Can new wheels & tires affect front end and brakes?

[72Chall77Doba]

Today I changed from my original 14 inch rally wheels to 17 inch amer racing torq thrust 2's
on bf good 245/45/zr17 tires.
The ride home was horrendus. I did not have the car aligned today but she always ran & braked straight.
Today, If I took my hand off the steering wheel she really drifted right,
and if I braked she pulled left. Also, upon braking she felt like the whole front end was doing a major shake, rattle & roll.
I have an 8 track player that slides real tight into it's under the dash mount,
and it was bouncing up & down like a bobble head doll.

[Bullitt-]

No doubt the ride would be much rougher with the lower profile tire, wider tires will also exaggerate imperfections in the steering & braking but I do not believe they will cause problems.  The shake you describe makes me think there is a problem with out of round tires or wheels not true. I'd jack up the front & spin the wheels & see if they spin true, also pay attention to the tread that there is no deviation caused by bad molds or separated belts.   

[dodj]

They may show problems that you did not notice before with the older style tires. But they will not create any alignment problem IMO.

[72cudamaan]

They may show problems that you did not notice before with the older style tires. But they will not create any alignment problem IMO.

    I don't know how the tires could have balanced and not been noticed.

[brads70]

I would think if the outer diameter changed going from 14" to 17" then it would need an alignment? Bigger/wider tires will show up and worn parts too?

[Super Blue 72]

They may show problems that you did not notice before with the older style tires. But they will not create any alignment problem IMO.

   The extra rubber on the sidewall helps to absorb any imperfections in the road and to a extent take up problems in the front end.  I don't know how it would effect the braking though.

I assume these were new 17" tires.  How were the old tires?  Did they have any odd wear pattern?  Perhaps the front end alignment was off with the old tires and the new tires with proper tread is showing up issues with the alignment/front end? 

[72Chall77Doba]

  The extra rubber on the sidewall helps to absorb any imperfections in the road and to a extent take up problems in the front end.  I don't know how it would effect the braking though.

I assume these were new 17" tires.  How were the old tires?  Did they have any odd wear pattern?  Perhaps the front end alignment was off with the old tires and the new tires with proper tread is showing up issues with the alignment/front end? 

Everything brand new.
The old tires, which have been on for the 7 years I have the car were perfect, no irregular wear patterns.
With regards to the brakes, power front, ever since they were changed from manual to power, bout 4-5 years, they have been great.
Now as I brake, it's like the front end is about to fall apart.
Seems like every nut and bolt should be tightened up.
It reminds me of the ride my orig chally, which I bought new in late 70, rode right before I traded it in back in 1977.
At that time I thought I was getting rid of worthless junk, lol.

[brads70]

I would think if the outer diameter changed going from 14" to 17" then it would need an alignment? Bigger/wider tires will show up and worn parts too?

If the tires are taller/shorter then all the front end alignment adjustments are now different.

[ShelbyDogg]

Reminds me of the time my son had to have aftermarket 17"s on his Honda Prelude that came with 15"s.  He then made it worse by lowering the suspension an inch. All that money spent to make it a b!tch to drive. He was always watching for any little bumps in the road because they would each send a shockwave up your back. Turned a very nice driving/handling car into a nightmare.

BUT it looked good though.

[Super Blue 72]

Were all the 14" tires the same size/height or were they taller in the rear?  I assume the 17" are all the same size/height.   

If the 14" were all the same size and the 17" are all the same size, would it throw off the allignment?  I don't think it would if the car still rides level.  The actual angles of the front end components themselves haven't changed with the tire change, just the over all height of the car may have changed but all the front end componenents are still in relative position to each other, yes? 

Were you there for the tire change?  Did you wait for the car?  Just playing devil's advocate and wonder if the car was taken for a joy ride or something and hit a curb.  I used to go to a Honda dealership for warranty issues that took my car out off the dealership lot to do what ever, go get lunch, etc... don't go there anymore.  My car is a stick shift car and I saw wear marks on the passenger front tire from where they were doing burnouts with the car.  Also they couldn't find it in the lot but a kid drove it in from the street...

[brads70]

Were all the 14" tires the same size/height or were they taller in the rear?  I assume the 17" are all the same size/height.   

If the 14" were all the same size and the 17" are all the same size, would it throw off the allignment?  I don't think it would if the car still rides level.  The actual angles of the front end components themselves haven't changed with the tire change, just the over all height of the car may have changed but all the front end componenents are still in relative position to each other, yes? 

Were you there for the tire change?  Did you wait for the car?  Just playing devil's advocate and wonder if the car was taken for a joy ride or something and hit a curb.  I used to go to a Honda dealership for warranty issues that took my car out off the dealership lot to do what ever, go get lunch, etc... don't go there anymore.  My car is a stick shift car and I saw wear marks on the passenger front tire from where they were doing burnouts with the car.  Also they couldn't find it in the lot but a kid drove it in from the street...

I meant the overall tire diameter not the rims. If the total OD of the new rubber/rims is not the same as what came off the everything will have changed, toe, camber,caster, ride height. Sounds like something is worn out in the front end though, to me anyhow?

[cudazappa]

I meant the overall tire diameter not the rims. If the total OD of the new rubber/rims is not the same as what came off the everything will have changed, toe, camber,caster, ride height. Sounds like something is worn out in the front end though, to me anyhow?

Changing the tire diameter the same percentage at each wheel will not change any alignment.  If that was the case, my alignment would've changed when I went from 14s to 17s.  It didn't.

Alignment changes when you stagger tire sizes, when they were equal before.

However, the change does exacerbate any issues you have.  You feel the road more, and all problems are magnified.  But the much improved turning response is worth it IMO

[Strawdawg]

However, the change does exacerbate any issues you have.  You feel the road more, and all problems are magnified.  But the much improved turning response is worth it IMO

X2,


the larger tires will grip better and transmit more force to the suspension.  Any wear, weakness, or misalignments will be magnified as compared to the same car with small, biased ply tires that absorb much of the movement created by road conditions, or the driver's input.

Sounds to me as if there is a problem some where in the system that just got worse....I would check everything including wheel bearings, tie rods, control arm bushings, ball joints, etc...then I would have the alignment checked....

[72Chall77Doba]

a couple of pix