READERS’ QUESTIONS
QUESTION
My Porsche 718 Boxster makes a skipping or rubbing noise when I turn left at low speeds. Should I be worried?
Alex Johnson, Leicester
ANSWER
This sounds like a classic case of the unnerving but relatively harmless Ackermann effect. It occurs when the car’s tyres are at a low temperature while it’s being driven at low speeds (especially on larger wheels) and takes place because the wheels are moving at different speeds. In the Boxster’s case, the front left tyre is moving quicker than the front right tyre, causing this skipping sensation.