CAR HELP - twitchy steering wheel, apparently pulls slightly

[ENGBen]

I was out with my gf in her peugeot 306 XL (1993 - L reg) today, i noticed it felt a little bumpier than usual on my side of the car, i said when we stop im going to check the tyres.

Next thing we are going along a dual carridgeway at 50+ and the car starts to shake pretty violently including the steering wheel. We slowed down and it stopped, so we go round a rounderbout and then we hear the scrape of the rim on the road, so i get her to pull over... hazzards on.

Left front tyre flat as a pancake by now bit of smoke around it. As suspected.

At this point we were still on the parkway (very busy road), but near an exit. We called family for help, ended up slowly driving it off the next exit and parking it up. A bit more smoke, but not as much as the first time we stopped.

So yes we went round all the local garages (4.30pm on a saturday), need a new rim as the rim was dented, like she has hit something (probably a curb). We could get a tire but no rim.

Anyway eventually she called her step dad who found the cars spare tyre in his garage (the car belonged to her brother before her, shes only had it about a month). So yes we fit the spare tyre and away we go.

On the way home we noticed the steering wheel was very very twitchy, especially at low speeds, at higher speeds it calmed down. She said the car was pulling slightly to the left.

Its probably going into a garage monday, but im looking for advice and clues on what is up?

I know this is a bike forum, but i thought we be like family on here so who else would i turn to?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Guest]

My guess is the damage was a result of it hitting a kerb.

May have thrown the tracking out!

Spare tyre possibly need balancing?

[RicKsTa]

Pretty sure its the tracking. Get it booked in to be re-aligned and it should fix it..

[eastanglianbiker]

i assume the air pressure was checked in the spare as that can cause the problem as well .....also recheck all wheel nuts are tight

[Roadtorque]

get the wheel balanced & all will be well,, all tyres need to be balanced after fitting to stop the problem you've got

[ENGBen]

Thanks for the replies guys, other people (family members) have said the same things just about.

The tire pressure on the spare wasnt checked, and to be honest its a much older tyre than the other 3. It has a legal amount of tread on it, but its worn enough for anyone to look at replacing it. So i guess that could have some effect.

We are gonna try getting it in the garage in the morning, i know its a sunday but you never know. If not, she is at home monday so all will be good.

I am just glad i was with her when it happened, she panicked a lot. We must av been going 1.5 miles on a flat tyre.

What do you rekkon the smoke around the wheel was when we stopped? You could not see the smoke from inside the car, it wasnt that bad. I am guessing it was the heat of the flat tyre going maybe 2 miles. Who knows, either way will get it into a garage.

[Guest]

Try a local ATS, Kwik Fit, or walkers they maybe open on a sunday!

[Guest]

Touch any tyre after a run it will be warm. When flat they get hot enoug to melt!

Hence the smoke.

Get the spare checked out as well, it may be a deformed tyre.

[ENGBen]

Touch any tyre after a run it will be warm. When flat they get hot enoug to melt!

Hence the smoke.

Get the spare checked out as well, it may be a deformed tyre.

 

Calling the local quick fit at ten when they open.

She wants to get it sorted asap, despite it been a sunday, and her birthday lol.

I told her an old car would be a money pit lol.

Not that we could afford a new one.

[ENGBen]

UPDATE

--------

Took it down to tyre place today had the tracking and the balance done, also got 2 new front tyres as the old ones were apparently stamped from 1993, either way they were cracking. So yes expensive fix for a puncture. £115 for 2 tyres fitted plus tracking and balance.

Now we are heading down to a scrap yard tomorrow to get a few new wheels. That wont be as expensive, only a tenner per wheel.

Either way thanks for the advice guys, really helped.