Steering wheel/ Tracking issue and NCT

andyseadog

OK, had the vectra in for its test today. all was fairly decent, had my suspicions on one or two items but i decided to let them tell me rather than run around frantic fixing un neccessary bits.

first failed on two front tyres. grand, priced around a few places (the car had 2 worn kumhos on the front and 2 50% kingstars on the rear, great rubber all round :pac:) size 215/55/R16

priced 3 places and specified in all 3 that i would happily shift profile from 215/55 to 205/50 etc to get a cheaper set of rubber.

location 1, 2x new "runways" for 85 each
location 2, 2x new "kumhos" for 70 each
location 3, 4x part worn 205/55/16s 2x dunlop and 2 goodyear for 140 all with, in my opinion, very good thread left but all 4 years old.

went with the part worns. think it was a better move, despite the fact they are 4 years old.

so thats that.

also they said they couldn't check the tracking becuase my wheel was misaligned?

when i drive my car and release the wheel the steering wheel settles into this position when its driving straight ahead. is this a tracking issue? the car drives straight, is this not just asthetics? (yes, i am aware the car may have some form of sinister past because of this)

Anan1

You need a four wheel alignment for starters, get whoever does the tyres to include it in the price. Also, if the correct size is 215/55 R16 then you could go to 205/60, not 205/50.

kerten

Yes this can be fixed by tracking if parts are fine.

Recently got two cars fixed for same issue. One of them was because of hitting kerb fast(tyre slashed,steel rim gone)

I would ask tracking guy to check for any damage in suspension bits in front

Nissan doctor

Proper 4 wheel alignment should sort your steering or at least show what the problem is.

The vectra c has rear camber and toe adjustment from memory as well as front toe and proper alignment like that wouldn't be included in with tyre prices unless you were spending mega money on tyres.

Syllabus

i really dont understand people choosing to buy used tyres

i mean they were removed from the car for a reason. even if they came off a scrapped car, as opposed to being removed from a road going car due to wear etc, you have no idea of their history or any potential internal issues from clipping kerbs or being driven on flat or under inflated for prolonged periods

ive lost count of the amount of people ive seen with tyres in dire need of replacement only to be told they only got these brand new 2nds 3 months ago:eek:

just doesn't make sense to me to save maybe 40-80e that day only to have to spend more money on tyres again in a matter of months:rolleyes:

i feel i'm in a qualified position to question the quality of 2nd hand tyres after repeatedly being approached by these tyres places trying to buy my scrap tyres to resell and i assure you any tyres i replace needed to be replaced and therefore are scrap.

imo

andyseadog

Syllabus wrote: »

i really dont understand people choosing to buy used tyres

i mean they were removed from the car for a reason. even if they came off a scrapped car, as opposed to being removed from a road going car due to wear etc, you have no idea of their history or any potential internal issues from clipping kerbs or being driven on flat or under inflated for prolonged periods

ive lost count of the amount of people ive seen with tyres in dire need of replacement only to be told they only got these brand new 2nds 3 months ago:eek:

just doesn't make sense to me to save maybe 40-80e that day only to have to spend more money on tyres again in a matter of months:rolleyes:

i feel i'm in a qualified position to question the quality of 2nd hand tyres after repeatedly being approached by these tyres places trying to buy my scrap tyres to resell and i assure you any tyres i replace needed to be replaced and therefore are scrap.

imo

i'm under no illusion that the tyres are perfect.

my reasoning is that i had really (student :rolleyes:) budgeted 150-175 max to look after the tyres issue. i would rather a good brand slightly worn than brand new chinese rubbish and that point is driven home on this forum on a daily basis.

visually both inside and outside the tyres look fine, no obvious signs of damage, i appreciate they may have unseen internal damage.

so then i put to you this question, would i be safer on 4 semi worn (unknown history) dunlops, or 2 brand new chinese tyres and 2 50% worn kingstars?

aside from that, i'l make an appointment/ try to get straight in for a 4 wheel alignment tomorrow, i have the day off and hopefully things will be clearer

thanks guys, i'l post my findings!

bazz26

Syllabus wrote: »

i really dont understand people choosing to buy used tyres

i mean they were removed from the car for a reason. even if they came off a scrapped car, as opposed to being removed from a road going car due to wear etc, you have no idea of their history or any potential internal issues from clipping kerbs or being driven on flat or under inflated for prolonged periods

ive lost count of the amount of people ive seen with tyres in dire need of replacement only to be told they only got these brand new 2nds 3 months ago:eek:

just doesn't make sense to me to save maybe 40-80e that day only to have to spend more money on tyres again in a matter of months:rolleyes:

i feel i'm in a qualified position to question the quality of 2nd hand tyres after repeatedly being approached by these tyres places trying to buy my scrap tyres to resell and i assure you any tyres i replace needed to be replaced and therefore are scrap.

imo

And what about all those second hand cars for sale up and down the country, should the used tyres on them be changed also everytime they are sold on?

