Register and join the largest automotive community online!
Google  
Web AF
Please Register or Login to access: DriverSide DriverSide Home | Service & Repair | Car Prices | Parts & Accessories | Reviews & Advice | My Garage

body shop replaced oem tire with mismatched tire


Google  
Web AF

blacktaco
06-13-2005, 02:36 PM
My wife has a 2004 Mitsubishi Galant GTS, and she was recently in an accident which required replacing her front left tire. The OEM tires are Goodyear Eagle RS-A 215/55R17. The tire that they used to replace the damaged one is the same brand, size and has the same specs as the OEM tires. But, it is different. The OEM tires sit down inside the lip of the rim, where the new tire sits "on" the lip of the rim, and it has slightly different sidewalls. The only thing different in the writing on the tires is that the new one is made in Japan, and the OEM tires are made in the U.S.A.
We have noticed that her car pulls to the left during hard acceleration now. The body shop manager told me that it is just "torque steer" and that is normal. I mentioned to him this morning that I noticed that the new tire was different from the others, and he said that he would call the tire shop that they used and find out why. I haven't heard back from him yet.
Would this different tire cause pulling? Should it be replaced?

__________________

nick mann
06-14-2005, 05:01 PM
Which wheel is it on? I would swap the wheels round and see if the problem changes.

blacktaco
06-14-2005, 05:06 PM
It's on the front left. I could swap the back to the front, but I couldn't go side to side because they are directional tires.
I called Goodyear, and they said that the tires wouldn't cause any movement JUST during acceleration. It would be all of the time.
I called Mitsubishi and they said that their newer vehicles don't have torque steer like older FWD cars did, so torque steer wouldn't be a problem.
I went to the shop that the body shop sent the car to get the alignment on, and they said that it's from the torque from the engine because it has so much power for a FWD car (235 hp). The rechecked the alignment and said that it's fine. They said the tire is different looking because it was made in 2005, whereas the oem tires were made in 2004.
So, maybe it is just torque from the engine, and maybe I just didn't notice it before the accident?

Add your comment to this topic!


Google  
Web AF