Static shock when exiting car.

[PassivAggressor]

Is it just me, or does every Mazda vehicle shock the hell out of you when you exit the car? My 2 does it. My wife's CX-5 does it. My previous vehicles that weren't Mazdas never shocked me. May be time to invest in rubber floor matts.

 

[MyPrecious]

My understanding that this is caused by "low rolling resistance" tires...which I understood were used in most....if not all modern passenger vehicles to improve gas mileage. I had a 2002 Civic before my 2....and it was the same way both with the OEM tires and with a full set of replacement tires.

 

[colonelangus]

yup rubber mats will fix the problem ..it only happens here in the winter when its cold and dry

i do NOT beleive it has anything to do with tires thats just wrong..cold dry weather and static charge from pants or skirts rubbing on carpet just like in your living room when you were a kid ..shag carpet was the worst..although i did have a short in my power seat that did the same but that was a dodge and enough said

 

[DrWebster]

It doesn't have to do with the tires; it's due to the dry air building up a static charge on the body of the car when you're driving. (It's like how you can shuffle your feet on carpet then get a static shock from touching a doorknob.) The trick to not get shocked is to not touch the body of the car with your skin while you're getting out, or to get electrostatic-safe shoes. Rubber floor mats will make no difference; the shock happens when you're touching the ground and the body of the car at the same time.

 

[EconoBox]

Is it just me, or does every Mazda vehicle shock the hell out of you when you exit the car? My 2 does it. My wife's CX-5 does it. My previous vehicles that weren't Mazdas never shocked me. May be time to invest in rubber floor matts.

 

[QueenMazda2]

omg seriously in the passed 2 weeks i have gotten some of the most PAINFUL shocks i've ever had in my life from my freaking car.

 

[MyPrecious]

Perhaps you are right folks....but that's my story...and I am sticking with it.

Here is what Tom and Ray (Click and Clack)...have to say about low rolling resistance tires....

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ng-resistance-tires-helium-static-electricity

 

[Ryno666]

I love those guys. Sad they are no longer on the air. It's true I've sold tons of tires and they even had a (notice) go out from certain manufactures concerning this, (can't name names). Lots of high end tires come with silica as a rubber replacement and more sipes. Silica which is synthetic or (man made) acts like a squeegee and dosen't degrade as rapidly as rubber which is natural. Sipes are the squiggley lines in the tread which allows more avenues for water and air displacement resulting in better wet weather traction and cooler running tire. Every day more and more Silica is being introduced into tires.

 

[Spiced MSP]

my protege does it and my wifes 2010 civic. I wonder if maybe putting a grounding cable on the bottom of the car will help. Like, mount it to the undercarriage and it just scrapes the ground. I know some helicopters use it with the amount of static buildup from the rotor blades. Im a former aircraft mechanic. It works wonders, I have never be shocked climbing around on an aircraft after a flight.

 

[Racebrewer]

I believe that Honda's with Michelin tires had that problem for a while. Toll booth money takers lived in terror of the shocks they received.

I also had a co-worker who used to get tremendous shocks from touching the file cabinets at work until I gave him a Magic Paperclip. By touching the file cabinets with the paperclip he'd discharge the static build-up without zapping himself.

John

 

[Ryno666]

They make these for cars!
[video]http://www.lessemf.com/ground.html[/video]

 

[MyPrecious]

I believe that Honda's with Michelin tires had that problem for a while. *SNIP*
John

I know my Civic had Firestone OEM tires...and when their service life was over....I went with Bridgestone. Both had the same shocking syndrome. I know Bridgestone owns Firestone...so the chemistry between the two were perhaps quite similar. The Brigdestone replacments were top of the line. I am not a big fan of "cutrate" tires....I figure the lives of my family....and the family in the oncoming lane are depending for four little 4x4 patches of rubber....so I have no experience with "cutrate" tires to know if they do the same thing...but I bet they do.

One other thought....the carbon black that the silica replaces was used to increase tire wear....so I am assuming that the silica works likewise. If my assumptions are correct...then one might might perhaps find higher levels of silica in the more expensive tires...as they are generally the ones with the larger "mileage warranties"...in terms of how many miles they are supposed to last. So....IF all my many assumptions are true....I wonder if the more expensive tires are more prone to shocking? Any tire experts out there that can confirm or deny my hypothesis?

p.s. I miss the Tappet Brothers very much!

 

[Ryno666]

Confirmed! I spent 1997-2011 installing, selling tires, wheels and then Managing Tire and Wheel Store. think large and leave at that.

 

[Spiced MSP]

They make these for cars!
[video]http://www.lessemf.com/ground.html[/video]

that's kind of what Im talking about except it is like a steel braided line with a bulb on the end that contacts the ground. It's barely noticeable so it doesn't stand out from a block away. It probably would be cool if that could be mounted like right next to one of the tires so it isn't really visible. By the way, sorry to jump in on the Mazda2 forum, but it is a common issues across all platforms

 

[MyPrecious]

Confirmed! I spent 1997-2011 installing, selling tires, wheels and then Managing Tire and Wheel Store. think large and leave at that.

Thanks Ryno!

 

[PGTBrow]

Sooooooooooooooo... if your car is electrically charged wouldn't that mean you are picking up alot more electrons when driving, that would cause more wind resistance which would make you slower. So less static causing tires equals MORE RACECAR!

 

[Ryno666]

The higher rate of speed you travel creates ionization to happen resulting in the destruction of debri and particulates. Therefore reducing friction and air resistance. When this happens you now have a much more pure form of air to travel through and your car smells nicer. Oh and I also have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale. JK I'm not a physicist but I have been surfing. (In memory of Click and Clack)