I have just had a pair of Michelines (specified by the lease company) fitted to the front of my Octavia estate at 20000 miles replacing the factory Bridgestones. After previous bad experiences with ATS that I have to use I found a friendly small branch in a rural town.

However As friendly as they were having now travelled on decent roads a few days after I find my wheel is a couple of degrees off to the righy. I don't believe the tracking or alignment was touched. Obviously it is the new tyres that has caused this but how come and is this a common problem? I pressume I need to go back and have it adjusted with the wheel centred.

I don't think in my memory I've had tyres fitted where I haven't had to go back and have the balancing or alignment redone. Is it really that difficult a job?

Check tyre pressures

Check tyre pressures

Definite 'Immediate Action/First Response' recommendation.

It is amazing how often that tyre fitters mess this up.

Let us know the outcome.

Well popped back to the tyre depot as was in the area. The manager gave me the knowing puzzled look as if to say P*ss off, but after moaning that lease companys never pay up for alignment after Kwik fit fleeced every one for years by charging for alignments on every job, he did check for me. Apparently the alignment is spot on, he swapped the front wheels over side to side to see if that made a difference.

Without a decent run on straight roads my impressions are that it hasn't sorted it.

Not sure where to go from here as an 8 monh old car with a wonky wheel to me isn't acceptable. I think a trip to the dealer may be in order however I'm sure I will have fun with the ever helpful lease company who wish to avoid any form of expediture.

I know that swapping the tyres shouldn't cause such and issue but the fact is that it has. I will be checking everything myself this weekend.

any suggestions greatfully recieved

Did you check the Tyre Pressures?

Also; do remember that the camber of a road will have you drifting left towards the kerb that will require correction to the right. Best to check the alignment in the centre lane of a straight dual carriageway/Motorway.

I had the exact same problem on my Touran with tyres fitted by STS. For once I decided against the usual automatic tracking check @£25 and low and behold out my car comes with the steering wheel a few degrees out!

I had the tracking checked elsewhere and like you it's OK - clearly it changed in such a minor way that it isn't showing up on the generic tracking equipment used by most fast fit type outlets. Whilst it is nigh on impossible to prove I am sure I was subject to the 'he might not want his tracking checked so I'll make sure he needs it done' system with a minor tweak on a track rod whilst one of the wheels was off. I can see no logical reason why a change of tyres would interfere with the tracking. And no, nothing to do with pressures - I check them every week (although happily they rarely need adjusting)

I agree whilst it's not the end of the world it is frustrating. I thought about a full geometry check which would certainly solve it but they are not overly cheap and as I'm looking to buy a new Octy I wasn't too fussed so long as it wasn't ruining my tyres.

Update time, all tyre pressure checked and rears were as they should be and the fronts were both even but 0.10 bar over recomended. Having put this right and done a few hundred miles more the steering wheel is still off by a degree clockwise when the road wheels are dead ahead.

Next step is to call ING the lease company to see whta they say and then perhaps back to the dealer.

Are you sure it was dead level before the new tyres went on?

It's not tough a job to remove the wheel and twizzle it one notch on the spline.

The person who fitted the tyres obviously interfered with the track rods. Did you watch them change the tyres?

The wheel was definately level before it went in. I'm a stickler for that sort of thing as it drives me mad hence my frustration, having done 20000 milles since April when I got it you get very familiar.

The car was visable too me as I waited in reception, but I used the opportunity to make a few calls etc as I was at work so didn't pay too much attention.

I have ok'd it with the lease company to take it to Skoda for a check up so hopefully they will be able to shed some light on it.

Hey devonutopia I think I've seen your car around (but not for a while) hello to another Exeter dweller.

James

same thing happened with my old toyota celica - new tyres, wheel off centre.

Returned to tyre fitters - they rechecked tracking, said it was o.k. - wheel still off centre.

Took car to garage where car was usually serviced - they checked tracking, corrected it - wheel now centred. Went to tyre fitters to complain - they denied it was a tracking issue.

Hope you get yours sorted,

pmc

i know what you are saying as mine is like it, it needs the steering wheel clamped at the straight position and the alignment done again. something ****fit and ats dont bother with but smaller independent garages do. i personally have got use to it now, but next time its in i will ask them to sort it out as it is a pet hate of mine.

I had that problem with a pair of elcheapo tyres. car pulled hard to the left, wheel was off-centre. Put the back tyres on the front and all was well again. Went back to the tyre dealer and they replaced the tyres, and everything was OK.

Seems there was something strange with one of the tyres making it drag more than the other.