Avensis steering problems

[avensis_driver12]

I bought a 2012 Avensis 2.0 D4D tourer about 4 months ago. Ever since i changed from winter tires to summer tires, the steering has felt weird, like it's harder to control and wandering a lot especially if the road is bad. I have to focus on the steering a lot and i have to make small corrections constantly to keep the car straight. Also if I let go of the steering wheel the car directly starts pulling to the right. It's weird because i didn't notice this at all in winter with the winter tires. I know it's normal on toyotas to have a bit of wandering but i feel like it's a bit excessive in my car. My winter tires are 205/60/16 and summer tires are 215/55/17 if that makes a difference.

I've had a wheel alignment done 2 times by a reputable tire shop and once by toyota serivce, didn't fix it. I then got all joints and the suspension system checked by a mechanic, said there were no problems there. They all said the bad roads in my country and the type of tires i have could be the issue. I tried rotating the tires myself but there was no difference. The summer tires are Hankook ventus prime 3 and have 4-5mm tread left on them, all at 39 psi. I noticed one of the tires had a bit more outer wear than the others, but otherwise they are still in good condition.

So i'm kinda out of ideas here. I find it hard to believe the tires are the issue, since they're in decent condition still. Everyone says there's nothing wrong with my car and that i just have to get used to steering. I did have a bmw before this car, so maybe i'm just used to having a better steering feel. So is this normal behavior for my car, or could there be an issue somewhere? Maybe something wrong with the steering system?

[avetoy]

1 hour ago, avensis_driver12 said:

I've had a wheel alignment done 2 times by a reputable tire shop and once by toyota service...

Did they give any raport about the alignments (measurements before/after)?

Avensis T27 is a wanderer compared for examble to T25 ( in my experience). The local Mr T service boss once said to me that if they would do the alignments so that the car will go straight like a train, the tyres will wear out sooner. He meant the alignments then has to be done against all instructions...

Of course, the road surface has a lot to do with wandering as well. Have you driven the same road (lane) in both directions? Does the car always pull to the right?

[Versoverso36]

Have you checked the steering column mid section? It’s a small shaft with a u-joint at each end and goes from the steering wheel to the foot pedals. 
 

I had no end of knocking coming from the front of my car when turning the wheel, breaking, going over bumps etc, sounded like a top mount or ball joint gone bad. I replaced the steering column, which weirdly had no play and voilà. 

[Bper]

Hi Niko,switching to summer tyres can affect your Avensis handling, especially if the size or quality differs from your winter tyres. Double check the recommended tyre pressures in your cars manual for both summer and winter tyres. Incorrect pressure can significantly impact handling.Even with sufficient tread depth 4-5mm,check your summer tyres Hankook Ventus Prime 3 in your case for uneven wear, damage, or signs of ageing. Uneven wear can cause vibrations and affect handling.

The switch from a narrower winter tyre 205/60/16 to a wider summer tyre 215/55/17 can cause tramlining, where the car follows road imperfections more noticeably. This effect may be worse with worn or unevenly worn tyres. Check your cars alignment was done with a similar load to your usual driving weight, people and luggage. Misalignment can cause uneven tyre wear and affect handling.Also consider having the steering system itself inspected, including the steering rack and tie rods, for any problems that could contribute to handling issues.Unbalanced wheels can cause steering wobbles. Ensure all your wheels are properly balanced, particularly if the issue wasn't present with your winter tyres.Have a Look in your owners manual for any recommendations regarding summer tyre usage.

If the handling problems persists after checking these points, then ask another mechanic for another diagnosis.

It may also be worthwhile to consider a test drive with a different set of summer tyres to see if the problem persists. This can help isolate the problem to the tyres themselves.Hope this helps

[Cessna]

18 minutes ago, Bper said:

Double check the recommended tyre pressures in your cars manual for both summer and winter tyres. Incorrect pressure can significantly impact handling.

I definitely recommend this, especially because the original poster states that all four tyres are inflated to 39psi. Normal pressures for my 1.8 petrol T27 wagon with the same size tyres (215/55 R17) are 35psi front and 34psi rear, as stated on the door pillar and in the handbook. Therefore 39psi all round sounds high to me, so worth checking on the door pillar and/or in the handbook.

[avetoy]

55 minutes ago, Bper said:

The switch from a narrower winter tyre 205/60/16 to a wider summer tyre 215/55/17 can cause tramlining, where the car follows road imperfections more noticeably. This effect may be worse with worn or unevenly worn tyres

Good point! One thing I´d like to add: correct rim offset is quite important to Avensis. I don´t know for sure but I think correct value is 45 to the 7Jx17 rim. If the rim is narrower the value can be lower. 

[TonyHSD]

That’s normal behaviour on any car and normal to feel difference between winter and summer tyres. The different will depend also on the tyres types, tread patterns, rubber hardness, sizes , profiles. 

Although if everything it’s ok with the summer tyres the major differences between them and winter tyres should be how the steering feel and react.

Summer tyres with straight lines tread patterns makes steered harder to turn  but they tend to keep the car in straight position easier and steering returns quickly to centre after turns. Tram lining its very likely if you drive over bad roads.  
Winter tyres and all season tyres with v shaped tread patterns makes steering wheel ultra light , very responsive and steering returns slowly to the centre. 
These are the major differences. 
What brands and models are both tyres Sets ? 

[Crusty T22]

I started having similar issues, had also alignment done and it didn't fix it. I traced the problem down and my best guess was bad steering rack bushings and based on what I have read here this is the most probable cause to the issue because the steering is just fine.
My question is has anyone replaced t22 steering rack bushings and any tips for the job?