Does tire pressure throw off alignment?

Scimitar335i · 08-30-2009, 04:10 AM

My car has been at the body shop for a while and we took it in for a 4 wheel alignment before it went into the dealer. The guys at the shop filled up my tires with air and I figured it was all good.

I went in for an alignment and they basically told me that the car was a little off and that it maybe due to bad shocks. Well, after I left and was on my way to the dealer my FTM comes on and I pull over into the nearest gas station and check my pressure. Well, come to find out my front driver side was 60psi, my rear driver side was 50, my front passenger was 40, and my rear passenger was 55psi!!!

I am running on stock RFT's and lowered the pressure. Fronts to 34 and the rears to 38psi. My question is if these odd tire pressures threw off my wheel alignment and when I get the car back from the dealer should I take it back in and get the alignment done again?

Thanks guys!!!

dcg71 · 08-30-2009, 05:16 AM

I know during the last alignment I had they adjusted tire pressures back to spec...

it obviously has an effect when driving, but whether it throws things out in the process of checking the alignment, I'm not sure. I would think they should have corrected your tire pressures though.

ianbiz · 08-30-2009, 01:47 PM

make sure the pressures are even.

Scimitar335i · 08-30-2009, 02:01 PM

so it does throw off being able to properly align?

mike-y · 08-30-2009, 03:42 PM

I can, yes. But RFT's have such stiff sidewalls, the difference in pressures probably don't make as much of a difference (but 20psi diff from side to side is a lot).

how does the car drive now? does it track straight, or does it pull?

200Duece · 08-30-2009, 04:57 PM

No. NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. tire pressures do not change the mechanical alignment.

Lowcruzr · 08-30-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 200Duece

No. NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. tire pressures do not change the mechanical alignment.

+1

200Duece · 08-31-2009, 11:46 AM

check all of your tire pressure when the car is cold. set to the factory spec on the inside of the driver door and leave it. the tires will move up and down in pressure according to air temp and road temp. if you make a whole bunch of right turns the left side tires are gunna be higher than the right.

the different air psi's that you have experienced are normal. And different tire pressurs will change the way the car drives, handles nd tracks down the road. try to keep them as even as possible

08-30-2009, 04:10 AM	#1
Scimitar335i Major 201 Rep 1,313 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (12)	Does tire pressure throw off alignment? My car has been at the body shop for a while and we took it in for a 4 wheel alignment before it went into the dealer. The guys at the shop filled up my tires with air and I figured it was all good. I went in for an alignment and they basically told me that the car was a little off and that it maybe due to bad shocks. Well, after I left and was on my way to the dealer my FTM comes on and I pull over into the nearest gas station and check my pressure. Well, come to find out my front driver side was 60psi, my rear driver side was 50, my front passenger was 40, and my rear passenger was 55psi!!! I am running on stock RFT's and lowered the pressure. Fronts to 34 and the rears to 38psi. My question is if these odd tire pressures threw off my wheel alignment and when I get the car back from the dealer should I take it back in and get the alignment done again? Thanks guys!!! __________________ 2007 TiAg e90 335i sport. Yes, The e90 "Mustache" is cool!
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08-30-2009, 05:16 AM	#2
dcg71 Captain 72 Rep 941 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (2)	I know during the last alignment I had they adjusted tire pressures back to spec... it obviously has an effect when driving, but whether it throws things out in the process of checking the alignment, I'm not sure. I would think they should have corrected your tire pressures though.
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08-30-2009, 01:47 PM	#3
ianbiz Back in a BMW 205 Rep 5,208 Posts Drives: 2015 335i Msport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (8)	make sure the pressures are even. __________________ Ian
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08-30-2009, 02:01 PM	#4
Scimitar335i Major 201 Rep 1,313 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (12)	so it does throw off being able to properly align? __________________ 2007 TiAg e90 335i sport. Yes, The e90 "Mustache" is cool!
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08-30-2009, 03:42 PM	#5
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	I can, yes. But RFT's have such stiff sidewalls, the difference in pressures probably don't make as much of a difference (but 20psi diff from side to side is a lot). how does the car drive now? does it track straight, or does it pull?
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08-30-2009, 04:57 PM	#6
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	No. NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. tire pressures do not change the mechanical alignment. __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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08-31-2009, 11:46 AM	#8
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	check all of your tire pressure when the car is cold. set to the factory spec on the inside of the driver door and leave it. the tires will move up and down in pressure according to air temp and road temp. if you make a whole bunch of right turns the left side tires are gunna be higher than the right. the different air psi's that you have experienced are normal. And different tire pressurs will change the way the car drives, handles nd tracks down the road. try to keep them as even as possible __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
	Appreciate 0 Quote