A few weeks ago I replaced my old rims with a set of 91 Z28 rims. The old tires were 215/65/15. The new ones are 255/60/16. Now the car will pull, usually to the right, but not all the time.

All the wheels are in the corect place, fronts up front, rears in the rear, tires rotating the correct way. Tire pressure is good.

Ideas?

 

did you do front end allignment?

theory: you now have bigger meats on the car, if you have open rear, maybe more grip on right rear & thus the pull to the right.

 

This is simple.
You have larger tire patch contact and it's pulled out your OLD steering linkage to it's end of USEFUL LIFE.
You gotta replace the linkage with new stuff, to take the "abuse" of the new wider rubber, which grabs more road and pulls more on the suspension.
What it comes down to is mixing something "new" with something "old" it killed it, quickly.
Happens all the time.
Realign the car,
Ask them this question when ya have it done. They'll agree, I'm afraid.
I have my original linkage & I know it's due for new.....
No, can't truly successfully patch replacement parts.
Try it and find out why.
Gotta bite it & (99% of time) all at once.
Try Northern Auto Prts for the prices
800-831-0884

 

I did the same wheel change. I went from 215/65-15 on the stock concave 5 spoke rims to 245/50-16 on the 1991-1992 flat-face 5 spokes. After putting the new rims and tires on I had my car aligned to insure longer life of the tires.

The car steers just fine on normal roads, it's when it comes to highways that the car can sometimes pull the one side or the other. You'll notice it the most when a road is "rutted" from semi's or something. I asked the guys when I got my car aligned and they said that's normal when you're runnin' tires that wide.

Hope this helps!

 

I was thinking alignment too. I'll have that done, its not too expensive. Maybe I'll put 225 up front.

Karl, I replaced the center link and both outer tie rods 4 years ago. Anything else to look into?

 

struts, inner tie rods, all bushings, check pitman/idler arms.

 

Struts are good. Replaced those in 98 when I bought the car.

How would I check if the other stuff you mention is good or not?

 

Pitman & Idler & the shafts holding the end links.
COULD BE LOOSE!

 

Its probably just alignment toe-in settings. Larger tire contact surface will always enhance incorrect toe generally to the right because of driver weight on left side favoring the left wheel which is slighitly turned to the right on a toe-in setting. Skinnier 65 series tires will not have as much affect. It will mostly happen when you hit bumps, dips, or grooves in the road. Also, if the car is lowered, you could be experiencing bumpsteer (incorrect tierod geometry).