New wheels installed...steering seems off? **Continued thread merged in here**

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NewMStang

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Oct 5, 2004

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Apr 6, 2009

#1

• Apr 6, 2009

• #1

So i just put on my new wheels:

- 18x9, 18x10
- 265-35-18 (used tires, with about 7.5/10 tread)
- 315-30-18 new tires

Before putting on the wheels my alignment seemed fine with my stock wheels (245-45-17). I had the new wheels balanced but for some reason my alingment/steering seems all jacked up since I had the wheels installed. It seems like my alignment is all screwey, i have to at times use force to keep my wheels stragiht. Could putting on new wheels cause something like this to happen? Any thoughts?

On a complete side note...my car nows looks like a freaking monster truck, when i had my stock wheels my cars 4x4 look wasn't overwhelming, now it seems ridiculous

 

evil281

New Member

Jan 6, 2008

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Arizona

Apr 6, 2009

#2

• Apr 6, 2009

• #2

lol lets see a picture. anyway the used tires being in the front could have wore wrong causeing the problem or you could also just not be used to having wide tires that bite every crack in the road pulling you all over

 

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NewMStang

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Apr 6, 2009

#3

• Apr 6, 2009

• #3

I'll post some pics when i get a chance this weekend. But back to the tires...i really hope i'm not going to need to buy new front tires i just dished out aroud 1k for wheel and tires. Could this have something to do with PSI of the tires (currently tires are 38 psi)?

 

evil281

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Jan 6, 2008

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Arizona

Apr 6, 2009

#4

• Apr 6, 2009

• #4

that psi should be fine, maybe snag a few pics of the tread wear on the front to see if there is any noticable wear patterns

 

evil281

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Jan 6, 2008

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Apr 6, 2009

#5

• Apr 6, 2009

• #5

oh also post what brand of tire they are if u dont mind

 

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NewMStang

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Apr 6, 2009

#6

• Apr 6, 2009

• #6

evil281 said:

oh also post what brand of tire they are if u dont mind

Click to expand...

The front are Michelin / Pilot Sport N1 one tire has about 6.5/10 tread other has 8.5/10 tread, REAR tires are MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES

 

V_Eight

Founding Member

Sep 5, 2002

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ATL

Apr 7, 2009

#7

• Apr 7, 2009

• #7

It's probably your USED tires.

 

evil281

New Member

Jan 6, 2008

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Arizona

Apr 7, 2009

#8

• Apr 7, 2009

• #8

im pretty sure that is the problem as well, my suggestion is sell them to someone on ebay stating sold as is to cover urself and buy new front tires

 

nyuk98gt

15 Year Member

Oct 10, 2000

1,427

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79

Chesterfield, MO

Apr 7, 2009

#9

• Apr 7, 2009

• #9

NewMStang:

The wider tires on the front will 'track' more than skinnier tires. The tire pressure seems a bit high (imho) and might be making the front end a little loose. Try 32 or 34 psig (cold condition) and see if the tracking reduces.

HTH,

Chris

 

Skud

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Sep 10, 2003

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Saskatchewan

Apr 7, 2009

#10

• Apr 7, 2009

• #10

I notice the issues you describe with my Mustang after driving my Focus for a week or so. Compared to my Focus, the Mustang tracks all over the grooves in the road.

However, after driving the mustang for awhile I get used to it and it just feels "normal"..

I think it's just the wider than stock tires tracking more.

Riley

 

JymboSlice

Member

Dec 9, 2008

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Apr 7, 2009

#11

• Apr 7, 2009

• #11

its because you switched to 18in wheels/wider tires than the stock, 17 in 245 mm wheels/tires. thats why it seems a little funky at first. youll get used to it, your car isnt screwed up so dont worry.
i switched from 17in bullitts to 18 inch wheels and it seemed weird at first, but youll get used to it.

 

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johnsonsinutah

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Jul 26, 2008

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Apr 8, 2009

#12

• Apr 8, 2009

• #12

I had a similar issue, switched from the stock tires to 17X9 with 275's on the front and it seems to drift to one side or the other. The tires are new and I had it realigned, even though it was aligned less than a year ago, everything is good, but it still seems to drift to one side or the other based on the contours of the road. Love the look of the larger tires but they do tend to steer themselves.

 

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Midnight2V

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Jan 30, 2009

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Oklahoma

Apr 8, 2009

#13

• Apr 8, 2009

• #13

You really should get an alignment, anytime you change the wheel/tire profile drastically or add any new suspension components like new struts and shocks. Your symptoms could be caused by any number of possibilities, which need to be corrected.

1. Your overall tire profile could have changed ( taller/shorter wheel/tire combo). this has the effect of placing your tire centerline further out/in than is ideal.

