New rear tires. Car floats all over the highway

[AlexWood]

So I waited a little too long to get new tires and had one blow on me. Got it to a shop and they put 2 new tires on the rear just to get me by until I can get new wheels. I was driving home tonight on the highway and the car was floating all over the highway, to the point where I was scared to go any faster than 65. While trying to accelerate the car would violently pull to the left. My question is, is this normal behavior with this type of situation?

Some things to keep in mind:

They are cheap Firestone tires
The alignment was perfect before the new tires were installed
The front tires are going bad but not as bad as the rears were
I'm on BC coils lowered about 2inches
I was not there when they installed the tires/test drove the car
From what I can tell, they aren't a directional tire

Let me know what you guys think

Thanks


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[venturaII]

Originally Posted by AlexWood

The alignment was perfect before the new tires were installed

What does that mean? You had the alignment checked before the new tires were installed, or just that the car didn't wander as much as it does now?

[AlexWood]

Originally Posted by venturaII

What does that mean? You had the alignment checked before the new tires were installed, or just that the car didn't wander as much as it does now?

No I didn't have it checked. It tracked perfectly straight though before. I could drive down the highway with no hands on the wheel without a worry, now I have to white knuckle it just to drive 65.


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[jvincent]

It sounds like you blew a tire while driving. If so, the impact probably messed up the alignment.

[venturaII]

What model/size tire did you purchase, and have you ever had the car aligned before? If so, post up the specs and when it was. What are you running for tire pressure?

[zkv476]

Any chance something got damaged by the blow out? It's a possibility that the alignment got messed up.

Were they actually new tires? (Asking since you said it was just to get you by). If they weren't new there's a chance that they are different sizes, which would also potentially cause pulling sideways.

[AlexWood]

Originally Posted by jvincent

It sounds like you blew a tire while driving. If so, the impact probably messed up the alignment.

Well didn't exactly blow. I felt it start pulling funny, then the tire pressure light came on and I pulled over. Wasn't violent at all. That's why I rule out the alignment


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[venturaII]

Originally Posted by AlexWood

That's why I rule out the alignment

A good tire can mask a bad alignment, and a poor tire can make an otherwise good alignment seem bad. And everything in between.

[AlexWood]

Originally Posted by venturaII

What model/size tire did you purchase, and have you ever had the car aligned before? If so, post up the specs and when it was. What are you running for tire pressure?

I'm on stock wheels so I stayed with 215/45s. Yeah I had the alignment done when I put the coils on. I don't have the print out but toe was pretty good and camber was like 2 in the front 3 in the rear


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[AlexWood]

Originally Posted by venturaII

A good tire can mask a bad alignment, and a poor tire can make an otherwise good alignment seem bad. And everything in between.

I was on the stock michelins.


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[AlexWood]

Originally Posted by zkv476

Any chance something got damaged by the blow out? It's a possibility that the alignment got messed up.

Were they actually new tires? (Asking since you said it was just to get you by). If they weren't new there's a chance that they are different sizes, which would also potentially cause pulling sideways.

Yeah brand new. They are cheap firestones which I think might have an impact but it's almost undriveable on the highway.


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[fx35s]

Did the car drive fine before you got a new tire?

I am not sure why you are having that issue, but it sounds like your alignment may be somewhat off.

I suspect your rear toe may be in "toe out" position meaning your rear toe may be near somewhere 1?

When I had my rear LCA installed, the camber for both sides were adjusted in "eye," and weren't too terribly off from one side but toe was nearing 0.8 for both and my car drove just as you described.

The rear floats and feels something is loose doesn't it?

If tires are okay, I will have to bet it's the alignment that needs to be checked- especially the rear toe. Rear toe may be in "toe out" spec.

[churchx]

BTW, have you checked if air pressure is same on both sides? Also as those tires are temporary .. why not switch front wheels with ones on back with those temporary firestones?

[slicktop]

It's your alignment. You should be doing all four tires at once as well especially since you're telling us that your fronts are bad as well.


Post up your alignment specs after you get it done.