Radial Pull

[Cristobal]

There is an elderly woman who is a friend of mine. She got in an auto accident some months ago and one of her tires was replaced. All 4 tires on the road are radials.

The guys at the Pep Boys think this replaced tire is showing "radial pull" as all the readings on alignment are normal and this tire still makes the car drift. They suggested that she return to the body shop on a warranty issue.

What is radial pull? Can anyone here describe the physics of it? I presume that one of the sidewalls of the tire is of the wrong thickness. Thanks.

 

[mechanicx]

To tell if the pull is from the tire all they have to do is switch the front tires left to right and see if the pull changes.

 

[oldhp]

To confirm this put front tires on back. Does car still pull?
Yes, something wrong with alignment or bent chassis
No, you have bad radial tire.

Radial pull is from tire being built wrong or belt shifted.
A tire should be flat on top and bottom. When a tire is built wrong or belt shifts the tire now has one side higher then the other side. This is what causes the pulling on steering wheel and car drifting.

Go to this; www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/181

 

[Roadkingnc]

Swap the tires left to right and see if the pull follows. The cause wont be visible.

 

[heyu]

Check and make sure the newer tire is the same height/size as the other 3 ,,It might be mismatched

 

[Cristobal]

It was pulling to the right.

So they out the tire on the back and it pulls to the left, but less so.

Si I think Pep Boys is correct.