Can bald tires make your car pull to the right?
In my car Haynes Manuel they say it could be caused by bald tires, alignment, or other things i never hit no curves or anything, ever since my tires got bald on the sides, its been shaking at highway speeds and pulling to the right. My tires are bald on the saides but still have trend in the middle of the tires. I'm getting new tires today and balanced for free, will that be enough to fix my problem?
Ford Taurus 1996 GL
Maybe or maybe not. Tire store needs to look at it and tell that. Also tell them it is pulling so they can check it out.
Both the problems you describe can be caused by bald tyres and bad wheel balancing. It's quite likely that getting new tyres and having the wheels balanced will fix this issue.
Make sure you have the suspension checked for worn parts AND a 4 wheel alignment done, to make sure the front wheels are pointing in the right directions and the rear wheels are following the fronts. Also, since your tires wore out on the sides, you should probably run your new tires with 2-4psi more air pressure, so they wear more evenly including the middle of the tread. Check the pressure every couple of weeks with a simple gauge.
Bald tires can make you crash replace them.
Once done then sort the pulling it it us still there.
Bald on the sides says over inflated tire.
Most shops that do alognments will advise you if there's a concern about worn steering or suspension parts. Most will even check for free as ethically they are required to inform you if your vehickes condition is unsuitable for performing an alignment. Then be prepared should you be offered the service if correcting the worn parts. This happened to me several years ago when I asked for an alignment. A proper alignment could not be performed until the leak in the rack and pinion was repaired, and the inner tie rods replaced, labor and all for the bargain price of $1000+ that would be added to the cost of the alignment. I just installed a remanufactured rack myself with the tie rods installed for 1/5 the price. Went back, got my alignment, and years later my tires are wearing very evenly.
But Andy has it right. Go to a shop that specializes in steering and alignments, ask for a complete alignment and inform them of the vehicle's symptoms. On my personal vehicle, I do as Andy suggested and increase tire pressure over the recommended value (usually but not always 30 psi cold), that's actually the wrong way to go about maintaining even tire wear. Every so often, like 1,500 to 3,000 miles rotate the tires from front to back. This is the proper way to maintain even tire wear. Increasing pressure over the recommended values will affect the drivability characteristics of your vehicle. Even if you don't notice a significant difference in traction and steering, you'll most certainly notice a difference in ride comfort (it'll be more harsh.)
Hope this helps, Best of luck!
Also check the alignment while you're there. Having worn tyres can affect the steering as the different amount of tread will give different grip on one side and will pull the car to that side.
You need an alignment too… And badly. Buying new tires won't fix the problem
You have too much toe in if the outer tread of the tires are bald. Get an alignment or the new tires will show wear in 5,000 miles and by then you've ruined them.
Your tires don't have the right pressure- too soft. The softer tire will drag the steering in that direction. Probably the tire on the right has 20 psi and the left one 24 psi, where both should be what the label in the doorjamb says- likely 32 psi.
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