I put on some new tires and now it seems to want to drift to the left slightly. Car was aligned, the toe was out but everything else was within specs. Nothing appeared bent. Tires are installed with the correct rotation orientation - pressures are the same.

What do I check next?

 

I hope you don't take this wrong, but did you check the camber of the road, surface, ruts, wind? Maybe the steering bushings?

dan

 

What is a steering bushing?

John P

 

Ruts - not a factor, else it would occur only on certain stretches of pavement. This seems to be a general propensity. Road crown - it seems to want to drift left regardless of which side of the crown I am on. Wind may be a factor - I will have to do more tests wrt this.

The puzzling thing is why did this only start three weeks ago when new tires were installed?

Old tire - Avon M500 215/45x17
New tire - Dunlop Sport Maxx 205/45x17


Can a mushroomed shock tower cause this? I don't think a tower is mushroomed but would a couple of mm matter?

 

The steering system has bushings in it where various connections are made--to soak up vibrations, etc. Also, ball joints can go bad. I don't think either of these would happen as quickly as described here.

Curious, it appears the only change is in tire width? I suppose a mushroomed tower could do something to the way your car tracks. I have a minutely 'shroomed tower (under 1/32 inch) with no ill effects. Was you steering wheel perfectly straight for your last alignment?

dan