Tire causing alignment issue

[mkirsch]

I put new tires on my Silverado 1500 right before winter started. At about 1000 miles I had them rotated as part of my oil change service.

After that the truck had a slight pull to the ditch. The left front tire pressure would consistently run 1-2PSI higher than the right front, so I know something was causing it to heat up more. As far as I could tell both tires were set to the same cold pressure by my gauges, and the TPMS confirmed.

Usually right after I get the tires rotated the truck drives a little funny for a day or two, then straightens out. This time it never straightened out. It went the whole 6000 miles with an ever so slight pull toward the ditch.

Last week I had my tires rotated again at the next oil change. Truck tracks perfectly now. Both front tires run at the exact same pressure.

Have I got a defective tire? Which one, and how do I prove it?

[dodge_guy]

Sounds like the tire that was on the RF is bad. take it back and have them replace it. usually its a sign the belt is shifted.

[Lynnmor]

I had that happen and the tire shop wanted to blame alignment. We swapped the tires left to right and the pull went the other way. It would be a good test for you just in case alignment might be out.

[Lessmore]

I've had that issue. The dealer said one tire wore differently than the rest. He rotated the tires so that they were as they were...rotation wise originally. All was well.

On that particular vehicle I didn't bother rotating the tires anymore. It was an older vehicle and all the tires had similar depth tread.

I sometimes wonder about the necessity of rotating tires. I drive relatively conservatively and the miles I rack up per years is a bit more than average, tire depth always seems consistent on all tires...so in my particular case, unless tire rotation is necessary for tire warranty, I don't bother.

So far, no penalties in early replacement of tires, etc.

[ScottG]

Yes, I had the same problem years ago with a tire. Shop ended up replacing it under warranty and that solved the problem.

[transamz9]

The tire that was on the left front is bad.

[DutchmenSport]

Sounds like you did not get 4 exact identical tires. One tire is slightly bigger (in diameter) than the others, causing the pull. Also, most roads are sloped to the right, which causes vehicles to want to drift to the right (ditch), and that constant fighting of the wheel could cause tires to wear uneven. Rotating a back tire to the front or front to the back is a good example, as the steering tire is the one always fighting the resistance to go in the ditch, causing more wear on it.

My guess is, the tires are not identical in diameter. One is ever so slightly larger in diameter than the others, causing the pull. Have your tire shop measure each one for you.

[mkirsch]

Well thinking about it now it has to be one of the tires on the rear.

[donn0128]

Yea, you have a bad tire. It happens. See your tire dealer, explain to him whats goign on. They will start rotating tires around one at a time until they find the culpret.

[enblethen]

I would have a good shop check the wheel!