a query for all the auto physicists out there....re did suspension last summer(loving those new Bilsteins!), along with the obligate re-alignment...car was aligned while shod in summer tires(205/50/16 Bridgestones they u nfortunately discontinued)...car tracked straight and true, with steering wheel centered...bolted on the winter setup(195/60/15)as needed, car still goes down road straight and true, no veering, but wheel is off center....did alignment change because tires changed? I know it sounds stupid, but if you don't ask...

If your tires are not worn evenly, yes. Same is true for air pressure. Swapping the front/rear tires will diagnose this for you.

How old are the winter tires? The rubber compound will degrade with age.

But, if the summer tires were old and worn unevenly, the alignment will not be correct.

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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

no to all of the above...2 season old winter tires, evenly worn, balanced, on brand new factory rims, old rims shot from age....summer tires 4 seasons old, balanced, on quality aftermarket alloy rims, steering wheel only slightly off center, remember Tire Rack personnel telling me the summer setup is slightly smaller in overall diameter than stock stetup...again, no problems, mostly just curiousity on my part...thanks to James and Klaus for their replies...

One of my troubleshooting maxims is - What just happened?

Sounds like a tire problem.

Did you look at the tires before you put them on?

I always pick stones out and check for hardware, then I put all 4 tires together in the position that I intend to use them and check for wear, etc.

I would jack up one side inspect and swap front and rear - then take her for a test drive.

If that does not reveal the problem, do the other side.
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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '72 Yamaha Rd400, '68 Honda 350-4, '12 XC70, the first 5 are mine, heh, heh, 525,000 miles put on 10 bricks James A Sousa

tires are newish snows( 2 seasons use), balanced, evenly worn, no cuts/damage...thinking that aligning w/summer tires, w/corresponding greater contact patch, vs. snows w/ smaller patch, is somewhat altering alignment geometry...again, car drives fine, just off center steering wheel now..