Does tire size change alignment ?

[Reggaemon]

I just had my Prizm aligned with 195/60-14 tires on stock rims.The stock tire size is 185/65-14. I just got new tires, BFG Traction TAs in the stock size 185/65-14 and I can't get the car to drive smoothly. The old 195s ran very smooth , no shaking. The new Traction TAs start shaking at 50 mph and never feel smooth even at lower speeds. Even at 20 mph the 195 feel so much better.
I've had the BFG TAs rebalanced 3 time by different shops but the result is always the same. Is it possible that the alignment done when the car had the slighty larger tire makes it unaligned with the original size tire. I've had the BFGs on for 500 miles and they show no wear at all so I don't think the aligment is off. I tried moving them front to back and it didn't change anything.
When I put the 195/60-14 back on, they are mounted on a different set of steel rims, the car feels fine.

I'm open for suggestions?

 

[Zaedock]

The tire size will not change the alignment. As long as the front and rear tires remain the same size (in whatever size you choose), you're OK. From your post, I suspect a bent wheel or bum tire. BFG's have a dot on the sidewall that should be mounted next to the valve stem. Check and see how much weight is on the wheels. If one has a bunch, ask the tire shop to break the bead and rotate the tire 180* on the rim.

Good luck.

 

[digitalSniperX1]

The BFG's sound like a high performance tire and they will generally ride a bit rougher (stiff sidewall)...although in that size (65 series), I'm not sure that's true...or maybe, just maybe, they're just not so good.

One of the TA's gets good reviews:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Traction+T%2FA+T

One not so good:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Traction+T%2FA+Spec

 

[Dave Hess]

That tiny change in size will not affect your alignment.

Go back to that tire shop and have them recheck their work.

 

[ewetho]

Originally Posted By: Reggaemon

When I put the 195/60-14 back on, they are mounted on a different set of steel rims, the car feels fine.

I'm open for suggestions?


There is the problem. Sounds like a rim mouthing issue on your ride. Are the hub centric or lug centric. Are they mating cleanly. Did you have a road force balance done??? On a small tire less the 18 lbs or .018" or you can have issues. I had an after market wheel that ran true on a balancer but could not align on the hub causing vibration.

Are the wheels OEM or aftermarket???? OEM are much better.

I had those tires and loved them (only got rid of those exact tires due to the rim protector rubbing the wheel covers and sounding AWEFUL!!!

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: Reggaemon
When I put the 195/60-14 back on, they are mounted on a different set of steel rims, the car feels fine.

I'm open for suggestions?
First to answer your topic question, it should make no difference in alignment, and your change in size is small.

IMO, the answer to your question is in your last statement. You could well have a bent steel wheel or wheels. I had one OE (steel) on an 01 Civic and the car shook at ~50-mph. Got a new/used wheel and the shake was gone. Discount Tire noticed the bent wheel when I took it back for rebalancing and showed it to me on the balance machine.

BTW, I recently bought a set of Traction TA's at DT and they have been very smooth and quiet. Very satisfied so far.

 

[friendly_jacek]

The above poster could be right on the bent wheels, but your TA could be defective. Read enough reviews and you will see some reported the same problem, inability to balance and wobbly at low speeds (especially at turns). Mine are almost like that too, but manageable. Not a big deal as I drive mostly in city. Also, remember to rotate religiously and keep more pressure than specified as the shallow shoulders wear super fast if cornering a lot. If you allow for some abnormal wear, very loud after 10000-20000 miles.

 

[Reggaemon]

Both sets of tires are mounted on steel rims. The 195s are mounted on the wheels that came with the car the TAs are mounted on a stock size I bought for a set of snows. I didn't have them Road Force balanced but they have very little weight on them.

The after market steel wheels ran true on the balance machine. After the second balance I watch them very carefully and they all looked good. Before the TAs I had a set of Yoko Avid Touring on these wheels and didn't have any problem with them.
But... when I was moving the TAs front ot back I noticed that the recess where the lug nut seats seemed to show scraps or cuts like the lugs were digging into the wheel.
Maybe its these wheels that are wearing out.