16 replies to this topic

[fhrcng]

My 855 TR has developed a steering pull to the right. I have had the alignment redone and it is a little better. The tech says that all angles are in spec but there is still a slight pull to the right. It is extremely sensitive to crowning in the pavement but it is always there. I rotated the tires to see if they may be the culprit but still no change. I also checked the front brakes to see if one of the calipers was frozen or sticking but everything there is working too. It feels as if something is "tweaked" but if it were, the alignment would not be to spec. I may try totating the tires from side to side to see if that cures it. I suppose it could be the tires. Has anyone else had a similiar problem?

[gdizzle]

Check tire pressure as stated, check for broken belts in the tire, and check for bends in the rim. Also, wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion.

Edited by gdogg16, 22 February 2005 - 03:21 PM.

[fhrcng]

Tire pressures checked....good. Alignment checked 2 different times. Tires are okay, althought I have never had a set of Falkens so I have no experience with them. Rims are straight. Seems to me that if I moved the tires and rims around front to back something would have changed if they were the culprit.

Anything else. Maybe a bearing or CV joint going bad and causing drag on that corner? No abnormal noise yet.

[rubusen]

We have a set of Falken ZieX's on one of our cars, & have exactly the same problem, but it's maybe a bit more pronounced than FHRCNG describes. It's worse with one of the pairs on the front, better if that pair is in back, but still there, either way. Have had 2 alignments, one at the tire shop, the other at the Volvo dealer, &. had the steering and suspension gone through thoroughly by the best indy shop in town, with little change in the situation. Increasing tire pressure helped, but the ride suffered.

And there is noticeably more steering wheel resistance to turning with the Falkens, compared to the Michelins that we have on the other car.

In frustration I went back to the tire store and described to the the manager everything we had done to try to solve the problem; he seemed very relieved that they were Falkens (probably in case they end up replacing them). He said that there are some tires that just do that, sometimes for reasons they can't figure out, and that it affects all brands and price ranges. He asked if I could drop the car off some morning half an hour before they open so they would have time to drive it and play around with swapping sides, etc. He said they'd do whatever it took to have a happy customer, but I haven't taken him up on his offer...yet.

This is our first set of Falkens, so I don't want to judge the brand by this experience, but I'm wondering if we should have just got Michelins, which we usually run, instead of deciding to save a few bucks. In fact, we'd be about even in dollars spent if we'd spent more on tires and less on trying to solve the problems, considering what we paid for two alignments and the indy time.

[fhrcng]

Rubesen:

Now thats more the kind of response I was looking for. Obviously, I had checked all of the common things but wondered about the Falkens. It seems to have gotten worse as the tires have more miles on them +/- 10-12K. I am going to try and swap them from side to side (tread pattern be damned) and see if that helps. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks!

[gdizzle]

i have the falken azenis and have never had a problem. Have you spun the wheels and checked for trueness? You can't just look at the wheel and tell if it is straight. Other option would be to throw another set of wheel/tires on and see if you have the same problem. If you have bad ball joints, your alignment guy shouldn't have done the alignment. If the tie rods are bad, it won't hold the alignment. Jack the car up and check for play.

Edited by gdogg16, 22 February 2005 - 10:24 PM.

[rubusen]

fhrcng:

The pulling on our car showed up after about 8K miles, so it's not far off of your experience. There was stiff resistance to turning from the moment the tires were installed, so maybe there is something in the way they track that causes a wear pattern that leads to pulling after a while.

I wouldn't advise running the tires on the other side of your car without remounting to change the direction of rotation to the correct one. You may have some pretty serious control issues running directional treads opposite to the manufacturer's recommendations.

I'll try to get my car into the tire shop in the next couple of days to see what they do or don't do to correct the problem and I'll post back when it's done.

Cheers!

[MrWinkey]

9 times outta 10 steering pull is in the tires...I put a set of 4 tires(not saying the brand) on my 240 and 2 days later on my Saab ...both had pull issues swapped em' all around flipped em' on the rims got pissed and returned them all for 8 new ones and no problems what so ever? ...not saying that is your problem but I bet it is. try the side to side swap and see what happens. if it goes the other direction it's tires

[fhrcng]

i have the falken azenis and have never had a problem. Have you spun the wheels and checked for trueness? You can't just look at the wheel and tell if it is straight. Other option would be to throw another set of wheel/tires on and see if you have the same problem. If you have bad ball joints, your alignment guy shouldn't have done the alignment. If the tie rods are bad, it won't hold the alignment. Jack the car up and check for play.

Checked all of the suspension components, spun the wheels, swapped from front to back. I am pretty sure the alignment shop would have suggested putting new components on if it were in his best interest to make a couple of extra bucks.

