Vectra C Pulling to the Right on 18" wheels

**Rinor** · 23rd February 2022, 21:52

Hi all,

I have a strange problem, which I hope some of you can help by giving your opinion.

My 2003 Vectra C SRI 2.2 DTi is pulling to the right, but only on 18" wheels!

I drive the car on 225/45/18 tyres and last summer I had some Uniroyal Rainsport 2's fitted but car was pulling to the right so I went checked the suspension changed a bunch of stuff and then did an alignment, but the car kept pulling to the right

I reported the problem the guy who did the alignment but of course he put the blame to "bad tyres"!

Then on December (2 months ago) I changed to my winter tyres which are 205/60/16 changed wishbones, did an alignment again and car was tracking BANG ON! Great News! Maybe summer tyres were really that bad

Today I changed back to summer tyres and fitted a set of Continental ContiSportContact 5's as before 225/45/18 size did the balancing and guess what?

THE CAR IS AGAIN PULLING TO THE RIGHT!!!!

Can someone pleas help me what do you guess the problem is, since the car was driving fine on 205/60/R16 winter tyres and is pulling badly to the right on 225/45/R18 summer tyres, I also used to have 225/45/R17 tyres fitted before 18's and never had problem with those also but just with 18 inch wheels!

Than you very much in advance,

**Dog_Book** · 23rd February 2022, 22:17

Wheres the read outs?

**Rinor** · 23rd February 2022, 22:48

Originally Posted by Dog_Book

Wheres the read outs?

Hope this helps!

**northpole** · 24th February 2022, 08:45

just have the tracking redone with the 18 inch tires on... especially if you've lowered the car and the 18 inch wheels are wider than your older wheels... than when they are done tracking the car tell the place to take it for a spin... and to check if it doesn't pull to the right, if it does they'll have to re-adjust the lot.

**Propeller** · 24th February 2022, 09:04

Have you ever played with tire pressure? You should do some tests an check that out.

Im driving 19" 9,5 and 11 wide wheels and they are extremly sensitive what belongs to air pressure..
0,3 bar difference makes them horrible to drive.

greets
Andre

**bibu16v** · 24th February 2022, 13:47

#1

Originally Posted by northpole

just have the tracking redone with the 18 inch tires on... especially if you've lowered the car and the 18 inch wheels are wider than your older wheels... than when they are done tracking the car tell the place to take it for a spin... and to check if it doesn't pull to the right, if it does they'll have to re-adjust the lot.

My opinion too. Definitely you should do this.

#2

Originally Posted by Propeller

Have you ever played with tire pressure? You should do some tests an check that out.

Im driving 19" 9,5 and 11 wide wheels and they are extremly sensitive what belongs to air pressure..
0,3 bar difference makes them horrible to drive.

greets
Andre

A very good advice. Always.

#3 If nothing of above works, try switching front wheels between them or with rear ones

**Rinor** · 24th February 2022, 17:15

Hi guys,

Thanks for your recommendations, today I was the alignment shop to find out the left wishbone has quite a bit of play so they recommended to firs change the wishbone!

I still don't know why with the same wishbone the car goes fine on 16's and pulls to the right with 18's

**northpole** · 24th February 2022, 18:39

If you haven't lowered the car it is because the 18 inch venter sits higher and thus alters the angle the arm sits at... any weak bits will show when you go for bigger wheels. Also the unsprung weight per corner has gone up.

**Rinor** · 24th February 2022, 20:35

Originally Posted by northpole

If you haven't lowered the car it is because the 18 inch venter sits higher and thus alters the angle the arm sits at... any weak bits will show when you go for bigger wheels. Also the unsprung weight per corner has gone up.

The car is not lowered, apart that it sits on factory lowered springs.

Besides that I use 5mm spacers on the front and 20mmspacers at the back.

Never thought I'd have problems with 225/45/18 tyres since their circumference is the same as 205/60/16, and YES! unsprung mass is a bit higher at around 2.5kg more per wheel compared to 16" winter setup!

It's a bit strange to see problem with 225/45/18 tyre size since it is factory recommended, listed on the vehicles manual also!

**Dog_Book** · 24th February 2022, 21:03

Originally Posted by Rinor

The car is not lowered, apart that it sits on factory lowered springs.

Besides that I use 5mm spacers on the front and 20mmspacers at the back.

Never thought I'd have problems with 225/45/18 tyres since their circumference is the same as 205/60/16, and YES! unsprung mass is a bit higher at around 2.5kg more per wheel compared to 16" winter setup!

It's a bit strange to see problem with 225/45/18 tyre size since it is factory recommended, listed on the vehicles manual also!

Well thats important info you didint share. The spacers will throw all geometry out even if it looks right on the read out, when the suspension moves the wheel centre lines are in a different place so its going to be all out isnt it? Try removing them and get it set up again then drive with both wheel sizes one after the other see what happens.