YACT: Car pulls to the right after tire rotation

[DeadByDawn]

Ok, car has close to new tires on it. Been a little while since they had been installed, and I thought I could feel a slight shimmy in the right front tire. But the car drove straight as an arrow, you could let go of the steering wheel on the highway and it drove straight. So I went and had the tires rotated and balanced to try and fix the minor shimmy in the right front tire. The tire guy told me that one of the tires was slightly out of balance, so I thought I had my problem fixed. But now the car pulls to the right. Could this be from uneven tire wear, and it will straighten itself out soon or should I just take it in for a front end alignment. Anybody experience this before?

 

[ironcrotch]

Usually when it pulls a certain direction means its time for an alignment.

 

[Ornery]

Exact same thing happened on my car. Turns out that a tie rod end was loose. That caused the tire to get feathered. Mine was ruined, and yours may be too. Get the loose front end part replaced, get it aligned, and throw the bad tire on the back. You may be able to save it.

 

[Howard]

It could be that the tire is slightly smaller than the left. 😉

 

[DeadByDawn]

Thanks Onery, I will check to see if that is the problem. Question, did your car drive straight until you had the tires rotated?

 

[Ornery]

Yep.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: ironcrotch
Usually when it pulls a certain direction means its time for an alignment.

i didnt think alignment would cause your car to track off course unless it was REALLY bad. Usually it just causes really bad and uneven tire wear. (what i was told at least)

 

[CraigRT]

the tires could have gotten worn into where they were used to be, when I took off my summers and put on my winters, now my car pulls to the left a little as well... tires before were absolutely mint... soild and straight like an arrow like you say.. but since the swap, pulling.

 

[I rule]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Ok, car has close to new tires on it. Been a little while since they had been installed, and I thought I could feel a slight shimmy in the right front tire. But the car drove straight as an arrow, you could let go of the steering wheel on the highway and it drove straight. So I went and had the tires rotated and balanced to try and fix the minor shimmy in the right front tire. The tire guy told me that one of the tires was slightly out of balance, so I thought I had my problem fixed. But now the car pulls to the right. Could this be from uneven tire wear, and it will straighten itself out soon or should I just take it in for a front end alignment. Anybody experience this before?

Well let's see what I can do for you. I have worked at Discount Tire (Number 1 tire company in the USA) for 5 years. What size (225/60R16 etc) tires do you have? What is your cars year, model and make? What can happen with tires is when out of the factory they are producted out-of-round. Which means the tire was most likely made by a crappy company like Big-O or Firestone. What happens is when you are driving instead of rolling like a circle the tire rotates like an egg. Which can cause a shimmy on the right front. Also your wheel could be bent. When that happens I more often than not just put that wheel on the Right Rear of a car where you are less likely to feel its vibration. An alignment, wouldn't just affect the right front, it would affect both fronts. Could be one side more than the other. It is always wise to get an alignment after you get new tires. It will extend the life of your tires because they are wearing correctly.

 

[jagec]

haha, I had a car where the tie rods were so loose it would drift all over the highway if you weren't careful (it drove fine is you were careful, though). Not saying that's a good thing...just humorous.