So about a month ago I recieved a flat in my rear right tire, basically the tire shredded. At the time I was low on funds so I drove with the spare on the front right and moved the front right tire to the back (per recommendation from board and manual). I drove like this for three weeks to a month... apporximately 400 miles. A couple of weeks ago I replaced the tire (replaced rear right and moved tire back to front) and soon after I started noticing that when I would accelerate the car would pull to the left slightly... increasing with speed (or maybe it's revs?). Either way I find myself having to correct every time I accelerate and decelerate... I'm pretty sure I look like a drunk driver weaving in my lane. Anyone have any ideas what could have caused this? I'm guessing suspension needs to be checked? Possibly adjusted or re-aligned? TIA for any help.

 

Check your tire pressure. If not, you could need an alignment.

 

Yeah, I've already checked tire pressure.

Do you think that running with the spare in the front for that amount of time may have damaged or un-aligned something? The weird part is that it pulls to the left and I changed the rear right... if anything I would think it would pull to the right. Anyone had like this happen before with any car? This is my second RWD car, I had a Mustang for a few years and went through quite a few different set of tires and never had any problems like this. It almost feels like torque steer on a FWD car.

 

Are the tires matched brands, models, and sizes?

 

BTW, one thing you can do to help reduce the difference in diameter between an old and new tire is to flip the old tire over and mount it on the other side of the car. Of course, you would need to do the same with the new tire.

 

Yeah I made sure they mounted the tires correctly, fronts are 205s and the rears are 225's. The rear left is older, same mileage as the "shredded" tire (about 20K miles), but not yet to the "wear bar", and as I stated I replaced the rear right... so I guess that's my problem. I guess I'll have to replace the rear left tire as well... I was hoping to get a few more miles out of it

 

The tires are all matched, Kumho Ecsta's (I believe 712s?).

 

20K miles with any rear tire on this car is a lot. I think your problem is that you have mis-matched (in terms of age and wear) tires from one side to the other. Before you start messing with alignment, get a new tire on the "old" side first and see.

ps. Moving the Wheel/Tire forum.

 

Wait a sec, 205/225 non-oem tires? That should be causing major oversteer (unrelated to your left pull). But it's a safety issue. Next time you purchase tires (non-oem) get 205 in the front and 245 in the back. The OEM 225's have a tread width equivalent to most 245's. Just FYI.

As far as the pull goes, I agree with the others, one tire is larger than the other.

 

I purchased the car used and these were the tires that were on it. Not sure if the dealership changed the tires (CarMax) and just didn't know about it, or if the previous owner changed them out. At the time of purchase the car had 15K miles on it and I'm sure by then the OEM tires were gone. I thought about buying the 245 Kumho Ecstas for the rear but just didn't have money for two tires at the time, so I just went with the size I had before. Never had any problems with oversteer (or at least none I noticed) with 225's in the rear... but then again I don't use the car for track usage, so I don't know how much I would notice it. Could I put 225's up front and 245's up back? I'd much rather not have to buy 4 new tires vs. 3. Thanks again for the advice guys.