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Avalanche And Wind

W

whvt01

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2002
Messages
68
Location
Washington County TEXAS
One thing have noticed is the Avalanche is really
affected by wind while driving.

I did not notice this in my suburban or Silverado.

Last vehicles that really noticed the effect in was a Ford
conversion van and a Lincoln Navigator. The Lincoln
was not as bad as the Avalanche.

I do have a 4x4 so maybe this is the cause. Have
never riden in a 2wd.
 
Wind? Really? Gosh, I don't think so. Went riding last weekend (dirtbikes in back - higher than cab) and experienced a nasty, nasty crosswind on the drive home. Motorcycles were pulling off the freeway.

Anyway, I thought the Av did great... however, I'm used to driving a lifted Grand Cherokee that's both taller, narrower and lighter than my Av, so you maybe have a point.
 
I think tires may have a lot to do with how this feels. I thought the AV was a bit unstable at higher speeds -- until I switched to the Michelin Cross-Terrains. (Mine came with the Firestones... Wheels and tires are for sale, BTW)
 
IMO the Av is similar to other 'tall' vehicles as to performance in the wind. My experiences range from a conversion van (probably the worst) to my S-10 Blazer (similar to the Av).

Sure, it does get thrown around more than a low car (my Saturn for example) but I can live with it
 
It's been super windy this year where I live here in Illinois. The AV is huge so it will feel the wind a lot more. I don't hear it, but I feel it sometimes.
 
Don't hear a whistle inside, quite as can be, but you
really have to pay attention or find yourself drifting
to the other lane.

alignment is fine, no problem on a calm day.
 
I've noticed that my Av is tougher to drive on a very windy days, as compared to my '95 Yukon 2 dr I had. The steering in it is not as tight when traveling straight down the road the Av likes to wander.
 
Interesting discussion. I have noticed this as well. Would get a big guest of wind on the highway, feel like it wanted to push me to the other lane, my problem was felt like I was “rolling”

Just this past weekend found what was part of my problem. Tire Presssure. Bought my Av on February 23, (Ahhhh been just over a month now) and had never checked the tire pressure myself.

Have a Z66 with Goodyear’s. Max pressure says 44 psi. Best I had in any tire was 32. Ranged from 30-32. Pumped up to max and noticed a big difference.

Can obviously still “feel” the wind, but changed the whole ride of the truck for the better. Feels much more solid now. Still a smooth ride, but solid.

 
As a matter of fact on was just on the GSP....and the wind was really picking up...it's been nasty here for the last 2 days...rain etc.....

I found that I had to fight the wind often, the Av had the tendency to drift with the gusts.....I didn't quite hear all that much but definitely felt the effects...

I also run stock AT/s for rubber.....on 17's
 
The front of the AV is very BOXY - That will contribute greatly to it's massive wind resistance......

By design, the AV will ALWAYS be affected by strong winds. Unless you replace the front end with a DeLorean, you will be subject to wind resistance !!! ;D

Laterz........
 
This is totally a POV issue - compared to my wife's Thunderbird - my Av is terrible in the wind. :rolleyes: Compared to my Montana I trade in, my Av is a dream to drive in the wind. ;D
 
HEY CHIEF I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU, HOWEVER I SOLD MY FULL SIZE BRONCO EB 4X4 FOR THE AV AND IT SEEMED TO HANDLE BETTER IN THE WIND THAN THE AV. THE OVERALL RIDE WAS MUCH WORSE IN THE BRONCO BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO PULL ME ACROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC AS THE AV DOES, ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. I THINK MAYBE TIRE SIZE DOES HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, I HAD 33X10.5 ON THE BRONCO OR MAYBE IT WAS THE SHORT WHEELBASE HELPING IN THIS CASE. DON'T KNOW, BUT I DO NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MUCH LONGER AV.
 
The av handles the wind better then my old Tahoe.

It is all relative to what you have driven before.

Since it is taller and bigger it has more sail area so expect it to feel it a bit.
 
My previous vehicle was a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It wasn't quite as high or as long as the AV but it was lighter and narrower. It did not get near the wind push as my AV does.

My father in law, a life-long Ford owner, just bought a 2003 Expedition. I drove it about a week ago to my house and then drove my AV back to his house and the AV was pushed around more than his Expedition too.


I haven't checked the air pressure in the tires in the last couple of weeks. As I remember, I had put 36lbs in each tire. I will try going up to 40 to see if that helps.

