[Mk2] [NA] Strange problem after tyre change

[project7]

Yesterday I had the *rear* drivers side tyre changed and now the steering wheel is angled to the right when driving straight. Apart from that the steering seems fine, with no apparent tracking issues.

I had the exactly the same problem when i first got the car after having both rear tyres changed, that time and it was solved after having the tracking done, but the mechanic told me that the tracking was not out.

I have had the tyres changed a couple of times since with no issues.

Has anybody got any idea what is causing this?

[.jambo.]

did you do all the tyre pressures at the sametime as your tyre change.also may be the difference in the tread if you only got one tyre done.i fit tyres etc for a living never had that though.

[project7]

Hi Jambo, thanks for the reply.

I checked the tyre pressures afterwards, and set them as per the hand book.

I thought about the difference in thread depth, but surely the difference would be minimal and taken up by the diff working a little harder?

Maybe i should just put it down as 'one of those things', but having had it happen twice, i worried that it maybe be sign of something more serious.

[HighwayStar]

New tyres will always feel a little different due to the higher (and therefore more flexible) tread depth but also the slickness due to the stuff that is put in the moulds to help the tyre out after pouring... at least for the first maybe 2-300 miles.
As for the wheel being off at the straight ahead ... shouldn't have any effect on the steering changing a rear tyre, none at all. Hit any curbs recently?

R.

[HighwayStar]

PS. You really want to be aiming to change tyres on the same axle at the same time so you have consistent behavior side to side. As for alignment being out ... how was the tyre that came off? Did it have even wear across the surface? Normally if the steering wheel isn't at the straight ahead when the front wheels are I'd be checking track rod ends. Odd though you say it happened after the tyre change. Hope you get to the bottom of it mate.

R.