Steering Wheel Off Center After New Tires and Alignment

[jsimon77]

I just got a new set of tires on my P85D.

When I dropped off the car I told the technician multiple times that I want them to make sure the steering wheel is perfectly centered with the alignment. I told them that I wanted to make sure they test drove the car to make sure it's right.

Well...sure enough, I pick up the car and it's off. Although the car tracks straight...if I hold the wheel dead straight the car goes right. It's off by about an inch or so.

Why is this so hard to get right? Randomly I just went through the same issue with my other car...it took that dealer 3 times to get it right.

So now I'm taking the P85D back on Monday to have them try again...What am I missing? Such a pain to have to go back to the dealer again for this.

 

[Cosmica]

Why is this so hard to get right?

I have done my own alignment on a Miata and a Volvo S60, and on those cars you have to physically restrain the steering wheel while you adjust the tires or else the wheel moves when you change the linkages. I don't know if Tesla is the same (maybe it is "fly by wire"), but I think a lot of places don't bother to fasten the steering wheel down before they start

 

[The Duke]

Giving the alignment guy the benefit of the doubt here...

Check your tires for wear and pressure, they can cause the car to pull. Only check the pull on a road with no crown, i.e. the road is not designed to drain to the side. Finding a flat road can be tough, but most 4 lane freeways will be flat in the second lane from the left (US driver here).

Be sure he is aligning the car at the height you are testing at.