I'd rather buy good partially worn premium tyres than put on brand new muck Chinese budget tyres.

andyseadog

despite my best efforts at sweet talking i couldn't get in anywhere today, but im booked into a local garage for 10am tomorrow for a 4 wheel alignment, they said E20.00 for the alignment, seems very cheap, no?

all i had done today then was gave the car a good clean inside, washed the outside and then it pissed down rain before i could get near the polish

Nissan doctor

andyseadog wrote: »

despite my best efforts at sweet talking i couldn't get in anywhere today, but im booked into a local garage for 10am tomorrow for a 4 wheel alignment, they said E20.00 for the alignment, seems very cheap, no?

all i had done today then was gave the car a good clean inside, washed the outside and then it pissed down rain before i could get near the polish

For €20, I'd ask them can you watch them adjusting the rear alignment!

€20 is cheap for basic front wheel laser tracking, never mind 4 wheel computer alignment!:eek:

andyseadog

Nissan doctor wrote: »

For €20, I'd ask them can you watch them adjusting the rear alignment!

€20 is cheap for basic front wheel laser tracking, never mind 4 wheel computer alignment!:eek:

exactly what i thought. anytime i've ever had a car tracked its been around 20.00, i specified 4 wheel alignment and they advertise the fact they do it.

all i can do is wait to see now i suppose.

very few places seem to offer this, around south wicklow anyway. i was in 2 seperate tyre fitters that didn't even offer tracking

Nissan doctor

andyseadog wrote: »

exactly what i thought. anytime i've ever had a car tracked its been around 20.00, i specified 4 wheel alignment and they advertise the fact they do it.

all i can do is wait to see now i suppose.

very few places seem to offer this, around south wicklow anyway. i was in 2 seperate tyre fitters that didn't even offer tracking

Well if your stuck and fancy a trip to the big smoke......;)

andyseadog

i'm in college up there and try to get out of it as quick as i can in the evenings :pac: mid term is this week coming though, so if tomorrow isn't fruitful i'l probably take a trip up to yourselves. it'd be as handy in the long run at this stage.

Syllabus

bazz26 wrote: »

And what about all those second hand cars for sale up and down the country, should the used tyres on them be changed also everytime they are sold on?........

this is just silly^^

by that reasoning the brand new tyres i put on last week are now used and therefore new replacing:rolleyes::rolleyes:


the point I'm trying to make with my earlier post is that tyres are generally not removed from a car unless they need to be removed for whatever reason. If they were not good enough for the car they came off why would they be good enough for your car??

also, the type of places prepared to fit used tyres generally dont pay any attention to load speed or tyre size in terms of what is listed for the car.

i personally saw a car that had only had 4 used tyres fitted the day before and apart from the tyres only having maybe 3/4mm remaining 1 tyre was a different size. nothing had been said to the chap about that:eek:

Syllabus

andyseadog wrote: »

exactly what i thought. anytime i've ever had a car tracked its been around 20.00, i specified 4 wheel alignment and they advertise the fact they do it.

all i can do is wait to see now i suppose.

very few places seem to offer this, around south wicklow anyway. i was in 2 seperate tyre fitters that didn't even offer tracking

firststop castle st bray €50 4 wheel alignment with a print out

Syllabus

andyseadog wrote: »

.........so then i put to you this question, would i be safer on 4 semi worn (unknown history) dunlops, or 2 brand new chinese tyres and 2 50% worn kingstars?.......

brand new over used any day:)

that said, i would not use the chinese stuff myself tbh. i would try to find a mid range tyre like a hankook or kumho or avon and pay maybe 15-20 more per tyre rather than pay good money for tyres that might only last a few months

imo

farrellniall

Syllabus wrote: »

i really dont understand people choosing to buy used tyres

i mean they were removed from the car for a reason. even if they came off a scrapped car, as opposed to being removed from a road going car due to wear etc, you have no idea of their history or any potential internal issues from clipping kerbs or being driven on flat or under inflated for prolonged periods

ive lost count of the amount of people ive seen with tyres in dire need of replacement only to be told they only got these brand new 2nds 3 months ago:eek:

just doesn't make sense to me to save maybe 40-80e that day only to have to spend more money on tyres again in a matter of months:rolleyes:

i feel i'm in a qualified position to question the quality of 2nd hand tyres after repeatedly being approached by these tyres places trying to buy my scrap tyres to resell and i assure you any tyres i replace needed to be replaced and therefore are scrap.

imo

hold on a minute most part worn tyres come out of gemeny for 2 resons


1 they cannot pluge a tyres.

2 in the winter they HAVE TO put on winter tyres its the law.

and also when they do have to put back on there summer tyres more then likly they put brand new tyres on becouse they are a more wealthy country then we are.

i worked in a part worn tyres center and when a load come in EVERY tyre is cheaked. I.E put on a rim cheaked for puntues and any other damage E.G cuts bulges.

Syllabus

farrellniall wrote: »

hold on a minute most part worn tyres come out of gemeny for 2 resons


1 they cannot pluge a tyres.

2 in the winter they HAVE TO put on winter tyres its the law.

and also when they do have to put back on there summer tyres more then likly they put brand new tyres on becouse they are a more wealthy country then we are.

i worked in a part worn tyres center and when a load come in EVERY tyre is cheaked. I.E put on a rim cheaked for puntues and any other damage E.G cuts bulges.

fair enough.
this circumstance is the only one in which i would consider a used tyre.

however, i know the used tyre places close to me do not get their tyres from germany and as i said earlier, i have been asked to sell my scrap to these places

farrellniall

yes i understand and that is rong