Steering feels different after aftermarket wheels and tires

i bet the truck is fine. It's just the new offset and tires. My truck pulls to one side or another depending on road/ruts and can drastically pull when hitting the brakes on subpar pavement. But then I hit a nice piece of smooth highway and it'll track perfectly with hands off the wheel with zero pull.

By pushing the tires out wider, you increase the leverage the road and tire applies to your steering, so it can substantially increase how much road surface effects your truck. And that's fine. Just be aware that your mods caused it, and you'll get use to it.

 

I didn’t say it would just asking, could be a bad tire also. If alignment was good before you can’t blame the truck, larger tires and aftermarket rims were just installed, process of elimination.

 

Check alignment 1st. Next step would be to “cross rotate” your front tires (swap L/F and R/F). Tires can cause a pull. If you cross rotate and the truck goes the other way it’s a tire issue. If it doesn’t then you can play with alignment specs to force it to go straight, but that may effect tire wear.

If all that fails, then chalk it up to more contact patch and a grabbier tire creating the sensation.

 

I went from the standard SR tires to +1 Duratracs.

Wanders, bounces, and pulls you down the crown a lot more than the stock ones. Not bad at all, but a definite change. Same as when I did something similar with my 4-Runner. I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

These trucks love caster. Keep it at 3+ and it will feel like rails... well, for a Tacoma anyway lol

 

Just updating this thread to let everyone know that I took the truck to Toyota for the 10k service and mentioned the pull to the right. They checked and said it was out of alignment, they even swapped my front tires to see if that was the issue. Tires are fine and an alignment performed. Night and Day difference. I am just confused on if it was actually bad from the factory or if swapping tires really caused the truck to drive so different.

Also they did everything under warranty no charge no questions asked.

 

I have worked as a mechanic for years and that is why I recommend you align your truck it will prolong your tires and make sure there is nothing going on with your toe angle causing it to pull I know it sucks to pay 100 dollars for something that isnt tangible but it is 100 percent worth the money and firestone used to due a lifetime alignment deal that lasts for the life of your car or truck