Lound knowing noise and tyre shifting/ slipping while maneuvering at low speed

[MMA]

Der Maserati Enthusiasts!

I trust you are well and had a goos start in 2025.

When I maneuver my Quattroporte VI GTS (M156), having turned the steering wheel heavily and driving slowly, I hear loud knoking noise and the front of the car & front tire shifts/ slipping. Hearing/ feeling this the first time is quite frightening.
Do you have any ideas? Recommendations?

I am happy to read your kind advice.
Many thanks and best wishes

 

[CatmanV2]

Welcome!
It's Ackerman effect. It's the design of the suspension. Google it if you're interested but the tyres *are* indeed skipping sideways. Old / stiffer / colder tyres make it worse, but nothing to worry about. Totally normal on the Ghibli 3 and QPVI

C

 

[allandwf]

As C says. My Alfa suffers from this, was terrible when it was needing new tyres, first time I encountered it I thought something was broken!

 

[MMA]

Hi CatmanV2, many thanks for your kind note. That’s good to know! I was worried about inner or outer tie rod or other components as well as the noise is really loud …

 

[MMA]

Hi allandwf, many thanks. Yes, I feel the same, like something is broken or completely worn out. The noise in combination with that feeling and the slipping…

 

[Zep]

Tyre slip is normal for cars without true Ackerman (this is what Catman means). Clunking and banging on the other hand suggests the bushes / joints might not be in fine fettle.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yeah, I mean metal on metal type stuff would be bad.

C

 

[MMA]

Thank you all for your amazing help. In case of clunking/ banging sound which parts would you suspect may cause it?

 

[conaero]

I now have this on an Alfa after fitting Maxxis tyres. These are the performance version. On my other exact same Alfa I have the Maxxis touring tyres and this doesn’t do it. I swapped the front tyres and the problem followed the tyres.

My advice change the front tyres to something another person runs without this issue.

 

[CatmanV2]

I now have this on an Alfa after fitting Maxxis tyres. These are the performance version. On my other exact same Alfa I have the Maxxis touring tyres and this doesn’t do it. I swapped the front tyres and the problem followed the tyres.

My advice change the front tyres to something another person runs without this issue.

I have Vredestein Quatrac Pros on 20" wheels on the front of the Ghibli and no issues, even sub zero. They are 2 years old this month as well.

C

 

[P R]

Winter tyres also cure the issue..

 

[dickygrace]

Michelin Cross Climates fix the issue. I’ve done it on 3 different cars over the last 2-3 years.

 

[Ebenezer]

Is it really a problem, if it's only the tyres and manoeuvring at low speed at the extremes of the steering range?
Eb

 

[allandwf]

Is it really a problem, if it's only the tyres and manoeuvring at low speed at the extremes of the steering range?
Eb

Yes usually when I'm doing a three point turn or reversing on full lock. It's disconcerting when first encountered.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yes usually when I'm doing a three point turn or reversing on full lock. It's disconcerting when first encountered.

Indeed. But not something I felt the need to fix until the tyres were done. And not the first criterion I considered when buying new tyres

C

 

[conaero]

Well done Ghibli chaps, nice to know which ones don't do it for other members.

 

[CJ Romeo]

P Zero was the worst for this by a mile, but PS4S and Ultrac Pro still do it to a certain extent on very cold days.

None do it above 10 degree Celcius- it was quite alarming on the Pirelli’s.

 

[CatmanV2]

P Zero was the worst for this by a mile, but PS4S and Ultrac Pro still do it to a certain extent on very cold days.

None do it above 10 degree Celcius- it was quite alarming on the Pirelli’s.

Certainly worried me at first!

In fact I seem to recall I asked about it as well

C

 

[Zep]

I dunno. You could argue that tyres that don’t grip and skip with the same steering angles have less grip. Case in point, winter tyres….

 

[allandwf]

I dunno. You could argue that tyres that don’t grip and skip with the same steering angles have less grip. Case in point, winter tyres….

Mine skips more with worn tyres. Gets progressively worse. I have cross climates on. The worn Pirellis were terrible, transformed with new Cross climates but now they are half worn starting to get more noticeable.