Radial Pull Question

[Alan Peters]

Have a question regarding radial pull. I had my tires, Michelin's Latitude Tour's, rotated on the trac (back to front and front to back). Developed a serious pull to the left. Discount Tire swapped the front driver and front passenger. The pull is gone the trac rides true with no pull for about half mile to 3/4 of a mile. My question is do I need to head back to discount and have them replace the bad tire or leave it alone since no pull in the opposite direction has developed?

 

[Todd Z]

I would look at it this way.....



How much life is left in the tire ??

Is the $ worth spending?



Its not a safety issue........



I probably would leave it if the tires half 1/2 or less tread left....



Todd Z

 

[Alan Peters]

Little over half tread life is left. Discount Tire didn't think it was a big deal either. They did offer to replace the tire if the pull returned. Since it has not, I'll leave it alone with no safety concerns.



What would cause a radial pull?

 

[scott degroot]

Radial pull is just one of those things that happen although I do see it more in Michelin tires than any other. I think that being diligent about tire rotation helps to alleviate the situation. When rotating tires always move the front tires to the rear on the same side and cross the rear tires up to the front.

 

[Alan Peters]

I'm religious about rotating every 6K and balance every 12K. Was awkward for the pull to come up out of now where. Figured it is somewhat commen since they didn't make a big deal out of it.



I will do that style rotation from now on. I apreciate the advice from Todd and l1tech. Thanks!

 

[Richard L]

l1tech is correct about the Michelin tires having a problem with Radial Runout (pulling)

I experience similar problems with my 1990 Honda Accord after I put about 20K miles on the original Michelin tires, dispite rotating the tires every 5K-6K miles.



I think part of the problem was that I went to different places to get the tires rotated and never told them how I wanted them rotated. I then decided on a rotation pattern as l1tech described crossing fronts to the rear and bringing the rears straight up on the same side, and that made a big improvement in tire wear and pulling.



I also got a bad wheel alignment on my Honda at one shop and they rechecked it and said it was in factory specs??? I then went to the Honda dealer and they did a perfect alignment? I went back to the other shop and they gave me my money back...and they also called theHonda dealership to get an explaination as to what was wrong with their alignment. I was never told what was wrong, but the manager of the shop said the guy that did my alignment was new and this was not the first complaint.......so I suspect he did not stay there long..:grin:



What was odd is that the printout from the first shop said everything was perfect??? My guess is that the guy set up the machine wrong?



...Rich