Problem with new F430
Discussion
So, I finally went ahead and bought myself a Ferrari. Waiting for the day of collection was a bit of a challenge, but it eventually came around and I'm the owner of a 3 year old F430 Spider! If nothing else I now feel like I'm about 6 when I look at it.
On the drive home I noticed that it pulled to the left, not badly, but enough to be not right. I should've gone straight back but I was too excited and kept on driving. Anyhow, after a week of ownership I dropped it back of to the dealer. The car came from a main dealer and has the 2 year 'approved' warranty, so I wasn't too worried.
Two days on and I've just had a conversation with the service team and they've told me that it's because of the Pirelli tyres. The tyres aren't warn unevenly, are the correct pressure, have lots of tread, but apparently running it on a new set of Bridgestones cures the problem.
The service team tell me this is a characteristic of 'some' Pirelli tyres. Their solution, two new Pirellis on the front (but it may keep doing it sir, it's the Pirellis you know), or 4 new Bridgestones (this is a piece of precision engineering sir, you don't want to be mixing tyres front and rear).
So, the gloss of owning my new toy is rapidly wearing off and to make it worse, this smells a bit fishy to me.
I'd be most grateful for any insights!
Paul
On the drive home I noticed that it pulled to the left, not badly, but enough to be not right. I should've gone straight back but I was too excited and kept on driving. Anyhow, after a week of ownership I dropped it back of to the dealer. The car came from a main dealer and has the 2 year 'approved' warranty, so I wasn't too worried.
Two days on and I've just had a conversation with the service team and they've told me that it's because of the Pirelli tyres. The tyres aren't warn unevenly, are the correct pressure, have lots of tread, but apparently running it on a new set of Bridgestones cures the problem.
The service team tell me this is a characteristic of 'some' Pirelli tyres. Their solution, two new Pirellis on the front (but it may keep doing it sir, it's the Pirellis you know), or 4 new Bridgestones (this is a piece of precision engineering sir, you don't want to be mixing tyres front and rear).
So, the gloss of owning my new toy is rapidly wearing off and to make it worse, this smells a bit fishy to me.
I'd be most grateful for any insights!
Paul
Sounds like a crock to me, cheap tyres can cause puling to one side if the run out lines are way off centre but I've never come across that on high end tyres.
430's don't have a history of geo problems (that I know of) so I would speculate that something has gone wrong (it might have clipped a kerb). Where are you located? If in the SE try Wheels in Motion - they can put the car on their hunter machine and tell you where the settings are. Costs about £40 or so. www.blackboots.co.uk/wheels-alignment.php
Otherwise look for somewhere that has a hunter machine (as used by Ferrari in their factory)- you can search for a place here: www.alignmycar.co.uk
430's don't have a history of geo problems (that I know of) so I would speculate that something has gone wrong (it might have clipped a kerb). Where are you located? If in the SE try Wheels in Motion - they can put the car on their hunter machine and tell you where the settings are. Costs about £40 or so. www.blackboots.co.uk/wheels-alignment.php
Otherwise look for somewhere that has a hunter machine (as used by Ferrari in their factory)- you can search for a place here: www.alignmycar.co.uk
Sounds a load of crap to me! I suggest you contact the nice people at Pirelli UK and tell them what is being said and ask if they have any comments. they may want to speak to the service dept and find out what this problem is that they have uncovered and which pirelli have not!
Sounds like tracking to me too!
If the tyres are wrecked, bumped etc could cause it but it is because of damage not design!
Paul
Sounds like tracking to me too!
If the tyres are wrecked, bumped etc could cause it but it is because of damage not design!
Paul
As it is a main dealer perhaps they have a car which has these wonderful Bridgestones on which you can drive. If that is OK then they can swap the tyres out at their cost. Sounds to me like you have a "fit for purpose" argument with the dealer as they sold you a car which they "knew" would have a problem as they knew it had these "awful" Pirelli tyres on it. I dont see why they sell you a car which does not drive properly and ask you to foot the bill. If you do get it checked and proved to be out of alignment perhaps they can cough up for the check plus remedial work necessary to correct.
jenzo said:
Murcielago_Boy said:
a few of my Ferrari have done the same.
check:
buckled wheel
screwed up geometry.
tyre pressure
tyre wear
Agree with MB.check:
buckled wheel
screwed up geometry.
tyre pressure
tyre wear
The guy at the dealer is taking out of his ar*e hole I think...
I have only ever seen this when there were two completely different tyres on each side of the car, Pirellis on one side and Bridgestones on the other, it pulled to the left when under partial throttle.
As others have already said the dealer is talking absolute rubbish, take it back there & get them to do a 4-wheel laser alignment check with them picking up the cost (make sure you get a copy of the print-offs - before & after geo values)
430's do drive differently between the two tyre brands but only in respect of tyre noise, handling, steering feedback etc.
430's do drive differently between the two tyre brands but only in respect of tyre noise, handling, steering feedback etc.
Perhaps worth a call to Pirelli Uk to let them know that according to an official Ferrari dealer their tyres aren't suitable to be used on a 430 !
Just as a stab in the dark the dealer isn't in the North and has a title of three letters and three numbers by any chance ? - if so I'd be inclined to go straight to a solicitor - that's what I had to do after they "serviced" my 360 spider !!!!!
Whatever you do - DON'T give them an inch.
Just as a stab in the dark the dealer isn't in the North and has a title of three letters and three numbers by any chance ? - if so I'd be inclined to go straight to a solicitor - that's what I had to do after they "serviced" my 360 spider !!!!!
Whatever you do - DON'T give them an inch.
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