I wouldn't advise running the tires on the other side of your car without remounting to change the direction of rotation to the correct one. You may have some pretty serious control issues running directional treads opposite to the manufacturer's recommendations.

As for the swapping from side to side I would only be doing it as a test to see if this is part of the problem not as a solution. Driving it a 1/2 mile would tell whether or not this was the issue. I am begining to think that it could be brake related at this point. It seems as if it is worse after hard brake use and acts like the caliper could be dragging. That will be the next thing I check. I recently cleaned and lubed the sliding surfaces and checked to see that the pads and rotors were in good condition but I am not conviced that the caliper is releasing properly.

Thanks for all of the input. It could very well be the tires.................

[fhrcng]

Okay so last night I decided to swap the tires from side to side. Now the car pulls to the left as much as it did to the right. Obviously there is an issue with the tire wear of the Falkens after 8-10K miles. I will visit the tire store where I bought them today to see what they say and how they would like to resolve this issue.

Thanks for the input and I will let you know what happens with the tire dealer.

BTW, I put them back on the correct side

[MrWinkey]

Okay so last night I decided to swap the tires from side to side. Now the car pulls to the left as much as it did to the right. Obviously there is an issue with the tire wear of the Falkens after 8-10K miles. I will visit the tire store where I bought them today to see what they say and how they would like to resolve this issue.

Thanks for the input and I will let you know what happens with the tire dealer.

BTW, I put them back on the correct side 

Told ya so

[MrWinkey]

The belts are probably seperated ...it's probably 1 tire causing it could be 2 or even more like I said I had 8 in one shot all purchased at the same time. Wouldn't believe it, if I had never experienced it myself? Good Luck

[fhrcng]

Mr Winkey:

How did your tire store resolve it and how many miles were on the tires when it happened? Thanks.

[MrWinkey]

Actually my wholesaler handled it quiet well.....good thing they went on my own vehicles! I only had them on for about 100 or so miles each set...played with them for awhile before condeming them all.... swapped 8 tires for 8 new ones and problem fixed. However in your case they will probably pro rate them. Just go to the tire store with a cool head and make them aware of your thoughts and findings, purchase 2 new tires for the front, if it corrects the problem perhaps they will work you a very good deal or take care of them entirely? Good Luck

[fhrcng]

That is basically what they did. But even with the pro rating, the deal was not that good and they only wanted to replace two of them. I asked what were to happen if the others were bad as well and that only replacing two of them did not fix it. At that point they would have to order 2 more (they don't stock these) and that would be another trip back to the store and more time messing around with it. I also asked him how they knew they were bad. Apparently they put them on a force balance machine which puts a load on them and causes deflection in the belts if they have a problem. They only tested one of them, the other was found to have a knot in the side wall (it was on the rear). I asked him if they could test them all to see if they were bad. They could but that would cost $15.00 each. It does not seem like a customer should have to pay to test a tire which is suspect, especially after 2 of them were found to be defective. I ended up ordering a new set of the 205/55-16s which ended up being a better (more economical) deal than just replacing two of the 205/50-16s. It made more sense to me to have 4 new ones that I know are not defective than taking the chance on having to replace 2 more. BTW, the 205/55-16s are cheaper than the 205/50s. Go figure.

I am not totally dissatisfied, just a little confused as to why I should have to pay to replace tires which are clearly defective, especially when they have about 2/32 wear on them.

[MrWinkey]

[quote=fhrcng,Feb 26 2005, 01:32 PM]
That is basically what they did. But even with the pro rating, the deal was not that good and they only wanted to replace two of them. I asked what were to happen if the others were bad as well and that only replacing two of them did not fix it. At that point they would have to order 2 more (they don't stock these) and that would be another trip back to the store and more time messing around with it. I also asked him how they knew they were bad. Apparently they put them on a force balance machine which puts a load on them and causes deflection in the belts if they have a problem. They only tested one of them, the other was found to have a knot in the side wall (it was on the rear). I asked him if they could test them all to see if they were bad. They could but that would cost $15.00 each. It does not seem like a customer should have to pay to test a tire which is suspect, especially after 2 of them were found to be defective. I ended up ordering a new set of the 205/55-16s which ended up being a better (more economical) deal than just replacing two of the 205/50-16s. It made more sense to me to have 4 new ones that I know are not defective than taking the chance on having to replace 2 more. BTW, the 205/55-16s are cheaper than the 205/50s. Go figure.

I am not totally dissatisfied, just a little confused as to why I should have to pay to replace tires which are clearly defective, especially when they have about 2/32 wear on them.

I cannot help you on their business policy or financial issues that is
purley your decision? I just fix cars , I carry a badge, name's Winkey