found that with that much air and such a light vehicle I was just riding on the center tread. Further testing showed that 12 lbs in the tires allowed the tire to flatten out, and then drove like a dream. I will try lowering the front pressure slightly and see what that does. Handling was better than I expected for such a short wheelbase tall vehicle.

[jimvw57]

Been through Altamont pass in Northern CA, I assume it would be similar, snowstorms can be much worse up here in Minnesota, add blinding snow to 40 MPH winds, now stick a 4 place enclosed trailer behind an Expedition, and drive on wind packed snow over ice.... THATS an experience. All you can tell of the road is a general idea where the ditches are on either side.... well sort of...