New Tires' Issue?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires' Issue?
I replaced my Michelin Pilots with BF Goodrich Comp-2 A/S tires 2 weeks ago. I noticed a slight pull to the left during sweeping turns to the right. I then had my 2003 convertible aligned at a very reliable shop. 2 test drives and adjustments later the pull remained. I returned a few days later. The tech tried 3 more times to get it right. The shop manager theorized the left front tire was defective. My very cooperative tire dealer graciously replaced it. The pull remains! To further complicate the issue the car tracks straight ahead on a level road! I'm not sure what to do next. I'd appreciate any insight/suggestions my forum friends can provide!
Thanks
Jerry
Thanks
Jerry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Have any buddies with C5's? Try swapping with them to see if the problem goes away. You could just try swapping the fronts side to side - I know the tread rotation would be "wrong", but if the "pull" moves to the other side, it's the tires and not the car.
Last edited by jackthelad; Nov 29, 2015 at 08:29 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 807
Likes: 239
I replaced my Michelin Pilots with BF Goodrich Comp-2 A/S tires 2 weeks ago. I noticed a slight pull to the left during sweeping turns to the right. I then had my 2003 convertible aligned at a very reliable shop. 2 test drives and adjustments later the pull remained. I returned a few days later. The tech tried 3 more times to get it right. The shop manager theorized the left front tire was defective. My very cooperative tire dealer graciously replaced it. The pull remains! To further complicate the issue the car tracks straight ahead on a level road! I'm not sure what to do next. I'd appreciate any insight/suggestions my forum friends can provide!
Thanks
Jerry
Thanks
Jerry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Why:
Roads are generally designed/built to shed water - no road is perfectly flat/level.
In order to shed water off the driving surface, roads are built/designed with slope left, slope right, or crowned (high in the center, lower at either curb).
this design feature will make a car pull or drift in the direction of the slope.
Additionally, the fat tires on the C-x will tend to follow any seams in the surface, which will also make the car feel like it is pulling/drifiting.
if you change lanes and the pull/drift swaps sides, then you know you are on a crowned road, and it is likely the road that is causing the pull, not the tires/alignment.
Many curves are designed with a slight bank, which both sheds water and help keep cars on the road/in their lane.
But depending on how fast you are taking the curve, and which way it is banked, physics and centrifugal force may feel like drift.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires Issue?
Do not take the next statement as sarcastic - in order to better identify the potential problem, perhaps you need to drive several different roads - or simply change lanes.
Why:
Roads are generally designed/built to shed water - no road is perfectly flat/level.
In order to shed water off the driving surface, roads are built/designed with slope left, slope right, or crowned (high in the center, lower at either curb).
this design feature will make a car pull or drift in the direction of the slope.
Additionally, the fat tires on the C-x will tend to follow any seams in the surface, which will also make the car feel like it is pulling/drifiting.
if you change lanes and the pull/drift swaps sides, then you know you are on a crowned road, and it is likely the road that is causing the pull, not the tires/alignment.
Many curves are designed with a slight bank, which both sheds water and help keep cars on the road/in their lane.
But depending on how fast you are taking the curve, and which way it is banked, physics and centrifugal force may feel like drift.
Why:
Roads are generally designed/built to shed water - no road is perfectly flat/level.
In order to shed water off the driving surface, roads are built/designed with slope left, slope right, or crowned (high in the center, lower at either curb).
this design feature will make a car pull or drift in the direction of the slope.
Additionally, the fat tires on the C-x will tend to follow any seams in the surface, which will also make the car feel like it is pulling/drifiting.
if you change lanes and the pull/drift swaps sides, then you know you are on a crowned road, and it is likely the road that is causing the pull, not the tires/alignment.
Many curves are designed with a slight bank, which both sheds water and help keep cars on the road/in their lane.
But depending on how fast you are taking the curve, and which way it is banked, physics and centrifugal force may feel like drift.
