Can tyres affect 'tracking'?

ajf

ajf

ajf

Soldato
Joined
30 Oct 2006
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3,070
Location
Worcestershire, UK
New car recently (for me - 2010 Astra 2.0CDTi) and have had issues where driving along a straight road steering wheel is offset quite noticeably to the right.

Had tracking checked and it was out so rectified, but the issue is still there.
Can the tyres also have an effect on this?

They are low profile 45s 18" and the tyres are no brand cheapos.

It is just one of those things that really, really annoys me when I am driving and I am sure it is not 'normal'.
I know camber can have an effect, but never seen it like this on other cars I had.

New set of tyres is going to be £900+ so not something to do unless that is likely to be the cause.

Any advice welcome :)

Andrew
 
Are you sure they centred your steering wheel properly when you had the tracking done?

Even being slightly out at the steering wheel when they set it can be very noticable on the road and your actual tracking may be fine.
 
If you let the wheel go (obviously hovering your hands over it) on an empty and straight road does the car carry on going straight but wheel is not straight or does the car actually start going in one direction?

If the former then the tracking is correct but the steering wheel was not set right when they did it, if the latter then they didn't do anything properly :p
 
I doesn't pull that much if I drive and let the wheel take its own path so I thought the tracking itself was OK, which made me wonder about the tyres. I think it is more noticeable above 40mph too.

3 tyres are identical one is an original Bridgestone - at the rear. About 4-5mm tread left.

Can't say for sure how/if they centered the steering wheel but the steering lock is very sensitive if the iginition is off and it locks dead centre with no play.

I am going to ask the dealer to have another look anyway as I mentioned it at point of sale.

Was trying to think how I could safely video it on my phone too so they can actually see it but think that is a no no.

Andrew
 
why do people put cheepo tyres on a 2010 car? I just don't get it. What they couldnt afford a set of 18" tyres after spending what 20k on a new astra?

Anyway sounds like you should get it re-tracked. Also £900 for a set of tyres? I dont think so, N2 rated all round on my porsche cost that and they are marked up just because.

Your probably looking at around £600 for all four corners with a decent brand tyre. Think I even paid less than that on my Twin Top.

btw I can also confirm that my astra feet like crap with budget tyres and wondered pretty badly when the tyres wern't warm.
 
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Oh so it's tramlining? Even expensive tyres can have that as I found. Just get another brand of Tyre and try again I guess.
 
Looks like they take 235/45/ 18 - So they are quite expensive, if i remember mine came with continental premium contacts on which it appears don't come in your size and premium tyres in this size are infact fairly expensive (180 fitted on some EAGLE F1 ASY 2 & 210 for the bridgestone RE050)... I will kill myself at the best part of a grand for four corners on an astra.
 
It was actually the dealer that put the tyres on the car. Wasn't best pleased they were cheap ones but thought it was still better than 4 near their limits.
Least my choice then if I want to keep them or go for something 'better'.

Local tyre places are coming out around £205 to £250 per tyre fitted depending on brand so a bit under the £900 actually for the cheapest. They quoted for Bridgestone RE050 and Pirelli P Zero Nero - they're a Pirelli centre.

Think the Bridgestone are same as OEM and to be honest found them pretty good on my old Astra.
Like something with some decent grip as drive a lot of national limit windy roads. Wet weather performance obviously a good feature too.
Did think about F1s but the ones I had previously were diabolical on snow.

P.S are Blackcircles.com reliable to deal with?
 
bledd. said:
blackcircles are awesome to deal with, I've got nothing but praise for them
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Can only agree with this, they sent my tyres to my local tyre place where the lovely young lady fitted them for me - yes a girl fitted my tyres! Not only that she commented on just how light my wheels were and put new silver valvue covers on free of charge... All of this fine service was included in the price.

Still though your paying a premium for 18's on that car... Id almost be tempted to get factory fit 17's put on the thing and be done with it. Is there really any need for 18's? I would be livid with £800 tyre bills on a rep mobile, makes my tyres seem comparatively cheap.
 
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VinceB1 said:
Can only agree with this, they sent my tyres to my local tyre place where the lovely young lady fitted them for me - yes a girl fitted my tyres! Not only that she commented on just how light my wheels were and put new silver valvue covers on free of charge... All of this fine service was included in the price.

Still though your paying a premium for 18's on that car... Id almost be tempted to get factory fit 17's put on the thing and be done with it. Is there really any need for 18's? I would be livid with £800 tyre bills on a rep mobile, makes my tyres seem comparatively cheap.
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Might look at 17s for it but probably as expensive first time round as new 18" tyres.

To me though it isn't a rep mobile anyway. It's a private purchase and I bought it because I liked it. It also goes pretty well and is cheaper to run than a hot hatch. Even with the 18s on its ride is smoother too which is helpful for me.
 
ajf said:
Might look at 17s for it but probably as expensive first time round as new 18" tyres.

To me though it isn't a rep mobile anyway. It's a private purchase and I bought it because I liked it. It also goes pretty well and is cheaper to run than a hot hatch. Even with the 18s on its ride is smoother too which is helpful for me.
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Fair enough mine was a private purchase as well. I "only" lost 15k on it over 3 years in depreciation after buying in 08 and selling 7 months ago (this was with full main dealer history and in immaculate condition with under 40k on the clock). It was that which made me sell it and start thinking about other cars I could waste that 15k on which wouldnt rape my wallet in depreciation. Yea I probably should have kept the TwinTop but just couldn't take it any more.

I do still have a corsa mind which is wicked in its own little way, 50 mpg and £40 a corner tyres, new in 07 (corsa c shape) and never had a single problem, that car has only cost 7k in depreciation over 5 years so thats not too bad all things considered, anyway ive gone off on one again.

What I would do here is just get the best tyres you can afford and have it re-balanced/tracked by a decent garage. Also if its a private purchase you should think about putting a DTUK Green box on it for an extra 35bhp and 80nm.
 
Had a similar issue on my old car. It was pulling to the left slightly with the steering wheel straight, I'd had the tracking done twice - and saw myself that it was lined up.
The guy mentioned it could be a tyre, so went through the tyres one by one swapping it with the spare and sorted it - one of the tyres had a slight lump on the inside that presumably was causing it to pull around a bit.

Was a bit annoyed that they hadn't noticed this mind....
 
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