I got two new tyres fitted to the front of my car a few months back and when i left the garage the car would not drive straight when you held the steering wheel in the centre. I just presumed that this would be the tracking and that i can pop this into a garage anytime for them to sort out. Anyway, I did pop in to the garage a week or two back and the tracking is perfect. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what might be causing the car to pull to the left? I also have different tyres on the front wheels to the back but i'm not sure that will make any difference?

Cheers

Chris

I don't know.
How do they know the tracking is correct, wonder if they have not put the wheels back on same side as before not that would make too much difference even if one was well out of balance, some tyres are one direction only, I would also check wheels are on tight and bolts fully tightended up.

We had this on the van, they have to align the steering wheel, don't think they like doing it though??

Cheers for the replies guys, I actually saw the laser reading on the car and it was perfect. The mechanic checked the tyre pressures and they were fine. Then he took the car out on the car park and at very low speeds the car tracked straight but at normal road speed this is not the case.

Steve- they did swap the wheels over when they fitted the new tyres, but like you say not sure that will make much different unless one of the wheels is out, but surely that would result in a vibration?

Shouldn't be a need to do any tracking when just swapping tyres over, rebalancing yes, so I was wondering if they had messed with the tracking and like Adam says the steering wheel must be pinned up straight.
Am thinking if tracking is correct they haven't held the wheel straight when doing so as this would do exactly what you describe.

they didn't line up the the steering wheel before they started they turned the wheel till they were lined up, so if it was a little out it now may be more out,

the car pulling to the left? is its slow or fast n violent? it may just be the camber of the road?

As steve has said just changing tyres should have no effect on your tracking, a defective tyre, wear in the suspension or steering and incorrect front wheel alignment can cause the car to pull to one side.

They should of clamped the steering wheel in the straight ahead position and then adjusted the tracking. If they didnt clamp the wheel straight then it will be off centre. Also does your car have ESP? If so they would need to reset the steering angle sensor too.

Cheers guys,

No the car does not have ESP. When I went to get the tracking checked the guy has clamped the steering wheel in the central position, and the lasers read perfect. But still the car pulls to the left, when i hold the wheel straight.
It's a odd one! lol