What causes a car to veer to the left?

[1988GP]

Evening all,

I had two new tyres on the front in October, with the two front wheels going to the rear.

I noticed immediately that the car veered to the left slightly. Took it straight back to the tyre fitters who, while I waited and watched, checked the tracking and said it was spot on.

I'm the only driver of the car (2007 Volvo S40 with 17" alloys, 53k miles) and never kerb it. It's surely too much of a coincidence that it suddenly starts to veer to the left with new tyres? Car was spot on beforehand, I frequently check!

Any ideas what else could be causing it? Have probably done about 1500 miles since they were fitted so want to sort it before they wear unevenly.

Thanks

Edited by 1988GP on Sunday 29th December 23:46

[AndyLB]

Binding n/s caliper ?

[Cupramax]

To veer is to change direction suddenly or violenty, you cant veer slightly. Can be caused by camber on the road or borked suspension geometry,

[1988GP]

Cupramax said:

To veer is to change direction suddenly or violenty, you cant veer slightly. Can be caused by camber on the road or borked suspension geometry,

Ok, how does 'drift' sound?

Monitored it on all road surfaces and all speeds, will be heading towards the kerb and need correcting within 100metres approx. It's not by any means dangerous but is obviously not quite right

[shambollic]

Have you measured the roll-out of the tyres? If it's different it would certainly give you the symptoms you describe.

[NPI]

1988GP said:

Evening all,

I had two new tyres on the front in October, with the two front wheels going to the rear.

Put the new ones on the back, where they're supposed to go. I won't enter into any further discussion on this point.

An added benefit will be that as the original front tyres are back on the front, the car will no longer drift.

[1988GP]

NPI said:

Put the new ones on the back, where they're supposed to go.

An added benefit will be that as the original front tyres are back on the front, the car will no longer drift.

I guess it may solve the issue, but surely it shouldn't make a difference? The rears are well over 1/2 worn (Pirelli) and, with a commute along winding rural roads, my logic was that it's better to have the new tyres on the front (with it being a FWD car).

[1988GP]

shambollic said:

Have you measured the roll-out of the tyres? If it's different it would certainly give you the symptoms you describe.

The rollout is the same...

[Mashedpotatoes]

Turning the steering wheel sharply left will do it, works the other way to.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Get someone to drive behind you and see if the back of the car is accurately following the front. If it's not, then it's "crabbing" which is typically caused by a bent chassis or truly poor alignment.

Give it a Google...

[s p a c e m a n]

You have double checked that the 2 new tyres are exactly the same size havent you, I've done that one before with a 215/225 and it took me weeks to figure it out

[1988GP]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Get someone to drive behind you and see if the back of the car is accurately following the front. If it's not, then it's "crabbing" which is typically caused by a bent chassis or truly poor alignment.

Give it a Google...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSIGthO2vPs

That made me think of this!

It's not crabbing due to chasis as it was perfect before the tyres were changed, which had worn evenly. I'll get the alignment checked though, thanks.

It's one of those things that is annoying because I know it is there and will lead to uneven tyre wear over a long period of time I guess. I'm sure anyone else driving the car wouldn't notice anything.

[GC8]

1988GP said:

Evening all, what causes a car to veer to the left?

Camber!

[JimmyConwayNW]

Should all cars not pull slightly to the left/kerb so if you fall asleep/heart attack or other illness you don't go into oncoming traffic or was someone pulling my leg at kwik fit years ago ?

[fluffnik]

Some tyres are more prone to following camber than others - different brand?

There's nothing necessarily wrong if you're having to lean a little on the wheel to stop the car falling off the crown of the road toward the gutter, but you shouldn't need to move it significantly.

[LC2]

JimmyConwayNW said:

Should all cars not pull slightly to the left/kerb so if you fall asleep/heart attack or other illness you don't go into oncoming traffic or was someone pulling my leg at kwik fit years ago ?

You listened to someone in Kwik Fit palming you off with an excuse for fscking your car's handling?

[1988GP]

fluffnik said:

Some tyres are more prone to following camber than others - different brand?

There's nothing necessarily wrong if you're having to lean a little on the wheel to stop the car falling off the crown of the road toward the gutter, but you shouldn't need to move it significantly.

This is very useful. I have switched brands, so that may explain it. 'Leaning' on the wheel is a good summary, it's just that I didn't have to before they were changed!

[Northernchimp]

Recently stretched right arm? Have you been sale shopping? Carried anything heavy?

[Stuartggray]

Swap the fronts over, left to right, if the tyre type allows you too.

[gamefreaks]

Obvious one that hasn't been mentioned yet...have you checked the tyre pressures? If it is lower on the nearside tyre, then it will pull slightly to the left.

The other thing is that the camber of the road will cause the car to drift left slightly. Does it still pull to the left if you find a quiet stretch and drive down the center?