Tyres/alignment problems

[jay]

Had some new front tyres fitted a few mths ago and the alignment done as the old ones had worn on the outside in approx 10k.

The misses picked it up as she drives it mainly, only after a week I jumped in for the first time and noticed it was pulling left? (she doesn't notice this like that? She once after driving a car for a year rang me one morning to say that there was a warning light that she hadn't seen before come on quickly on the dashboard and went off again? it was the glowplug light!!)

I took it back and they re-aligned it? Still pulling left? this went on for 4 more visits? with the snow we really needed it so it was a few weeks in between trips back so we just put up with it.

This is a MOT centre and a repair garage so they have checked all other possible causes with nothing obvious?

Now after 2.5k I noticed the tyres are really wearing badly on the inside so I took it back again (they really love me by now?)

All they could offer was to swap the front tyres round and re-align it again?

It now pull's to the right????

I give up????

 

[solarman216]

Tyres, I had a similar problem and fitted two new tyres to the front no tracking or other alterations, problem solved, Rick

 

[jay]

My thoughts are a dodgy tyre?
but trying to get them to admit to this is not going to be easy? and having to buy a new pair of tyres after 2.5k is not good

 

[makeitfit]

Tracking, alignment doesnt check all parameters though:augie
Wear on the inside can be ball joints or camber, though usually balls
The weight needs to be off the wheels to check your balls though, and camber is more complex and involves shim washers

 

[jay]

All was fine before the new tyres? apart from wear on the outside after 10k which seemed bad at the time but I would happily accept no pulling and 10k out of the new tyres now?:doh

 

[lacroupade]

All was fine before the new tyres? apart from wear on the outside after 10k which seemed bad at the time but I would happily accept no pulling and 10k out of the new tyres now?:doh

What make are they?

Its not unknown for a badly moulded or fitted tyre to display characteristics like that, despite being balanced properly.

The fact the problem has moved when you swapped sides implies this is whats going on, so your only options are:

1. Get the dodgy tyre refitted (and possibly inspected by the tyre place) and see if that improves things.

2. Get the tyre replaced and keep the old as a spare only.

As Pete says, if alignment is correct - and don't be 100% reliant on a local tyre depot getting it right, if you can find one of the national specialists in wheel alignment (I forget what they are called but we aren't talking KwikFit here), its a few quid more but done with high tech reliable kit and a print out showing results which I think might inclide camber.....I'll check my Z4 site cos they get anal about this stuff...

If that doesn't stop the tyre wear (and its usually alignment thats the cause of uneven wear) then cambers next, but thats a bit more involved as he says...

But do 1 or 2 first.

 

[makeitfit]

Well patently it's not right now.
There has to be a worn part or parts to cause the outside to scrub, or the inside. Out side scrubing could be top ball joint, Inside more likely bottom ball joint. IF it was both sides then under pressured tyre OR steering idler worn.
trouble is though if you get a new tyre on there the same will happen again.
Moving the tyre to the other side will cause drag on that side now and probably still wear badly as nit's even more out of line
Have you checked for bearing wear or even auto hub not disengaging properly?

 

[lacroupade]

Well patently it's not right now.
There has to be a worn part or parts to cause the outside to scrub, or the inside. Out side scrubing could be top ball joint, Inside more likely bottom ball joint. IF it was both sides then under pressured tyre OR steering idler worn.
trouble is though if you get a new tyre on there the same will happen again.
Moving the tyre to the other side will cause drag on that side now and probably still wear badly as nit's even more out of line
Have you checked for bearing wear or even auto hub not disengaging properly?

and you're running 26psi all round as well?

 

[jay]

Going back in on wednesday? so fingers crossed?

 

[lacroupade]

Going back in on wednesday? so fingers crossed?

theres a very outside chance it could be a problem with the rim....have you got a spare you can use?

 

[brynjdavies]

Is the ride height correct front and back as this affects camber and also play in the wheel bearings, Tracking causes cogging on the worn edge camber is smooth. The pulling must be a tyre/rim problem as it swopped sides What happens if you put the fronts on the back and the rears on the front. Are they handed tyres ie they must rotate in one direction.
Bryn