Highway driving
- Thread starter bbumbles
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Yes, it does wander in the wind - I've got 85k miles on my 2003 and it has done that from the very start. Probably a combination of a high vehicle, large side area, and suspension/alignment. Changing to Michelin CrossTerrains seemed to reduce it a bit over the OEM Dunflops, but it wasn't a huge change.
Last edited:
Interesting that I've noticed just the opposite. For a high profile vehicle with a considerable amount of side area, the 4R is pretty good about stability in my opinion. In the past I've owned Tahoe's, a double cab Tundra, full sized and smaller model Blazer, Aviator, etc. In fact I drove across west Texas in very heavy winds just a few weeks ago, had no problem.
Maybe you're coming from a lower profile small sided vehicle?
Maybe you're coming from a lower profile small sided vehicle?
Suspension will have minimal effects on the AERODYNAMICS of a car, if any. Grwing up in the South, I've had my fair share of harsh winds. 4Runner did about as well as any other SUV or truck with aerodynamics of a shoe box. No matter how stiff or sloppy your suspension, the WIND will push you side to side.
Agreed. But it has a great deal to do with how it reacts to side forces and how well it tracks.
I also agree with you. However, IF the cross winds are strong enough to blow you across the lanes, I really doubt stiffer springs will be the remedy. Think about how much the stock springs deform in a moderate wind storm. 1" at best? Is that really enough to throw you off track? Doesn't jive with me, but I could be wrong.
Very nice looking wheels blindside...are those off a Tundra?
It's not about spring stiffness. It is more about suspension geometry. There are plenty of large SUVs that don't wander as much on the highway as the 4Runner does.
And the wind doesn't have to "blow you across lanes" to cause the truck to wander.
charlier180
New member
My 4Runner does tend to wander more than my Daily Driver VW Golf. Then again, the 4Runner is considerably larger then the VW.
The 4Runner does wander a bit less when I am towing my enclosed trailer.
Probably has something to do with the additional weight along with the weight distributing hitch & dual cam sway control.
The 4Runner does wander a bit less when I am towing my enclosed trailer.
Probably has something to do with the additional weight along with the weight distributing hitch & dual cam sway control.
Last edited:
I don't think I'm getting my point across clearly. Ok, say you pull off on the side of the road during a wind storm. As the wind pushes against your car, how much does that affect the suspension? Very minimal amount. This is true whether you're standing still or going 70mph. It's aerodynamics that affects this wandering, not suspension. Anyway, this is how it made sense in my head.
JAC
New member
This is my first Large vehicle and hardly take it to the highway, but last summer went on a roadtrip to Texas and the truck wandered just a little and maybe because we had to pass through a very bad thunderstorm almost all the way . But on the way back it felt normal...maybe bcause we had tons of things on the cargo area.
It was a smooth ride...
It was a smooth ride...
Last edited:
