Pulls to the left AFTER I got new tires and alignment

[Obironmoldy]

2019 Stinger GT2 AWD
So, I got new tires and had the alignment done. After the Kia dealership said that the car was within specifications, they also said it pulls to the left and that I had a defective tire. I went back to Costco and had them unseat and flip the front tires (new tires are directional), but it continued to pull left. I took it back to Kia and they did the alignment again, and again are telling me it's the tires. This doesn't make sense. They checked suspension, etc., and saw no signs of damage. So I'm now caught between Costco saying it's the car and Kia saying it's the tires.
What doesn't help is that the alignment tech after the 2nd alignment said there was no pull any longer, but it only took a couple hundred yards down the road before I realized he was dead wrong. But he put it in writing and he's the "pro." The dealership has had my car in for the alignment at least 3 times now, the last time just to reset sensors again. This has taken so long I now have over 1k miles on the tires and I'm concerned that they are being damaged. Their only diagnosis is that it's the tires.

Help please! I'm looking to go to another tire shop to have an uninvolved party look and see what's going on.

 

[socalvn]

You had them unseat and flip the tires did you try just rotating from right to left in the front see if that stopped your directional pull?
And if you have a thousand miles on them are you seeing any Feathering or signs of wear on the tires out of normal

 

[Snowwhite]

swap the rears from one side to the other and take a test drive. directional tires can go in reverse for long enough for you to see if the pull is gone.

 

[Ozstung]

Had the problem for years with my Stinger it went back and forth to Kia and a tyre supplier each blaming each other. Finally procured a ...hell I've forgotten its bloody name, an adjustable arm that solves the issue. It will be fitted to your front left and allows ajustment to be dialled in.

In Australia they're made by Superpro in the US everybody uses the Megan racing type. There's pages of info within this forum may have to use keyword search button.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I don't grok the "flip the tires" thing, if the tread is directional. How would that show anything? Don't the tires have an "OUTSIDE" designation too? All the tires I've used do. By flipping all you do is move a defective tire if there is one.

 

[GT Elite]

I don't grok the "flip the tires" thing, if the tread is directional. How would that show anything? Don't the tires have an "OUTSIDE" designation too? All the tires I've used do. By flipping all you do is move a defective tire if there is one.

It is only asymmetrical tread that have an inside and outside. On these types of tires, the outside will have bigger tread blocks with less voids to improve cornering. The inside portion can have larger void areas to improve wet handling capilities. Directional tires do not have to have an asymmetrical tread pattern.

In this case “flipping” the triers side to side will determine what is causing the pull. If the car still pulls left after the flip, then the problem is the suspension. If it pulls right, it’s the tire. Note, both the front and rear tires need to be flipped to figure which end of the car is the car is causing the pull.

 

[Snicklefritz]

It is only asymmetrical tread that have an inside and outside. On these types of tires, the outside will have bigger tread blocks with less voids to improve cornering. The inside portion can have larger void areas to improve wet handling capilities. Directional tires do not have to have an asymmetrical tread pattern.

In this case “flipping” the triers side to side will determine what is causing the pull. If the car still pulls left after the flip, then the problem is the suspension. If it pulls right, it’s the tire. Note, both the front and rear tires need to be flipped to figure which end of the car is the car is causing the pull.

Thanks. Sounds like the OP only flipped the fronts, so, only half of the sleuthing job required. Learning new things here all the time. Thanks again.

 

[Volfy]

2019 Stinger GT2 AWD
So, I got new tires and had the alignment done.

No help on this, but next time... consider doing them 1 at a time, so you'd know which step caused the issue. Or, do them both at the same shop, so no excuse to point finger elsewhere.

 

[Snowwhite]

I don't grok the "flip the tires" thing, if the tread is directional. How would that show anything? Don't the tires have an "OUTSIDE" designation too? All the tires I've used do. By flipping all you do is move a defective tire if there is one.

tires aren't always 100% the correct diameter. sometimes, if you end up with two larger tires on one side of the car, the car will pull towards the other direction. swapping them around cancels that out. you can also have a radial pull if the steel belts inside the tire aren't aligned properly and cause the tire to bulge out when inflated, thus causing the size difference that causes the pull.

this car is so ridiculously sensitive to these things that I've had to swap sides several times. I make note to only buy tires that are asymetrical and not directional so I can do this without having to go back to the tire shop to re-mount.