YACT: Radial Pull = Defective Tire?

[MrPickins]

About a month ago I went to Firestone and bought 4 new tires (with road hazard coverage, even) for my wife's Corrola, and afterward, she noticed a pull to the left. I assumed it needed an alignment, as it had been several years, and I'm sure a few bumped curbs since it had had one done.

I took the car into the same shop a week later to have the alignment done, and afterward it pulled even worse. It was still driveable, but it noticably veered left at any speed. It's been a hectic few weeks, so we haven't been able to take it back, and since then it has gotten worse.

I took it back in today, and after checking it out they told me that one of the front tires have a radial pull, and that "There is nothing actually wrong with the tire, it just pulls to one side." Their fix was to put that tire on the back, and to suggest I only rotate it to the other back side.

Although I'm sure this will solve some of the problem, is it wrong for me to think that a brand new tire should roll straight? 😕

I asked if the tire might be replaceable under warranty, and explained that even if the tire does work on the back axle, I don't want to have the problem of dealing with a tire that I can't rotate to any spot I choose. After a deep sigh, and a look that made me feel like an d$ck for asking, the girl at the desk said that they probably could warranty it. It was close to their closing time, so we agreed I would bring it back.

So my question:
Was I being too pushy in asking for a new tire?

 

[Ornery]

Fvck no!

I'd have pulled out my damn knife, stuck it the tire and told them to replace it under their GD warranty!

 

[DrPizza]

wtf?? I've never heard of such a problem. A tire that causes a car to pull to one side is defective. Either the tire is bad, or they don't know how to do an alignment. Regardless, it should be fixed.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Generally a radial pull will go away as the tire wears a bit, at least, that has been my experience. However, a pull that requires you to steer out of it would be beyond a normal radial pull. If you only had to hold the wheel to keep the car straight, I think it probably would have gone away in a few thousand miles, but if you actually had to keep the wheel cocked a little to the right, then you probably did the right thing by getting a new tire.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
wtf?? I've never heard of such a problem.

Happens all the time. In most cases it will disappear in 500 to 1,000 miles as the tire wears in. If it's severe, then the tire should be replaced though.

ZV

 

[db]

Go to a frame-straightening shop and have them check it out. They know what they are talking about.

 

[ballmode]

Could be a bent rim, that's what happened to me

 

[ValValline]

Radial pull is very real. To understand how it works take a typical styrofoam coffee cup lay it on its side and give it a push. The big end will drive around the small end. When a tire is made there is a chance that the two side walls will be different enough to cause the exact same result.

A properly aligned car will have a very slight toe-in. This means the two front wheels will drive towards the center as you roll forward. You can solve a slight radial pull by swapping the front wheels left to right or taking the tire off of the rim and flipping it so that the pull moves to the inside and is offset by the natural toe-in.

If the car is properly aligned and still has a significant radial pull, then warranty the tire. Being a little off is OK and natural, but if it's that far off it's defective.

 

[Sluggo]

I took it back in today, and after checking it out they told me that one of the front tires have a radial pull, and that "There is nothing actually wrong with the tire, it just pulls to one side." Their fix was to put that tire on the back, and to suggest I only rotate it to the other back side.

I was under the impression that radial tires should NOT be rotated side to side, only front to back.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Sluggo

I took it back in today, and after checking it out they told me that one of the front tires have a radial pull, and that "There is nothing actually wrong with the tire, it just pulls to one side." Their fix was to put that tire on the back, and to suggest I only rotate it to the other back side.

I was under the impression that radial tires should NOT be rotated side to side, only front to back.

Incorrect. You can rotate radial tires in a conventional X-pattern just fine.

ZV

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Sluggo

I took it back in today, and after checking it out they told me that one of the front tires have a radial pull, and that "There is nothing actually wrong with the tire, it just pulls to one side." Their fix was to put that tire on the back, and to suggest I only rotate it to the other back side.

I was under the impression that radial tires should NOT be rotated side to side, only front to back.

Incorrect. You can rotate radial tires in a conventional X-pattern just fine.

ZV

Not to knit pick but I believe some directional tread wear patterns should only rotated front to back.

I would demand a new tire....if they give you any problems just speak loudly of the prior Firestone problems in front of other customers.

 

[Viperoni]

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Sluggo

I took it back in today, and after checking it out they told me that one of the front tires have a radial pull, and that "There is nothing actually wrong with the tire, it just pulls to one side." Their fix was to put that tire on the back, and to suggest I only rotate it to the other back side.

I was under the impression that radial tires should NOT be rotated side to side, only front to back.

Incorrect. You can rotate radial tires in a conventional X-pattern just fine.

ZV

Not to knit pick but I believe some directional tread wear patterns should only rotated front to back.

I would demand a new tire....if they give you any problems just speak loudly of the prior Firestone problems in front of other customers.

While this is true, the tire can be rotated around on the rim so that it still "points forward".

I've caused a radial pull in my tires, but only because of burnouts. And big ones 😉

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Viperoni


Not to knit pick but I believe some directional tread wear patterns should only rotated front to back.

I would demand a new tire....if they give you any problems just speak loudly of the prior Firestone problems in front of other customers.

While this is true, the tire can be rotated around on the rim so that it still "points forward".

I've caused a radial pull in my tires, but only because of burnouts. And big ones 😉
[/quote]


I didnt think of that.

 

[MrPickins]

Thanks for the replies.

The pull was bad enough that have to keep firm pressure on the steering wheel at about a 10 or 15 degree angle, and made driving straight difficult.
Now that the tire is on the back, it only pulls very slightly, but I'm still having it replaced tomorow.

As far as bent rim/frame damage being a culprit, it shouldn't be the cause as we never had problems on the previous set of tires.

I still can't get over how she kept insisting that there is nothing wrong with the tire... Even if the pull would eventually wear itself out, it would be doing so by wearing the tread away faster than it should (or so I would think).

Edit: I forgot to metion that the tires have been driven well over 500 miles in the past few weeks (TX is big 😛 ), and the pull only got worse).

 

[The Stigenator]

replace tire

 

[TimMyMac]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Fvck no!

I'd have pulled out my damn knife, stuck it the tire and told them to replace it under their GD warranty!

Road damage doesn't cover obvious kniving. Trust me, bought brand new tires and got them sliced a week later. Store wouldn't honor it. so I had to buy a new set.