I just got these rims from a vendor and couldn’t be more pleased, the wheels arrived mint and mounted and balanced on my car. Here’s what they look like.
I got them on Saturday morning. I went for a test drive and I instantly noticed when I let go off the wheel the car is pulling to the right, I found that really strange as my current stocks 18’s always tracked straight as an arrow. When I held the wheel straight it went straight.
I wondered if my suspension somehow got out of wack, so I put my 18s back on and guess what it went straight again!
I know a different width and wheel offset or tire diameter shouldn’t change the suspension track, but what the hell, let me go get an alignment and see if it’s out wack. So I mounted my 20s back on and it started pulling again. I went to the alignment shop and of course everything was perfect and in the green zone. I told him to go ahead anyway and get it perfectly in the center anyway.He tweaked the tie rod a bit went for a drive and it still pulled to the right after. It’s not the alignment! I was shocked as I’ve never heard of this before.
That leaves the tires:
I swapped the rears from right to left and it still pulled.
All that’s left is the front left and right, but I had to go back to work. I’m suspecting that is the culprit.
They’re telling me it’s the tires that have a radial pull and it’s defective? Has anyone ever heard of that?
What do I do at this point? The tires are directional and are mounted correctly. I’m reading manufactures have coverage for this type of stuff
Im reading this guide and hope I can resolve this soon
Btw the ride is simply amazing, we’re saving 4-5 lbs a corner and these are lighter and smoother ride than my stock 18s were!
i got to get back to work so to be continued next week, putting a cover over it and not driving till sorted
Literally could be a defect in one of the tires on that side. I've experienced that in the past. Perhaps have them roadforce balanced to try to identify it.
BTW, what the wheel sizes?
Literally could be a defect in one of the tires on that side. I've experienced that in the past. Perhaps have them roadforce balanced to try to identify it.
BTW, what the wheel sizes?
I’m hoping it’s that-literally last variable in this mystery
Totally crazy idea. Could it be that your ABS is acting up because tire diameter is 3% larger than nominal? Check if one side brakes are hotter that the other.
Radial pull is most certainly a thing. One of your front tires has the pull. If you swap them from side to side your pull will go the other way. It is very likely you have a bad tire
Totally crazy idea. Could it be that your ABS is acting up because tire diameter is 3% larger than nominal? Check if one side brakes are hotter that the other.
Diameter is -0.4%, so it’s within spec according to the tire calculator
Radial pull is most certainly a thing. One of your front tires has the pull. If you swap them from side to side your pull will go the other way. It is very likely you have a bad tire
Updated: Put the right wheel on the left wheel and guess what now It goes straight and slightly left!
Next step will be to warranty the tire with Hankook or front two whatever it is.
Mavis didn’t seem to eager to help since I didn’t buy it there and didn’t even have my size in stock despite them being an authorized dealer. They also told me they can’t mount the rim without scratching it with their machines -.-
hope I don’t get too much run around or headache with this, thanks everyone for your input.
Yes, you can swap right to left with no problem. The only designation on that tire would be “outside”, or “inside”, as to mounting on the rim. . It would seem to me that that the “bad” tire is the one that was on the right first and now on the left. One reason it pulls worse to the right when the tire was on the right side is that there is a natural slant in roads from the center to the right that bad tire in the right front exaggerated the right pull. Now that it’s in the left front, it’s pulling against the natural slope of the road thus it doesn’t pull as bad to the left. Go back to where you purchased the tires for replacement and just find a good tire shop that has tire changers that can handle low profile tires. I would prefer a shop that has hunter changers and road force balancers... just a suggestion. I’m partial to hunter equipment as I sold their equipment for 10 years, and it’s undoubtedly the best in the industry
I don’t think you can always just swap a wheel (tire, that is) from R to L. I would check if your tires have a rotational indication on them.
The fronts are both in the wrong direction right now since I swapped them but the car drives perfectly, since the grooves are opposite it does affect the “wet performance” as the grooves are designed to push the water a certain way, I read somewhere in the past though hankook tests driving tires in all directions for issues and performed just as well “dry”
Quote:
Originally Posted by ray0214
Yes, you can swap right to left with no problem. The only designation on that tire would be “outside”, or “inside”, as to mounting on the rim. . It would seem to me that that the “bad” tire is the one that was on the right first and now on the left. One reason it pulls worse to the right when the tire was on the right side is that there is a natural slant in roads from the center to the right that bad tire in the right front exaggerated the right pull. Now that it’s in the left front, it’s pulling against the natural slope of the road thus it doesn’t pull as bad to the left. Go back to where you purchased the tires for replacement and just find a good tire shop that has tire changers that can handle low profile tires. I would prefer a shop that has hunter changers and road force balancers... just a suggestion. I’m partial to hunter equipment as I sold their equipment for 10 years, and it’s undoubtedly the best in the industry
Spot on! Unfortunately I got the tire online from Cali so that’s not an option. The easiest method they suggested was to go thru a local authorized dealer.
I know Michelin you can buy one and show them a receipt even if you didn’t buy it local and they will credit you. Just waiting to get in contact with hankook again.
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