Talk of The Villages Florida

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-   All About Golf Carts and Things (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/all-about-golf-carts-things-156/)
-   -   New Yamaha Quiet Tech front tires bowed out. (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/all-about-golf-carts-things-156/new-yamaha-quiet-tech-front-tires-bowed-out-339316/)

Mustagotlost 02-26-2023 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2191442)
Lots of camber is normal for stability off road.

Should be toed in 1/8" - 1/4" .

I think it has too much camber. Maybe a it is different for a Golf Cart. I did front end alignment on cars for years. Just looking at this picture it looks like it has lots of camber on the drivers sided too much camber. It difficult to tell without measuring it. With that said camber should not make tires explode.

Pamelah 02-26-2023 04:03 PM

Front Tires Blew Out
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2191401)
Got a new 2022 Yamaha Quiet Tech and absolutely love it. Between the four way independent suspension, rack in pinion steering, super quiet ride, ample room for a tall guy, and 250 - 300 mile range on a tank of gas, it’s a perfect ride for the Villages. One thing about the cart that bothers me is that the front tires are noticeably bowed out (wider at the base than the top). Is anyone else aware of this and know the reason for the design? Is this for better handling? I am concerned this design will lead to premature tire wear and necessitate frequent tire rotations? Has anyone tried to fix this with either an alignment or other front end modifications? Curious minds want to know? Please, I don’t want to hear that I should have purchased an electric cart!

We have a Yamaha Quiet Tech about 5 years old and both front tires blew out from excessive wear on the inside. within 6 months of each other in the past year. ( we are here 4mo/yr). Required 2 new tires and calls made to Carts and Clubs and elsewhere were answered with, a shrug and “it sometimes happens”. Something ain’t right but they don’t want to admit it apparently.

lawgolfer 02-26-2023 04:42 PM

Design Criteria is for Off-Road
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2191401)
Got a new 2022 Yamaha Quiet Tech and absolutely love it. Between the four way independent suspension, rack in pinion steering, super quiet ride, ample room for a tall guy, and 250 - 300 mile range on a tank of gas, it’s a perfect ride for the Villages. One thing about the cart that bothers me is that the front tires are noticeably bowed out (wider at the base than the top). Is anyone else aware of this and know the reason for the design? Is this for better handling? I am concerned this design will lead to premature tire wear and necessitate frequent tire rotations? Has anyone tried to fix this with either an alignment or other front end modifications? Curious minds want to know? Please, I don’t want to hear that I should have purchased an electric cart!

Yamaha designs the suspension for use on golf courses and not level paved surfaces. Their carts have negative camber with the tires being closer together at the top than the bottom. This adds to the cart's stability when traversing a hillside where one side of the cart is uphill and the other downhill. Yamaha is so confident with this set-up that it makes no provision to adjust the camber.

Also, the photo of your cart was taken when it was empty. Add a driver and passenger whose combined weight might range from 300 to 400+ lbs and you will find the negative camber is significantly reduced.

In short, don't worry about the negative camber of your cart's front wheels. If you experience unusual tire wear, it is likely due to one or both being under-inflated or the toe-in being incorrect. Toe-in is easily adjustable on all golf carts provided the bushings are not shot or a tie-rod or steering knuckle is not bent.

I join the other respondents with their concerns about the enormous LED light bar on your cart. I appreciate that you have taken steps to minimize the problems these lights cause for approaching drivers; however, I doubt those steps are as effective as you believe them to be. Even so, I wish other owners would try to follow your lead. The truth is that these light bars cannot be effectively adjusted to avoid blinding oncoming drivers as they are unfocused and have no "cut-off" as do modern automobile headlights. Even when you think you have them pointed downward, if your cart hits a bump or is coming uphill in relation to an oncoming cart, you will blind the other driver. Many Village residents have cataracts or have had cataract replacement surgery. Most suffer "glare and flare" when confronted by these light bars. More times than I like to count, I have had to dramatically slow my cart or even pull to the side of the cart path when blinded by these lights. With the standard LED headlights on your new Yamaha as well as other brands of carts, there is no need for these light bars.

villagetinker 02-26-2023 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawgolfer (Post 2191943)
Yamaha designs the suspension for use on golf courses and not level paved surfaces. Their carts have negative camber with the tires being closer together at the top than the bottom. This adds to the cart's stability when traversing a hillside where one side of the cart is uphill and the other downhill. Yamaha is so confident with this set-up that it makes no provision to adjust the camber.

Also, the photo of your cart was taken when it was empty. Add a driver and passenger whose combined weight might range from 300 to 400+ lbs and you will find the negative camber is significantly reduced.

In short, don't worry about the negative camber of your cart's front wheels. If you experience unusual tire wear, it is likely due to one or both being under-inflated or the toe-in being incorrect. Toe-in is easily adjustable on all golf carts provided the bushings are not shot or a tie-rod or steering knuckle is not bent.

I join the other respondents with their concerns about the enormous LED light bar on your cart. I appreciate that you have taken steps to minimize the problems these lights cause for approaching drivers; however, I doubt those steps are as effective as you believe them to be. Even so, I wish other owners would try to follow your lead. The truth is that these light bars cannot be effectively adjusted to avoid blinding oncoming drivers as they are unfocused and have no "cut-off" as do modern automobile headlights. Even when you think you have them pointed downward, if your cart hits a bump or is coming uphill in relation to an oncoming cart, you will blind the other driver. Many Village residents have cataracts or have had cataract replacement surgery. Most suffer "glare and flare" when confronted by these light bars. More times than I like to count, I have had to dramatically slow my cart or even pull to the side of the cart path when blinded by these lights. With the standard LED headlights on your new Yamaha as well as other brands of carts, there is no need for these light bars.



