[Virgil]

I just bought "used" tires for an auto-x this weekend. They are very new looking Michellin Pilot Sports, stock size. They put them on now the car pulls left under acceleration, only. The swapped the left ones front to back and the same pull. Swapped the right front to back same pull. Then put on two different ones, on piolt sport the other a pirelli p6000. Same pull anyone know whats up/ I think it's the tires but the guy insist that it isn't. I checked presures they were all good. The only "sckethy" thing is they didn't have a lift so they used three jacks to lift the car all at once.

[Nivek]

Could be bad belts in the tires. Did he ever explain why he was selling his tires if they were so close to being new? Did he give you such a killer deal that you could not pass it up?

[Virgil]

well this shop sells used tires. They were $35 a piece.

[Nivek]

Wow, pretty cheap. They sell used tires, but no lift to make install easily? Are they balancing the tires?

[WRXSTIsales]

35 bucks for pilots?
something is up.

[Virgil]

yes they balanced them. Funny thing happened I just do back from ther. I had them change the perelli to a matching pilot so I could take it to The dealer and see if the 3 jack thing messed something up. I pulled out and no more pull. I don't understand but I think the saying goes"Alls well that ends well". I'm wondering if the side that had one jack compressed the spring or something in the suspension then when they changed the single tire it leveled everything back? I don't know I'm just grasping. If anyone has ideas it could be an interesting discussion.

[Peleg]

There's a difference between balancing and alignment.

You need to get your car aligned with the different tires and re-aligned when you put your regular tires back on.

Not worth it if you ask me.

[norcal-sti]

Originally Posted by Peleg

You need to get your car aligned with the different tires and re-aligned when you put your regular tires back on.

why would you have to re-align the car after changing tires? i know all sorts of people who drive to auto-x's and swap wheels when they get there. ???

[STight]

Originally Posted by norcal-sti

why would you have to re-align the car after changing tires? i know all sorts of people who drive to auto-x's and swap wheels when they get there. ???

Yea, please explain..I have never tried to dial the car in to those extremes...

[STIin08]

put more air the the left tire, it is slightly low

[elucas730]

Originally Posted by Peleg

There's a difference between balancing and alignment.

You need to get your car aligned with the different tires and re-aligned when you put your regular tires back on.

Not worth it if you ask me.

You do not need to have your car aligned when you put on new tires.

[Virgil]

I wasn't going to align because of new tires... I was going to align beacuse I thought they messed something up by lifting with three jacks insterad of a lift.

[ERacer]

Sounds like a bad belt in the tire. Some times they shift manufacture defect.

[wannaSTi]

From TireRack.com:

Incorrect alignment settings will usually result in more rapid tire wear. Therefore, alignment should be checked whenever new tires or suspension components are installed, and any time unusual tire wear patterns appear. Alignment should also be checked after the vehicle has encountered a major road hazard or curb.

Believe what you will.

[norcal-sti]

alignment will not change when you change from one set of wheels to another. if you have not had your alignment checked for quite a while, it would of course be a good idea to have it checked when you put new tires on. if, on the other hand, you are in the habit of keeping your car properly aligned, and are swapping tires at an auto-x, there is absolutely no reason to think you need to have the car aligned. the act of changing wheels will not affect the alignment of a car.