I have new tires and my mini is now pulling to the left, slightly but it is there.

Previous new tires, on the day before, which I swapped out, did not pull.

Alignment shop cannot look at car today, but mentioned sometimes it's necessary to move tires around to get things straight.

I don't know anything about tires or front end, but I'm curious to know what the possibilities might be that would cause this issue. If you know why it might be that a new set of tires might pull, where another set of new tires did not, I'm interested to know your thoughts.

Thanks.

 

I would agree. Does it pull all the time? Reason I ask, maybe try a different road. Some roads will make a perfectly aligned car to pull one way or another.

 

What's weird is the issue is intermittent, but is mostly there. On a road tilting right, the car will sometimes pull left, other times it is fine, or borderline.

Drove about 300 miles yesterday and I did pay attention to the tilt/slant of the road when the pulling occurred, but I can't figure it out.

I think the issue is complicated by having non-oem, wider sized tires, which I think can affect steering also.

I'm trying to get the car into the shop soon for alignment, so we'll see, I guess.

 

Are you sure your tires are mounted in the right direction?
Look on the side wall of the tire and it'll say "tire rotation" and have an arrow in the direction the wheel should rotate forward.
If you have the tires mixed up left and right it could cause the car to wander in one direction and/or vibrate at higher speeds. You could wear out the tires sooner, and blow a tire at high speeds too.
Even though mounting tires seems like a simple task, I've seen "professionals" mess up this little detail many times.

 

Another thing to look at...bushings, and tierods, since you say it is not 100% of the time...these items wear, and can get a bit of "wiggle" in them as they age....results your symptoms. Not sure why they are more apparent after new tires, but perfect, unworn, grippy tires might help suggest how much, as a tiny bit of what you are feeling might be associated with "squirm" of the thicker rubber.
Did the old rires wear evenly?

 

Not sure why you'd think that wider tires can cause it to pull left.

 

Get the car aligned. Also have them check suspension for worn parts.

 

Mine is doing funny things. Car was pulling R, had a rotation last week, now she pulls L. Had mini align the car just a few weeks ago, shortly after getting new tires and rims.

 

Astro: As I think I posted earlier, an alignment specialist told me this morning that when they align a car, they sometimes have to move tires around to make things right. I didn't ask why, but I wish I had.

Thanks for your all your tips, I'll check for the arrow Leaf.

Zippy, I'll keep in mind what you mentioned, maybe the wider tires simply bring out the misalignment more than the previous set of new tires, that sounds like it might make sense.

 

What do they mean by "move tires around"? And "make things right" ? Is that like, 1mm makes a diff when they put the tires on?

 

They are the best alignment shop in Cincinnati, it's their specialty. I guess variances in tires can cause drifting, I have no idea.

I do know they said "sometimes". I wonder if it's something they have learned over the years from experience, and they might not know the exact reason why anymore than I do, just that sometimes it can work. I do know in the past I had a car that would not drive straight after an alignment, a Grand Marquis in particular, but in hindsight I wish that mechanic had tried moving tires around, it drove all of us crazy till I sold the car.

 

You could have a belt that has separtated on a tire and that will do it.

 

two thoughts

1. when I put new tires on my 79 the car was squirrelly as heck for about 300 miles. It would dance all over the road and I'd have thought WT* except I'd bought exact replacements for what was on b4 . . . so you may have a bit of 'new tire' issues which will improve as the tires run in .... http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=5

2. Wide tires increase the propensity for tramlining
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

wide tires and a short wheelbase makes this even worse . . . couple that with #1 and ... ouch!

 

CVapt, really interesting article! Thanks! I'll hope an alignment and some time with the tires will cure this issue!

 

When you begin to rotate the tires, if it is a tire related pull, it should change as well. Pull the fronts back, and cross rears up to the front. If your directional, front and back is all you have to try.

 

Hi Jeff,

What tires? I fully agree with the tramlining article as well.

 

Alex, Serenity Plus 195/60-15. After my last post I found too little air in left rear. I did not know that rear tire air pressure could affect pulling, etc.

Before I checked the air, the problem seemed to go away anyway.

Car aligned today, it was out.

Very happy with tires, great ride handle very nicely.