Technical New Tyres - Pulling to one side.

[ozzy39]

Well my front tyres went down to a good old 1.6mm, so i took it to Kwikfit and got me some Pirelli's, i dont need essays on how good or bad they are, but it was a reasonable deal.

Basically on the way home i noticed the car started to pull left, id have the steering wheel straight 'let go' and the car would go left, now im 100% i never had this problem before, the car used to 'drive itself' on straight roads.

I took it back and the guy said all he done was fitted tyres nothing to upset the car, but offered a free test to check the tracking, it was majorly out, so i got it fixed natrually, but on the way home aggain it still was pulling left, fustrated i just took the car home, id already been back once, but i was wondering if theres anything obvious it could be, it was fine even 30 seconds before the garage, new tyres seem to have upset the car.

 

[punto_matt]

Take it back and tell them to sort it again as they obviously havent done it properly but tbh its what happens when you use kwik fit.

 

[ozzy39]

So what would it be definetly tracking? and why would this problem come obvious now i have new rubber? and yeah it wanst my choice for Kwikfit, my mum called me this morning telling me its booked in for half 2..

 

[Halmer]

This is quite common. New tyres accentuate any faults. Sounds like your brakes are binding on one side.

 

[ozzy39]

Thankyou Halmer, i was hoping it wasnt of there doing, i do not wish to go back there, but in a way i didnt want to know that lol, is there anyway to check and correct it without going to a garage? and im still lost to how this problem wasnt around on my old set.

 

[rallycinq]

Swap the tyres and see if the pull goes the other way, tyres can weigh differently which will cause that sort of thing.

Cheers

SPD

 

[p7lot]

MMMMM let me think.....no pulling before the tyres were changed .
Tyres changed and it pulls.

nothing to do with the garage ...it must be the head gasket!!!!!!!!!

Take it back and insist they rectify it

 

[ozzy39]

They also balanced the tyres forgot to add that, the most legit answer here seems to be the breaks, they have been squeaking now and then i thought they have have been rubish anyway

 

[p7lot]

ok sensible answer now...
To check the brakes...jack it up and turn the wheel by hand . If you can move it then its not binding enough to cause steering pull.
The fact that it was ok before it entered the garage should tell you whatever was done in the garage has caused the problem.

The main reason a car pulls after new tyres is Tracking.
This is a complicated procedure whereby instruments are clamped to the front wheels and a toe in or toe out measurement is taken.
The only way to adjust the tracking is to undo the nuts which secure the track rod ends and turn the end to achieve the correct setting.

This is a critical measurement and often a time consuming and frustrating process to get right.
Way beyond the competence of most of the numbskulls employed by fast fit throw your tyres on outfits.

 

[Mr Wild]

You could check the tracking yourself with a length of string.

With the wheels straight run it from the back of the rear wheel across the centre face, past the centre face of the front wheel.

See if the string touches the rims of the wheels, if not tracking will be out.

I set the tracking on my car using this method, if you're careful it's accurate enough -- I don't suffer any pulling.

 

[rallycinq]

You need to ensure the rack is centred or the ackerman angles will be out.

Still no word from the OP on whether the tyre swap made any difference.

Cheers

SPD

 

[sixpotman]

How many mm's are left on the brake pads if they
were crap and now squeal I'd suspect they may be
down to the metal and causing the car to pull to one side.

If the pads are less than 3mm get them changed.

John

 

[ozzy39]

Sorry for the delay, i been relatively busy, ive nothing on tonight so ill be taking the left wheel off to check the brakes. Also tracking is fine, i watched them to do it, they showed me the before and after on scales.

 

[rallycinq]

Sorry for the delay, i been relatively busy, ive nothing on tonight so ill be taking the left wheel off to check the brakes. Also tracking is fine, i watched them to do it, they showed me the before and after on scales.

Swap it over and check.

Cheers

SPD