[JayAr-E90]

recently got new tyres fitted and my tyres tracked...

it still feels like the cars dragging to one side??

what could this be? not tracked properly?

[pumaboy2000]

Is your steering wheel straight? Also was it just front wheel tracking done at a fast fit style of garage? If so then these methods are vastly inferior and less accurate than a computerised 4 wheel Hunter or KDS alighnment which sets the rear of the car up first, then aligns the front. At very least I would be taking it back for a re-alignment before it starts to wear your tyres.

[JayAr-E90]

do i need tracking or alignment? what is the difference?

[pumaboy2000]

Tracking generally involves using lasers to align the front wheels with the rear ones. If the rear wheels are out of toe, which means the angle of the wheel is wrong, which can happen by hitting a kerb or pothole, then tracking will take no account of this and line the front wheels up to out of specification rear ones meaning the car will never drive right. Most places like Kwik Fit use this method and is front wheel alignment only.
By going to a specialist with a computerised 4-wheel geometry machine, all wheel angles are measured, not just the front. If the rear wheels are of our specification the computer will show this and it can be adjusted to the correct tolerance. Once the rear is set correctly, then the adjustments on the front will be accurate. The technician will issue a before and after printout showing the alterations.
Many BMW dealers will offer this service on their KDS machine but expect to pay anything over about £150. By finding a local specialist with a Hunter alignment machine, which is basically the same thing, expect to pay £70+.
It's worth the extra to set the car up correctly making it drive properly, and prolong the life of your tyres.

Craig

[JayAr-E90]

sorry im not really good with the techinical side with wheels etc,

do you recommend i get my wheels aligned..?

basically when i go in to potholes etc, the steering just turns into the pot hole.

[doughboy]

You need a proper 4-wheel alignment (tracking / same thing) rather than the basic 2 wheel one that kwik fit etc use.

Read about it and find your local decent alignment place at www.alignmycar.co.uk

[bm330dw]

I would take it back to whoever did it when they changed your tyres..

It will still be worth getting the hunter 4 wheel alignment done at some point due to the cost of the tyres.

[JayAr-E90]

thanks for your help, ill see what this guy says.. prob going to say not his problem...

[Falmouthboy]

The reason why a 4 wheel alignment is more important on a BMW is because it's rear wheel drive. On front wheel drive, the rear wheels do little work and are just being pulled along. Thus their being out of allignment has less impact. The whole dynamic changes when the drive wheels are pushing the wheels that are doing the steering.