I keep skidding!

Hello all,

Just wanted to ask for some advice on an issue I've been having driving my Jimny. Twice now my back end has spun out while going round sharp corners at low speed. The first time it happened I was quite unlucky and ended up hitting a wall and the second time I was luckier and managed to correct it.

The conditions were similar both times - a wet winding country road at an incline - and both times I was going pretty slowly. The second time especially - I was shaken up by the first one and had even built up a bit of a queue of traffic behind me because of my caution, but it happened anyway. The first time I put it down to driver error as I was new to the vehicle and the conditions weren't great, but now I wonder if there is a bit of an issue with the Jimny too.

The Jimny itself is an 04 plate and is pretty much stock. I've checked the tyres carefully - they are Bridgestone Dueller HTs and I think they might be quite old but they've got a tonne of tread and no obvious damage. The suspension in general looks really worn and rust damaged, but it passed it's MOT in June with no issue and I don't know how much that would affect road-holding anyway (I'm a complete novice when it comes to mechanics). The only modification I've made which could affect handling in any way is to swap the standard three spoke alloys for steel wheels with a different offset (but they were advertised as specifically being for the Jimny).

I'm obviously quite concerned about this from a safety point of view. The next modification I had planned was for all terrain tyres and I'm now quite nervous about that. I need to make sure that I don't do anything that could worsen this. So far I've been lucky not to hit another vehicle but I don't want to risk it. Clearly the most obvious thing to do is to drive even more cautiously, but I'd also like to rule out anything mechanical exacerbating the situation.

Thanks for your help in advance!

This is difficult. I am sorry to say I expect a few people who are used to front wheel drive and try a Jimny forget it is rear wheel drive and it catches them out. We would like to think that a 4x4 would be better in wet conditions but if the rear drive only is in use then I can say from experience it has to be driven with some caution. This is why I prefer permanent 4x4s or even ones with the front wheels driving primarily. The trouble is one cannot use 4x4 on some fourbies permanently or on paved roads because of wind up.

Also tyres can play a part but those you have are like I have on my Pajero and I love them. Having said that my Pajero can break away on some turns like roundabouts as it it too is primarily RWD (but I can use 4x4 permanently if I want to as it has a system that allows it).

I would be surprised if the suspension was causing a problem but you never know.

Hi furo, i had this problem with my first jimny and it is the tyres, the standard bridgestones are just ditchfinders, once i changed them to some decent at tyres the problem was solved. Now i have bought a later model i am back to standard tyres and am having .the same problems so the next upgrade will be some decent tyres as soon as i can afford them

first check tyre pressure is not to high
second if you've never drove RWD
find a suitable field and have some fun correcting slides/over steer

The rubber hardens and looses grip once tyres get to 4 or 5 year old, no matter how much tread they have,

I had this happen on my 4.5 year old grabbers,

some new AT's will give you much better grip, especially with winter approaching

Thanks for the replies guys!

Wombat: That's useful to know, thanks! Can you recommend any particular tyre brands?

Helijohn: Thanks for the help. One thing that bugged me was the fact that the vehicle behind me was a Ford Ranger and it absolutely flew by soon after and went into the following corners pretty hard. Obviously it's a different vehicle but I imagine it has a similar set-up.

Jackonlyjack: Thanks as well man! Yeah I checked the tyre pressures after the first time and they were spot on and I've checked them again since. Haha I'll have to do that!