[NotAPenguin]

Some info: My car has ~23,000 miles on what I'm assuming are the factory tires (I bought my car used). I drive pretty aggressively sometimes (mostly because I'm not very smart and because those roads are fun) and lately I realized my car started sliding on the sharper turns. Traction Control obviously kicked in and I assumed I was just going too fast (~50mph on sharp forest turns, I know, I'm dumb) so I just drove a bit slower the rest of the way. At my destination I checked the tires and the front looked fine, but the rear was getting close to the wear indicators. I read some posts on the forum about when everyone else changed their tires and realized I'm at about the average mileage. Next day I had to go back to the store which gave me the chance to go on the same roads and see if the sliding was just me or the car. I went ~40mph and it still slid a little even though I purposefully drove smoother and slower than before. Next day, I drove on that road just to see if the tires are gone. I went 30mph, and on the sharp turn the entire car slid to ~30 degree angle and slid all the way outside, almost hitting the guard rail. I drove back on the highway to avoid my stupid habit of speeding so much. Cut to last night, when my habit kicked in (I need to stop) and I nearly ended up rear-ending another car (wasn't paying attention and slammed on the brakes), the guard rail (same as last time), and coming back nearly got t-boned. It slid all the way into another lane and traction control kicked it back into the proper lane.

It seems ridiculous to me that the traction drop-off could be that severe, or maybe it's just me being a bad driver, but either way I am getting new tires soon. I have since stopped driving my car on any of the "fun" roads, at least until I get new tires. These experiences were eye-opening that I seriously need to change the way I drive before something bad happens. I will take this as a personal PSA and I seriously hope nobody else drives this dangerously on public roads.

 

[jetfuel]

…OK…you’re yet to find out what this car can do to you…or others…not the other way around…
…I’ll suggest you join your local SCCA for a day of Xcross and find out in a controlled environment…
…you knew your tires condition and still endanger yourself and others…
…not bright at all…

jetfuel….xcross is fun

 

[wahi]

You need more than good tires, man. Shape up.

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

Does make me wonder if OP has factory wheels, or if prior owner sized them the same all around. Time for new rubber at a minimum.

 

[smark]

I’ve driven in heavy rain, gravel roads, slick mud, ice, snow, fog. All conditions, even with worn 30k mile, Continentals. Never had the issues the Op‘s mention. Only time the little car, is unruly is on a very windy day.

 

[gtdump]

Only time I have had the car slide on me (and I do like to push boundaries on curvy country roads) was when the TC got knocked out in the dead of winter; an ice covered road in a Smart 451 without TC is no fun.

 

[NotAPenguin]

The tires are factory sized (165 front 195 rear) but I have 20mm spacers in front, if that affects it at all. If I can't get tires before next week I might remove the spacers.
I do seriously need track experience or something similar but there are literally no track days that I can go to near me.
The most likely problem is honestly me. I don't have much experience driving in general (only ~1.5 years currently), and I'm not driving as "safe" as I really should.

The back of the car still feels "floaty" for some reason. Maybe lower rear psi might help? I recently upped the psi back to stock levels and maybe I'm not used to it?

 

[wahi]

Well then. Yours are not "factory". Factory (stock) would be:

Front Size:15" 155/60-15 Rear Size:15" 175/55-15

But that aside, many of us here (including me) have gone to different other sizes and configs. The car does behave differently with different combinations. KInda fun to find out after the installation.

 

[jetfuel]

…wheel spacer are ok only if you get a alignment check done after the installation…
…moving the tire point of contact with the ground will change the geometry of the suspension….and will adversely affect camber….and changing the wheel offset outside of the zero scrub radius makes for a not fun ride…

Jetfuel…within limits with spacers…

 

[NotAPenguin]

They actually are factory sized. Sticker behind the door and research on the internet both say that is the correct size for a 2015 passion.
Also I am planning on getting an alignment and balancing after getting the new tires. I found out the wheel are balanced poorly and I should get an alignment anyways even though nothing feels off.
Also I lowered the psi on all the tires. Front at 27 psi and rear at 32 psi from 29 and 36, respectively. The car felt a lot less "floaty".

 

[Miss Mercedes]

Well then. Yours are not "factory". Factory (stock) would be:

Front Size:15" 155/60-15 Rear Size:15" 175/55-15

But that aside, many of us here (including me) have gone to different other sizes and configs. The car does behave differently with different combinations. KInda fun to find out after the installation.

He has the optional wheels found on later 451s, they're ever so slightly wider than the standard wheels.

But even then, the staggered tire setup is going to mean heavy understeer if you drive too hard, which I think our OP is. The "sliding" sounds like the front tires breaking traction, not the worn rears.

 

[jwight]

I watched a young Corvette driver try to keep a C5 Corvette on the road, in spite of its obviously worn tires. Not pretty. Good tires are all that's standing between you and the nearest immovable object...

 

[the big e]

I agree.
Before I got my smart I had managed to get my rx8(in near showroom condition as it had been garage kept the majority of its life by the previous owner)
First rainy day scared the literal **** out of me in it, why you ask? OLD TIRES.(they was the oem tires that came on it when it rolled off the line)
Needless to say I’ve learned not to push my luck with worn or incorrect tires on a vehicle.
When I got my smart it had a tire of a kind on each wheel so before I drove it I put on new tires.
Tires are nothing to go cheap on and worn tires are a danger to you and others(to the op your lucky you didn’t have that guardrail go through the car doing that)
Tires and brakes are the too main things that can save your hide in a emergency maneuver(trust me I’ve had a few close calls and both are a must)
I’ve(like the others) only ever had the smart get unruly in high cross winds otherwise it’s been like it’s on rails and stays on the road(I live on a gravel road and have had the traction control kick on a few times and it’s always been faster then me and I’m pretty quick on my reaction time.)