My driveway apron is at a very steep angle from the road to the driveway, about 8" height difference for about 3 feet. The front skirt drags on the apron, and it started to pull the lower rubber strip out. I removed the rubber strip, but it still rubs slightly if I pull straight in. I have to pull in at an angle to avoid scraping, but something didn't feel right doing so. I watched my wife pull it in today and busted out laughing... The RR tire comes off the ground a good 6 inches because the rear suspension is topping out. My 2016 LS has 205/70R16 tires, I checked a tire size calculator and found 205/75R16 should give me just under 1/2 inch more ground clearance, but I can't find any good tires that size. There's about 1 inch clearance between the tire and front strut spring perch so that's about as far as you can safely go putting taller tires on it.
Ground Clearance = bad
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Not related but... I just read that the 2014-2017 Chevy Trax is among 4 million GM vehicles being recalled for airbag and seatbelt problems. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37321361
I read about that earlier today too. They should make that front page news on this site so everyone else knows about it. I have to bring the Trax in in a couple weeks for an oil change anyway so I'll probably be able to get the "update" at that time. I read online that it is just a simple electronic update of the software they need to do. What is odd is that for GM, the takata airbags fail to deploy, yet with Honda, Toyota, etc, the airbags deploy and explode and send metal shards flying.
Now that is really interesting.
I may have to do some experimenting to see if I am also carrying a tire into the driveway. I have a 12" rise over 5 feet and do not scrape anything with my 2015 LS.
If I get really ambitious I will get out the blocks and see just how much a tire can be raised before another one lifts.
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It is a function of limited travel in the individual wheels... to change that would be a major undertaking.
I see some Trax owners want kits to Lower the suspension, I see none to Raise it... but that is another possible way to make bad things worse, depending on how it is done.
The Trax is actually Independent Suspension. The image posted above shows part of the story, but not all. That big U shaped thing is actually 3 separate pieces, the ends pivot on the cross beam.
Independent Suspension does not have much to do with it anyway. As an example the most capable Off-Road vehicle, the Unimog, has rigid axles but Lots of travel (and a flexible frame too).
On looking under mine (2016 Trax LTZ) I see there are no sway-bars either front or back. No help there. Sway-bars are intended to keep the two sides in sync, off roaders disconnect them, or remove them entirely.
I see some Trax owners want kits to Lower the suspension, I see none to Raise it... but that is another possible way to make bad things worse, depending on how it is done.
The Trax is actually Independent Suspension. The image posted above shows part of the story, but not all. That big U shaped thing is actually 3 separate pieces, the ends pivot on the cross beam.
Independent Suspension does not have much to do with it anyway. As an example the most capable Off-Road vehicle, the Unimog, has rigid axles but Lots of travel (and a flexible frame too).
On looking under mine (2016 Trax LTZ) I see there are no sway-bars either front or back. No help there. Sway-bars are intended to keep the two sides in sync, off roaders disconnect them, or remove them entirely.
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does that apply to the Mexican/World version? I will ask when I get it serviced again.
GMs website has a recall area where you can enter your VIN# to see the recalls on your specific vehicle.
On the rear suspension hanging a tire in the air... The apron scraping is only going to get worse as the tread depth wears down. I'm going to try bumping the tire size up to 215/70R16 when it's time for tire replacement. A little wider, about 1/4" taller, and some cool looking rims at the same time.
Well... At 24k miles I got rid of the worn out 205/70R16 Continental tires and bought 215/70R16 Bridgestone
Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia tires. A wee bit wider and taller, I can now get up the driveway apron without sounding like a road construction crew, and the ride is smoother and quieter. I had skipped a few rotations, that's why the Continentals wore down so quickly.
Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia tires. A wee bit wider and taller, I can now get up the driveway apron without sounding like a road construction crew, and the ride is smoother and quieter. I had skipped a few rotations, that's why the Continentals wore down so quickly.
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Continental tires are crap and don't last,they have a 500 tread wear number which means you'd be lucky to get 25000 miles out of them even if you rotate them regularly. Mine have been rotated, they have about 30,000 Kms ( about 20,000 miles ) and if they make it through the summer I'd be surprised. they melt away like butter in the hot sun. They are such a bad riding tire I actually can't wait to replace them, they are horrible, they give a harsh ride they transfer a lot of road noise to the cabin and not one of them stayed round. I have to admit they wore evenly though because they never went out of balance. I will be replacing them with same size Michelin Defender with an 860 tread wear #
205/70-16 compared to 215/70-16
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205/70-16 compared to 215/70-16
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