I've had my Type S for over a year now and it has about 13k miles. Ever since the first day I had it, the car has never tracked straight. It either pulls left or right, but more left than right. It is difficult to find a "sweet spot" that would place the car in a straight line. I find myself finghting the steering wheel just to keep it straight. I have taken it to the dealer twice and the first time, they said that one of the tire's pressure was low. The second time, they said that "it is fine and is the straightest tracking TL" around. So after about 13k miles of driving it, I am getting a little tired of it and will be taking it in for a 3rd time.

Has anyone experience this with their vehicle? If so, what were some of the issues? Any insight is most appreciated. Thanks.

 

Mine tracks to the right a little more than I think it should. I've only have the '04, but it's still riding on the infamous Bridgestone tires. I'm going to have it aligned here pretty quick to try to straighten it out. I don't mind it tracking ever so lightly to the right (I understand that this is set by technicians as a safety precaution to prevent drifting into oncoming traffic if one loses conscienceness), but mine seems overbearing.

 

It is very important to have your car aligned. It is recogmended you have your car aligned twice a year. Firestone offers a lifetime(as long as you own your car) for 149.99. You can come in twice a year, and you'll be set. Why invest 600-800 dollars on tires if you're not gonna take care of them? 150 is better than spending hundreds every 2-3 yrs on new tires.

 

Sorry, but twice a year is a waste of time and money. If no uneven wear, no alignment needed. Most alignments will last for years, why do you think they give lifetime alignments. It's to make money, unless one is paranoid and takes their car in every month.


If the tires show no sign of uneven wear, no problem with alignment.
Read through the following:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

 

I agree. I had my previous Accord for 12.5 years and put on 164k miles and not once did I have to have it re-aligned.

 

Paranoid here. I have a lifetime alignment "take my car in every 6k for an alignment."

I say the OP should go somewhere other than the stealership for an alignment and see if the problem gets solved. However, one thing to keep in mind is that once tires start to wear unevenly, no matter what you do, your car won't track straight. You have to start over with new tires.

 

Can you possibly get an alignment reading and post it here? Make sure they sweep caster so you get an accurate caster reading as well. we can tell you if the alignment is the cause of the pull once we see the readout.

 

I recently bought a Certified 2006 TL nav manual and have had the same problem. The tires that came on the car are like new, they are BFG g-Force sport ZR directional summer tires. I noticed it also going to the left, sometimes it goes very straight, but often I am having to correct it. I took it back to Acura and they did a 4 wheel alignment, afterwards they said it was SLIGHTLY OFF. I drove off and it felt exactly the same. I called Tirerack 1 hour ago and talked about directional tires. He said they might add a slight amount of tracking problems, but it shouldn't matter if the car is aligned correctly. He said that Acura is putting the car to factory spec, that might add to the problem. I have read that the front tires have to be toed-in a little or it will dart side to side. Maybe they are setting the toe TOO straight. I also asked if I should take it to a speed shop that deals in suspensions and alignments only, he agreed that might be the best.

 

Sorry Turbonut, but you're not entirely correct.

Caster is how far forward or backward a wheel sits in the fender-well (simple definition). That has nothing to do with wear.

Caster does not cause tire wear, yet a variation of 1 degree or more in caster between left and right can cause a pull toward the lower side (the side that sits further back).

 

Improper toe in on the front can cause "hunting" which sounds like what he is experiencing.

 

You are 100% correct. I was assuming that no suspension components have been damaged, which would be the case if there were a degree difference between the 2 sides.

 

If my 3rd time at the dealership doesn't solve the issue, I will try a different shop. Like I said with my original post, tracking has been an issue since day 1. The tires are in great shape and are rotated regularly.