98 SL1 wheel alignment question

[JScottB]

When we first bought the 98 SL for our son it originally had it's standard 14" steel rims along with 2 different sizes of tires made by 3 different manufacturers mounted on them meaning it handled like crud. I went to the salvage yard and picked up a set of factory aluminum 15" rims off another Saturn, had a matched set of new tires mounted on them which made an improvement but still handled poorly. Eventually I installed new KYB struts on all 4 corners and sent it in for a 4 wheel alignment however almost a year had passed from the time I mounted new tires to the time I replaced the struts and had a 4 wheel alignment and by that time the new tires were pretty much junk due to uneven wear. The alignment technician told me the alignment of the front end and back end were not only a mile off but also opposite of each other which explained why the new tires wore out so quickly.

So my question is this. Before we invest in another set of new tires for the 15" rims, is the alignment specs different when using 15" rims when the car originally was equiped with 14" rims or does it remain the same? I really don't want to invest in a new set of tires and have them wear out quickly again due to alignment issues.

[saturntech]

The only real adj in the rear you can do is camber, and you would have to remove the strut and install a camber kit, or drill out the holes so you can adj camber since its a straight axle. There is no caster or toe adj in the rear. If the alignment was out a ton in the rear then it was prob in a accident or something and to fix that you would have to bring it to a body shop. For your alignment in the front, there is so many things that would throw it out in a year. It doesn't really matter what the size of the tires are, when you do the alignment it will put it in spec regardless the size of the tire as long as its not a extreme difference. I would bring it to another alignment shop for a 2nd opinion.

[JScottB]

The 4 wheel alignment that was done after the new struts were installed did make a huge improvement, I could actually take my hands off the steering wheel while driving at 60 and the car would go straight and the car didn't have a squirrelly or crab walk feel when hitting a bump however the wear on the tires are so severe that it still doesn't handle correctly especially on a wet road. Seriously, the wear is so bad on the inside tread of the tires that if I were to remove one and set it upright on a level surface, it will fall over on it's side the moment I let go of it. Keep in mind that the severe wear occurred BEFORE the 4 wheel alignment was done and I haven't noticed anymore abnormal wear since the alignment was done.

The main reason I ask about alignment specs is that when I brought it in for the alignment, the mechanic complained that it didn't have the original size rims and I couldn't figure out why it was an issue to him because the rims that I put on it came off another SL in the junk yard and I believe the 15" aluminum rims I chose were a factory or dealer option for our SL as well but I figured maybe the 15" rim equipped SL's had a different alignment spec than the 14" equipped SL's. Another thing to keep in mind is that the tires that were put on the 15" rims were standard size tires for those rims.

[saturntech]

How did he know that they weren't the original rims if they were off other Saturn?? It shouldn't matter any ways, my tires on mine were a 195/65/15, some where around there anyways, and I drive a Saturn s, last year I installed a 215/35/18 and then I did the alignment on it and the tires are wearing perfect.

[RC1488]

No. You will be fine. Get the new tires put on before you blow one of your current ones.

For reference here are the alignment specs for the s-series:

[JScottB]

The mechanic knew the tires and rims were different because one of the first things he did was check the tire size and then checked the sticker on the inside door jam on the drivers door to see if they matched. Being the car originally left the assembly line with 14" rims and tires, that's the info that was printed on the sticker and that's when he threw a "red flag". I didn't think it would matter being I was using factory optional rims and tires but the mechanic initially thought it may be a problem but he went ahead and set the alignment to factory specs.

[saturntech]

Originally Posted by JScottB

The mechanic knew the tires and rims were different because one of the first things he did was check the tire size and then checked the sticker on the inside door jam on the drivers door to see if they matched. Being the car originally left the assembly line with 14" rims and tires, that's the info that was printed on the sticker and that's when he threw a "red flag". I didn't think it would matter being I was using factory optional rims and tires but the mechanic initially thought it may be a problem but he went ahead and set the alignment to factory specs.

It isn't a problem at all, I do alignments all day long

[saturntech]

Originally Posted by saturntech

It isn't a problem at all, I do alignments all day long

1 more thing, make sure that you get the new tires installed before you do the alignment.