Alignment/Tire Problem 2000 Camry

I've had a problem with the alignment on this car since I went to replace the original tires. Originally (about four years ago) I bought Firestone Tires and had it aligned by them. They said they couldn't align it and had to put in a cam and bolt kit in order to bring it into specification. I let them do that, but even after doing that, they had a heck of a time aligning it, and got it "close" as they put it. They said it was close to spec, but not IN spec for alignment.

Since I'd spent all the money I could at the time I just drove it that way. It pulled slightly to the right, but not enough to worry about it. It was better than it had been, anyway.

Fast forward to two years ago. The tires wore out in half the time they should according to the tread wear warranty. But, I didn't want to hassle with Firestone again so I bought Goodyear Regatta 2 tires form a Goodyear dealer and then had the car aligned at Toyota. They said they got the alignment within spec at the time.

Now, those tires too, have worn out in half the time they should.(40,000,miles on 75,000 tread wear tires) So, I get some new tires... same as the old tires, and then bring it to Toyota for alignment. They align it and say it's within spec, but it still pulls to the right. The mechanic says its the tires. So, since they actually wrote that on the invoice, I bring it back to where I purchased the tires the day before. They replace all the tires since they were only a day old.

The car still pulls to the right quite substantially. Now, Toyota still says it's still a bad tire, but, Goodyear says it's not the tires because they've replaced them so it has to be alignment. Keep in mind that this car has done this since the first tire change. It originally had Yokahamas that I replaced with Firestones, now the Goodyears. So, I don't think it's the tires.

The tires wear pattern is even across the whole tread. I have them rotated every six thousand miles or so. No cupping or uneven tread wear. Even the frame has been checked for alignment and is supposedly fine.

I'm wondering if there is a possibility that the transmission could be causing the pull to the right. I don't see how, but I'm at a loss here. Oh, and I'll add that I am NOT an agressive driver. I drive very conservatively--more like an older person. :wink:

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

2000 Camry LE 4cyl, (only) 130,500 miles.

I would bring it to a body shop and see if there is a problem with the overall alignment of the car. If all the tires are wearing out very quickly, then it is possible that the car is not straight.

Other possibility. Do you keep your tires at the recommended pressure?

Yes, I check the tire pressure about every month with a tire gage. I guess I'll have to visit a body shop again to have it checked.

It more like a tire problem, I replaced my tire in wal-mart, those are also a Goodyear, pull to the left. I checked the alignment by an experienced mechanic, it is good. Finally I found it is a tire problem. Btw my friend replaced four new tires in Wal-mart, which is Goodyear Viva too, for his Accord, after replacement, pull to aside also. Damned Goodyear!

You can switch the front tires and see if it will pull to the other direction, if yes, it must be a tire problem.

I agree with popeye08 about switching the 2 front tires as a quick check. If the pull switches to the left side, you know it's the tire now on the left causing the problem. If the car still pulls to the right, then it is a problem with the car itself. Then I would take the car to a body shop as Brian suggested.

Mike

Thanks for the suggestions. I swapped the front tires, right to left, and left to right and also checked the pressure. It rides OK now without pulling one way or the other. These tires have symmetric treads, so I can't see why switching their position would correct the problem (and not simply make it pull the other way if it was a bad tire)

Oh well, for now the problem seems to be resolved. But, I'll be watching it. No more Goodyears for me.