Alignment out after new tires

[22Silver]

So I just fixed a bunch of stuff on my NB, including new springs, radiator, all hoses, clutch, oil air and fuel filters, the list goes on.
Right at the end, we spent a few hours really tweaking the wheel alignment. This was 2 weeks ago.

I just got 2 new tires, rears were shot so I threw em out, put the old yoko front tires on the back and put ku31's on the front.
Now the place (won't mention names yet) was VERY pushy. Tried for 10 minutes to get me to buy economy falken tires, then tried to convince me that I needed 4 tires rather than 2, then said that it was because the alignment was out, and I needed a wheel alignment... bullsh... I just had that done.

Then they said I'll need new tires for the other 2 soon and an alignment, and I sort of just went "Righto when that happens I'll be back"

Driving home, I notice my alignment is out... Was 100% spot on before the new tires, but now the steering wheel is rotated maybe 5-10degrees clockwise when driving in a straight line, and I have to hold the wheel there. If I let go the wheel straightens up and the car pulls left pretty hard.

I don't want to confront them and look like an idiot if they genuinely haven't touched anything, but I almost feel like they've F'd my alignment on purpose to wear my tires out quicker so I'll be back for new ones sooner. They did give me a great price and said "If I give you a sweet price will you keep coming back here" and I said "sure", so maybe they've assumed I'm an idiot that won't notice my alignment is out, and assumed I'd go back there no matter what, and that they could get me back sooner if they F'd my alignment.

Also, they said 1 hour over the phone, and when I got there they said 6 hours, so I said I can't wait 6 hours today, you said 1 hour, and took it back a few days later. Perhaps they were annoyed that I did that?


I guess my question is- is it possible they messed with my alignment by accident or on purpose? If not, why would my alignment go from perfect to weird so quickly? The person who set it up 2-3 weeks ago is my uncle, who is a very good mechanic and spent quite a great deal of time making sure he dialed in as much castor as possible, and even took the aligned car for a drive before touching up on everything again.

[Magpie]

What are the tyre presures and did they balance them?

[hks_kansei]

Just changing tyres can't change the alignment.

BUT in saying that, new tyres can change how the car feels on the road. They can add/reduce tramlining etc, etc depending on the tyre.


First step would be to check the pressures, tyre shops can often leave the pressures way too high if they've forgotten to let some air out after seating the bead.
If the pressures are ok, then check the alignment is actually out. The angled steering wheel may just be road camber, try different pieces of road, and different lanes to see how it feels.

After that, maybe measure it.



If the alignment is out I'd just get it done elsewhere and not go back to that shop. There's plenty of tyre shops, no reason to bother arguing with a crap one.

City Discount Tyres in Moorabbin were great to deal with when I last bought tyres.
They ordered them in (I was buying whitewalls, so not a usually stocked tyre), had them the next day, and had them fitted in about an hour.

[bootz]

You should seriously consider rotating the old tyres to the front with the new on the rear.

[MrNuts]

You should seriously consider rotating the old tyres to the front with the new on the rear.

Any reason why he should do that?

[22Silver]

Thanks guys!
They left the right front at around 45 and the left front at around 25...
Also, I can vouch for KU31's now that I've dríven the car on 32 all round.

I should also mention that this shop refused to talk to me about KU36's, and said they would only sell them to me if I bought a set of rims and didn't use the KU36 on the road, only the track, even though KU36 is perfectly road legal... Not happy with their service at all.

For any one interested in knowing which company it was, you'll never get that info out of me!
All I can give you is that I was in Ferntree Gully, and the rims they tried to sell me were Rodney Janes... Take from that whatever you will.

[Magpie]

Try them at a few different PSI's to find the best setting. For me I have mine (NA6) for the track at 26 cold and they go 30 hot, however on the street I start them off at 28 cold and they get to 30 hot. I gather the car does not pull anymore and problem solved?

[JBT]

I should also mention that this shop refused to talk to me about KU36's, and said they would only sell them to me if I bought a set of rims and didn't use the KU36 on the road, only the track....

I wouldn't go within 10 km of the place - what utter BS. I'd also put the new tyres on the rear. The KU31s are directional, are your current rear tyres?

[project.r.racing]

sounds like you should've walked away right from the start.

20psi difference in the fronts will screw your alignment.