Your points are well taken and thanks. My car did not have this issue until the new tires were installed. Maybe I have should have bought Michelins again?
Thx
Jerry
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
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From: Western NY
Can you post your alignment specs? As "aj98" mentioned, most roads are "crowned". Many alignment guys add a little more caster to the passenger side of the car, to compensate for this, and the car runs straight. But maybe your guy went a little overboard, creating the "pull"....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Can you post your alignment specs? As "aj98" mentioned, most roads are "crowned". Many alignment guys add a little more caster to the passenger side of the car, to compensate for this, and the car runs straight. But maybe your guy went a little overboard, creating the "pull"....
When I replaced the tires on my DD, the exact same left pull occurred. Went back to the shop that does all my non vette repairs and rode with the tech. He acknowledged the pull but said the alignment was to specs. Redid the alignment but still pulled to the left. So he adjusted again not using the specs and all is now fine.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires Issue
Can you post your alignment specs? As "aj98" mentioned, most roads are "crowned". Many alignment guys add a little more caster to the passenger side of the car, to compensate for this, and the car runs straight. But maybe your guy went a little overboard, creating the "pull"....
thx
Jerry
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires issue
When I replaced the tires on my DD, the exact same left pull occurred. Went back to the shop that does all my non vette repairs and rode with the tech. He acknowledged the pull but said the alignment was to specs. Redid the alignment but still pulled to the left. So he adjusted again not using the specs and all is now fine.I agree, it's time for a ride along!
thx
Jerry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Might also ask if they did a front align only, a 4 wheel align, or a thrust angle alignment.
Check pressure in each tire. If one is low, you'll get pull, too.
One time I got mine back and there was something like 42# in one wheel (compared to 28 or so in the other 3)
Check pressure in each tire. If one is low, you'll get pull, too.
One time I got mine back and there was something like 42# in one wheel (compared to 28 or so in the other 3)
Last edited by aj98; Nov 30, 2015 at 03:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires Issue
They did a 4 wheel alignment. My TPMS shows 30 lbs for all 4 tires..I'll check now with a high quality gauge.
thx
Jerry
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Tire sizes the same? Overall contact patch the same? I ask because a tire may have the same size specification, but certain brands can run wide and others narrow, and this can have a contact patch affect. If your contact patch changes, you could be finding ruts that you didn't notice before that can influence themselves as pulls or pushes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
Have to be clear on this statement. Did you install tires and it started pulling left or was it after doing the alignment?
I want to see the after specs for the alignment he did.
Signed - the alignment guy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
Does it want to pull right when you make a sweeping turn to the left?
What speeds is this happening at?
If its not pulling when driving straight, then i would look at what the toe settings are.
Signed - the alignment guy
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 428
Likes: 30
Not knowing your tires sizes, ride height, drivers weight, sway bar preloads, and corner weights, all bets are off. Maybe now would be a good time to check corner weights on scales. I want to get mine checked sometime, even though it drives great.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires Issue
He adjusted the camber and caster without a means to see how much it affected the toe setting? Wow way better than I'll ever be.
Have to be clear on this statement. Did you install tires and it started pulling left or was it after doing the alignment?
I want to see the after specs for the alignment he did.
Signed - the alignment guy
Have to be clear on this statement. Did you install tires and it started pulling left or was it after doing the alignment?
I want to see the after specs for the alignment he did.
Signed - the alignment guy
thx
Jerry
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 214
Likes: 14
From: Alameda CA and Brick NJ
New Tires Issue
He adjusted the camber and caster without a means to see how much it affected the toe setting? Wow way better than I'll ever be.
Does it want to pull right when you make a sweeping turn to the left?
What speeds is this happening at?
If its not pulling when driving straight, then i would look at what the toe settings are.
Signed - the alignment guy
Does it want to pull right when you make a sweeping turn to the left?
What speeds is this happening at?
If its not pulling when driving straight, then i would look at what the toe settings are.
Signed - the alignment guy
thx
Jerry