Any other ideas of what may help?
 
I 'm driving my AV on 17" Wrangler AT/S. I traded in my tahoe. I don't really see much of a difference. It pulls a little bit with a strong gust, but so did my tahoe, and every vehicle I've ever owned. The only complaint I have with my AV is the WIND NOISE!!!!!! Sometimes I can't hear the person next to me. I'm not sure if it's the actual AV itself or if it's the wind deflector compined with the window vents. Anyone have anything to say on this. I'm sure it's in another forum. Do the deflectors/window vents cause excessive wind noise, especially on the highway. I bought the AV as a demo, so they were all ready on the AV when I got it. I would take them off if it would quiet down a bit. Does anyone have any ideas on this.
 
justhrowit said:
I 'm driving my AV on 17" Wrangler AT/S. ?I traded in my tahoe. ?I don't really see much of a difference. ?It pulls a little bit with a strong gust, but so did my tahoe, and every vehicle I've ever owned. ?The only complaint I have with my AV is the WIND NOISE!!!!!! ?Sometimes I can't hear the person next to me. ?I'm not sure if it's the actual AV itself or if it's the wind deflector compined with the window vents. ?Anyone have anything to say on this. ?I'm sure it's in another forum. ?Do the deflectors/window vents cause excessive wind noise, especially on the highway. ?I bought the AV as a demo, so they were all ready on the AV when I got it. ?I would take them off if it would quiet down a bit. ?Does anyone have any ideas on this.
Click to expand...

I don't notice any wind noise at all, it's quiet as a mouse. I just noticed it getting bounced around alot.....I compare it to driving on marbles. It seems especially bad when on the interstate and I go under a underpass.....after that brief abscense of wind a gust really throws me.
 
I notice very little wind noise, which is surprising given the unique shape of the Av. The Av does meander on windy days, but no worse than my old minivan.

Some of you are talking about putting 40 psi in your tires. The recommended pressure is 30 psi. Can't the added pressure be dangerous or cause excessive wear to the middle of the treads?
 
midlifecrisis said:
I notice very little wind noise, which is surprising given the unique shape of the Av. ?The Av does meander on windy days, but no worse than my old minivan.

Some of you are talking about putting 40 psi in your tires. ?The recommended pressure is 30 psi. ?Can't the added pressure be dangerous or cause excessive wear to the middle of the treads?
Click to expand...

My A/T Tires state the max psi at 44lbs.
 
I traded a '97 Tahoe on my AV. One of the first things that I noticed about the AV was how much easier it is to drive in the wind than the Tahoe. I suspect tires have a lot to do with this. The Tahoe had higher profile tires than the AV does.
 
Interstate 40 thru New Mexico has some real stiff cross winds. (with wind warning signs and wind socks) I have driven both a Navigator and the AV on it and I think the AV handled better. Neither was excellent but both body styles present a lot of flat surface to the wind.

My wife's Eldorado, which is low enough to scrape stop buttons (remember those). has no wind resistance at all, really a great car in the wind. Too bad I don't like to drive it all that much, I feel like my behind is dragging the pavement, I like sitting on top of the world in the AV.
 
My 97 Tahoe was much more stable than my 03 Av, and my Av has Michelin Cross Terrains with 30 lbs.

I thought before I bought the Av and am now sure the instability in winds is due to the rear end sitting so high.

I feel the Av is higher in the rear than it needs to be, and am not sure why GM does this in such an extreme manner. I would like to find out if it can be made level with the front without hurting the smooth ride.
 
My Av is very bad in the wind. :7: I have a serious case of the "drunken weaves" anytime it's even slightly windy.

I'm one who like to drive with a single hand, or sometimes just two fingers on the wheel. When it's windy, I have to assume the grandma racer position, with the hands at 10 and 2 o'clock. :cautious:

I'm running my tires around 35psi. Stock on/off roads.

My last truck was an S10 Blazer. 5" lift. 31x10.5 mud tires. ~4000lbs. It was better than the Av. :6:
 
Well I can tell you that my 02 Suburban was more susceptible to wind and produced a lot more wind noise then my AV does. As a matter of fact it is the first thing that I noticed when I took my first drive :love: But I do have a 2500 which has a stiffer suspension then does the 1500 I am sure it makes a difference. I also agree that tires have a major effect on handling, more specifically the sidewalls.
 
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