H or V tyres?

16 years heather wow ..is the any member other on here had their a2 as long or longer ...we have had them for getting on 15 years ..but not the same ones ...we had 3 tdi s before our present 2 ?..
Hi Greywolf ... yes, I've owned mine from new and look forward to joining the 200k club :D
 

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Two new Continental tyres now on the front and alignment was checked and found to be out quite a way.
So they have done the re alignment, but on driving off it seems to pull more to the left, with a steering wheel that is off centre too.
The technician reckons I have about 2-3 months of wear left on my rear tyres for the mileage that I do, so might as well get that done sooner than later reading the links as regard to oversteer.
Hi Heather, if the car is drifting to the left and the steering wheel is off centre my advice would be to trust what you're seeing, you know it's wrong ... give whoever done the alignment a chance to correct it, any experienced mechanic will know what to do and don't be fobbed off, you know the car best.
 
My only RWD cars were a Fiat X1/9 and a '72 Triumph Vittesse, neither of which had enough power to drift at any speed though still allowed some fun.

The '83 Fiat X1/9 we had was a whole lot of fun in the wet... but then it did have a wide-arch body kit and 335x10x13 tyres on the back (yes, they were nearly as wide as tall!)
 
give whoever done the alignment a chance to correct it, any experienced mechanic will know what to do

My experience, over more than 50 years motoring, is that the mechanic who can't get even close at the first attempt is unlikely to do significantly better the second time round. A lot of budget tyre sellers see wheel alignment as something of a cash cow unfortunately.

Heather has not gone for cheapie tyres and getting her wheels properly aligned using modern technology should produce a reliably better and repeatable result. That is worth the expense in my book.
 
My experience, over more than 50 years motoring, is that the mechanic who can't get even close at the first attempt is unlikely to do significantly better the second time round. A lot of budget tyre sellers see wheel alignment as something of a cash cow unfortunately.

Heather has not gone for cheapie tyres and getting her wheels properly aligned using modern technology should produce a reliably better and repeatable result. That is worth the expense in my book.

No arguments from me Steve, I was thinking more of applying the consumer protection laws or whatever they're called these days, after all Heather has already paid for the job doing right, even if it as offered as a 'free' service they still have a 'duty of care'
I've also experienced tracking by numbers and chin scratchers telling me there's nothing wrong, it's the road camber but never anything they've done ... but I have learnt to trust my own instincts, if it doesn't feel right then it isn't.
I do my own tracking now without any technology and do it by feel ... get the steering wheel perfectly horizontal, adjust the track rods until the car drives straight then keep an eye on how evenly the tyres wear, it works for me and I've been getting 24k on the fronts for the last three sets using this method ... very satisfied with the results and never take up the tyre fitters alignment offer ... each to their own ☺☺☺
 
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I also do my own tracking and four wheel alignment using some brackets I made up and a 2 foot aluminium spirit level and a laser pen. All a bit Heath Robinson, but gets it spot on and tyre wear is very good
 
I also do my own tracking and four wheel alignment using some brackets I made up and a 2 foot aluminium spirit level and a laser pen. All a bit Heath Robinson, but gets it spot on and tyre wear is very good
Hi Derproman ... always satisfying getting it driving in a perfectly straight line :D:D:D
 
I had the tyres done at Formula One Auto Centres for the first time. They did say before I left that if it wasn't straight then I have 28 days to take the car back. If they are offering a quality service surely they shouldn't need to say that!!!
The A2 is up at WOM until next week for it's service, timing belt change and oil leak fix and I mentioned it to Rob and Marcus.
Will see what they think and then either take it back to FOAC or to one of the other suggested garages who can do it properly along with new rear tyres
 
I had the tyres done at Formula One Auto Centres for the first time. They did say before I left that if it wasn't straight then I have 28 days to take the car back. If they are offering a quality service surely they shouldn't need to say that!!!
The A2 is up at WOM until next week for it's service, timing belt change and oil leak fix and I mentioned it to Rob and Marcus.
Will see what they think and then either take it back to FOAC or to one of the other suggested garages who can do it properly along with new rear tyres

Hi Heather, you're right, they didn't need to say that but they would be obliged to put it right in any case, consumer rights etc ...
My guess is they have adjusted according to a manufacturers guide for when the car is new and it's probably right most of the time.
It's not a difficult job or a black art, it's simple mechanics but if FOAC say they can put it right I would be taking them up on the offer on the proviso that you do a test drive with them present and make sure you are happy with the result ... mention the A2OC and how much they'd gain from a glowing reference (or not!).
I've had the same issue twice in the past, once from a mobile fitter after a puncture and he argued it was the road camber and all cars steer to the left for 'safety' reasons o_O ... Second bad experience was an Audi dealership after they installed new front suspension, the car drove straight as an arrow and I thought no more about it until a brand new set of tyres were trashed inside six months ... they had far too much toe out and scrubbed the inside tread.
I live and learn, whatever is best for you in the end, you know how the car should drive :)
 
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Hi Heather, you're right, they didn't need to say that but they would be obliged to put it right in any case, consumer rights etc ...
My guess is they have adjusted according to a manufacturers guide for when the car is new and it's probably right most of the time.
It's not a difficult job or a black art, it's simple mechanics but if FOAC say they can put it right I would be taking them up on the offer on the proviso that you do a test drive with them present and make sure you are happy with the result ... mention the A2OC and how much they'd gain from a glowing reference (or not!).
I've had the same issue twice in the past, once from a mobile fitter after a puncture and he argued it was the road camber and all cars steer to the left for 'safety' reasons o_O ... Second bad experience was an Audi dealership after they installed new front suspension, the car drove straight as an arrow and I thought no more about it until a brand new set of tyres were trashed inside six months ... they had far too much toe out and scrubbed the inside tread.
I live and learn, whatever is best for you in the end, you know how the car should drive :)

Tomscar, the technician said that very same thing to me while he was doing the alignment, that 'all cars are designed to pull to the left for driver safety, in case the driver should fall asleep at the wheel' The car should then go towards the hard shoulder/curb instead of middle of the road.
I've had two e mail requests for customer feedback from them, but will leave that until I'm happy with the drive.
 
Tomscar, the technician said that very same thing to me while he was doing the alignment, that 'all cars are designed to pull to the left for driver safety, in case the driver should fall asleep at the wheel' The car should then go towards the hard shoulder/curb instead of middle of the road.
I've had two e mail requests for customer feedback from them, but will leave that until I'm happy with the drive.

I've been fortunate enough in the past to drive cars new from the showroom and yet to have one steering itself off the road, my A2 included
... yes there is a camber in most roads and the car can track to the left but that's different from your steering wheel being offset and the cars wheels pointing left, never heard of that as a design feature before!!
Two words spring to mind Heather that I would be telling that technician, the second one is Off ... and the first is Fobbing :mad:
I would still take it back armed with what you know and would love to read your review if they spin you a tale :D
 
Oh heather tomscar is right what a whopper he’s spinning you ..I don’t know were you are based but if that was my wife or daughter ide going back in and not with a smile on my face ..please let us know how this one ends ..good luck ?
 
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