I found the original Yamaha LED headlights (2017 vintage) to be ineffective, especially with the tinted windshield. I found MOTORCYCLE driving lights (LED based) that are DOT approved and can be aimed to light the road and not blind on coming drivers. These were around $25 for a pair, and I found that only one is required. If people are interested, I will dig up the Amazon link and post it. I also have these on a separate fuse and switch from the headlights.

jimjamuser 02-26-2023 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennisgavin (Post 2191736)
I have a 2020 and the tires are toed out and they have uneven wear. THe tech told me that Yamaha did it with the increased speeds of the carts to help prevent roll over possibilities when taking turns at higher speeds. Whether that is true or not I don't know but I am not happy about it.

Dealers and The Villages OUGHT TO standardize the speed limits for carts on streets. 20 mph, 25 mph, or whatever - just pick one and stick to it, and no cheating and jacking up the governor.

jimjamuser 02-26-2023 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve (Post 2191836)
Rolling a golf cart is pretty hard to do since all the weight is at the bottom of the cart. If you've ever seen a golf cart that's been in an accident it's always on it's side, not upside down. With that low center of gravity, unless you're on the side of a steep hill, it's difficult to tip over.

I would say that the center of gravity for a GAS golf cart is rather HIGH, especially if bigger wheels are put on.Then if you jack up their speed, you are asking for trouble!
........The independent rear suspension would offset that high center of gravity to a certain extent. Plus Yamaha makes quality products.

jimjamuser 02-26-2023 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HJBeck (Post 2191845)
Ours does that as well. I did a realignment to make them straight. BAD IDEA. The cart would not track properly. Driving scared the Hell out of me. I put them right back to where they were.

What a surprise, the factory knew best!

jimjamuser 02-26-2023 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedMike (Post 2191883)
I have a 2012 Yamaha that I bought new. I had over 26,000 miles on the original tires. Yes 26,000 miles! I decided to put radial tires on it and they bounced like crazy. After a month I went back and was told they couldn’t balance tires or had a remedy. I had them removed and went back to bias belted tires. Just did that this week and ride is much much better. Still a little hop but hoping with a little miles on it will be like ride from my originals.

I think that bias ply would be superior on a low-speed golf cart. Radial tires were pioneered for race cars and better gas mileage. Also, to heat up less and be more controlled in a HIGH-SPEED blowout. None of which applies to a Golf Cart.

Velvet 02-26-2023 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2191965)
What a surprise, the factory knew best!

Hmmmm? It also depends on HOW it is put together. And why have a golf cart set up for hills on a golf course if most of your mileage is on pavement…

JMintzer 02-26-2023 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2191962)
I would say that the center of gravity for a GAS golf cart is rather HIGH, especially if bigger wheels are put on.Then if you jack up their speed, you are asking for trouble!
........The independent rear suspension would offset that high center of gravity to a certain extent. Plus Yamaha makes quality products.

Do you even own a golf cart?

Elaine Dickinson 02-26-2023 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3105boy (Post 2191733)
..... and PLEASE tilt your blinding LED bar down. Thank you.

I've been blinded so many times by these stupid LED stadium lights it's insane. Obviously the people who don't tilt them down haven't a clue.

jimjamuser 02-27-2023 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elaine Dickinson (Post 2192012)
I've been blinded so many times by these stupid LED stadium lights it's insane. Obviously the people who don't tilt them down haven't a clue.

Good USEFULpost.

BostonRich 02-27-2023 08:15 AM

It's an Issue
 
Just went through this with our new 2022 Yamaha. Tires already started showing wear. Seems to be an issue with Yamaha for some reason. Ordered adjustable shocks from Power Equipment Man and had them installed. Fixed problem although ride is a bit stiffer at least initially.

See video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI1t...erEquipmentMan

Before pic of another cart from his website:

https://judgeme.imgix.net/power-equi...=format&w=1024

After pic of same cart:

https://judgeme.imgix.net/power-equi...=format&w=1024

Power Equipment Man site is very informative for golf car(t) problems.

Good Luck.

P.S. They wouldn't be making these adjustable shocks if there wasn't a problem.

holmesperdue 02-27-2023 10:17 AM

I asked the same question on my 2018 4 1/2 years ago. They said that's the way they are supposed to be. In those years, I've had no abnormal wear...

lawgolfer 02-27-2023 11:18 AM

Much Better Than LED Light Bar
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2191953)

I found the original Yamaha LED headlights (2017 vintage) to be ineffective, especially with the tinted windshield. I found MOTORCYCLE driving lights (LED based) that are DOT approved and can be aimed to light the road and not blind on coming drivers. These were around $25 for a pair, and I found that only one is required. If people are interested, I will dig up the Amazon link and post it. I also have these on a separate fuse and switch from the headlights.

The motorcycle light, if needed, is a much better idea than an LED light bar. The light bars are unfocused and have no cut-off at the top. To understand the difference, tonight park your car in front of your closed garage door and turn on the headlights. You will see a sharp, flat, horizontal line on the left side which turns upwards at an angle on the right side. This is a focused lens.

Hopefully, the motorcycle light works the same.


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