New rear tire - car pulls to right?
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From: Smyrna
New rear tire - car pulls to right?
I need help!!!!
I had a leak in the sidewall of my rear left tire, so ordered a new tire. I had it installed, and went ahead and had an alignment done to factory specs at the same time. The right rear tire has about 60 % of the tread left on it. I have Yokohama AVS-ES100, 255/40/17 inches on the back and 225/45/17 on the front with Volk CE28N rims.
The car now pulls to the right. After taking the car back to Butler Tire in Atlanta (actually Austell), they said it was due to the difference in circumference of the new left rear tire vs the old right rear tire.
Does this sound correct? To prove it, I had them switch the left and right rear tires just to see. I realize these are uni-directional tires, but I only drive it for about a block to see if I could notice any difference. I did - it pulled to the left.
Are out cars that sensitive to pull if the circumference of the rear tires are off by mere millimeters? Does this sound correct, or do you think I have a bad tire?
I had a leak in the sidewall of my rear left tire, so ordered a new tire. I had it installed, and went ahead and had an alignment done to factory specs at the same time. The right rear tire has about 60 % of the tread left on it. I have Yokohama AVS-ES100, 255/40/17 inches on the back and 225/45/17 on the front with Volk CE28N rims.
The car now pulls to the right. After taking the car back to Butler Tire in Atlanta (actually Austell), they said it was due to the difference in circumference of the new left rear tire vs the old right rear tire.
Does this sound correct? To prove it, I had them switch the left and right rear tires just to see. I realize these are uni-directional tires, but I only drive it for about a block to see if I could notice any difference. I did - it pulled to the left.
Are out cars that sensitive to pull if the circumference of the rear tires are off by mere millimeters? Does this sound correct, or do you think I have a bad tire?
Joined: May 2001
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From: Nowhere
Yes, this is correct.
The smaller (old) tire must roll faster to go the same distance, which the Torsen LSD perceives as slippage, and sends extra torque to the larger (new) tire, causing it to pull under acceleration. Just 1/10" of wear would make the new tire 1% larger, which is enough to throw the LSD off. You likely have 8/10" disparity in the diameter, making a 3.3% difference.
Moral of the story - always replace drive tires in pairs.
The smaller (old) tire must roll faster to go the same distance, which the Torsen LSD perceives as slippage, and sends extra torque to the larger (new) tire, causing it to pull under acceleration. Just 1/10" of wear would make the new tire 1% larger, which is enough to throw the LSD off. You likely have 8/10" disparity in the diameter, making a 3.3% difference.
Moral of the story - always replace drive tires in pairs.
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: This is not my house!
Just left the tire shop and drove 20 miles up the 680. Let my speed drift along at 70... down shift and hammer it... nothing. Straight as an arrow. 
Lift off and no push the left either.
All fixed.
Lift off and no push the left either. All fixed.
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From: Smyrna
Originally Posted by jedwards,Aug 3 2005, 01:15 PM
Just left the tire shop and drove 20 miles up the 680. Let my speed drift along at 70... down shift and hammer it... nothing. Straight as an arrow. Lift off and no push the left either.
All fixed.
Lift off and no push the left either. All fixed.
Now that I have a couple hundred miles on with the new left rear tire, will I have another problem when I order the new right rear tire? I can't imagine that the treadwear will be that signficant.