2. The wheels could have shifted your tire centerline either out or in.

In either of the above cases, adjusting the toe or caster/camber can put your rolling equipment exactly where it needs to be. Having it off can cause abnormal driving tendencies, accelerated wear, and possibly reduce the maneuverability of the vehicle. Not the kind of things you want going on.

As far as your car tracking on the road where the traffic ruts are, it shouldn't be as pronounced as what you describe. I think you may actually need to have the wheel toe corrected for the new setup. I had this exact same problem when I did my install and it cost me a set of Eagle F-1's. Once the alignment was done, it didn't track anymore than my original setup did.

Hope this helps.

 

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NewMStang

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Oct 5, 2004

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Apr 8, 2009

#14

• Apr 8, 2009

• #14

Seems like you're explination makes the most sense(I'll just go ahead and get a realignment). I was real close to dishing out a bunch of $$ to buy a new set of tires, thanks for saving me the $ Midnight2V!

Midnight2V said:

You really should get an alignment, anytime you change the wheel/tire profile drastically or add any new suspension components like new struts and shocks. Your symptoms could be caused by any number of possibilities, which need to be corrected.

1. Your overall tire profile could have changed ( taller/shorter wheel/tire combo). this has the effect of placing your tire centerline further out/in than is ideal.

2. The wheels could have shifted your tire centerline either out or in.

In either of the above cases, adjusting the toe or caster/camber can put your rolling equipment exactly where it needs to be. Having it off can cause abnormal driving tendencies, accelerated wear, and possibly reduce the maneuverability of the vehicle. Not the kind of things you want going on.

As far as your car tracking on the road where the traffic ruts are, it shouldn't be as pronounced as what you describe. I think you may actually need to have the wheel toe corrected for the new setup. I had this exact same problem when I did my install and it cost me a set of Eagle F-1's. Once the alignment was done, it didn't track anymore than my original setup did.

Hope this helps.

Click to expand...

 

96ninjaman

Member

Jun 3, 2003

205

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Maryland

Apr 8, 2009

#15

• Apr 8, 2009

• #15

I just had the same issue as Midnight2V, and wore a pair of tires on the extreme inside while the rest of the tire was fairly new. After the alignment it was much better with the tracking, but still isn't wearing evenly. I am getting mine checked next week to see if I need CC plates since the car was lowered 1.5 inches as well.

 

mransr

Founding Member

Nov 3, 2000

1,188

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98

Riverside, SoCal

Apr 8, 2009

#16

• Apr 8, 2009

• #16

also...used tires can take a set from the old car's alignment and can cause all kinds of alignment issues on a different car

 

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NewMStang

New Member

Oct 5, 2004

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Apr 8, 2009

#17

• Apr 8, 2009

• #17

New thread Started...sorry for double post

 

N

NewMStang

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Oct 5, 2004

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Apr 8, 2009

#18

• Apr 8, 2009

• #18

Continued thread...New wheels installed...steering seems off? w/Pics

Original post...

So i just put on my new wheels:

- 18x9, 18x10
- 265-35-18 (used tires, with about 7.5/10 tread)
- 315-30-18 new tires

Before putting on the wheels my alignment seemed fine with my stock wheels (245-45-17). I had the new wheels balanced but for some reason my alingment/steering seems all jacked up since I had the wheels installed. It seems like my alignment is all screwey, i have to at times use force to keep my wheels stragiht. Could putting on new wheels cause something like this to happen? Any thoughts?

On a complete side note...my car nows looks like a freaking monster truck, when i had my stock wheels my cars 4x4 look wasn't overwhelming, now it seems ridiculous

So here's some pics of the wheels. An ebay auction for a set of new tires is ending soon so i'd like to know everyones thoughts on wether the wheels tread and ware pattern looks ok...(need to know if i should go with just alignment or new wheels)

Driver Side






Passenger Side






Here's the pics of the new MONSTER TRUCK look, lol...

 

B

Black'02

Member

Mar 5, 2006

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Rochester, NY

Apr 8, 2009

#19

• Apr 8, 2009

• #19

Based on your penny test, the passenger side looks to have a shallower tread. (Its hard to tell though as the penny is facing different ways). They also appear to be slightly more worn along the outside edge, but its hard to tell with pictures. In general though, wider tires tend to follow imperfections in the road alot. I also believe that certain tread patterns tend to make the problem worse. What make/model of tire do you have? Maybe some other people reading this have the same tires and can share their experience with them.

 

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NewMStang

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Oct 5, 2004

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Apr 8, 2009

#20

• Apr 8, 2009

• #20

Front Tires: Michelin / Pilot Sport N1
Rear Tires: Michelin Pilots Sport