Wheel change throwing off alignment? Help needed

[Ice Halo]

I have a Mk5 Golf GTI and I just got a punctured left front tyre- took it to the shop to get it repaired yesterday. They took off the wheel, and put the spare on as the puncture was too close to the sidewall and needed to be replaced (they didn't have my size/brand tyre in stock).

With the spare on, the steering wheel wasn't centred, and the car had a strong tendency to steer to the right ie. alignment seemed way off (when it was fine prior to having the wheel taken off).

I have since replaced both the tyres on the front axle, but the steering problem remains. Prior to having the wheel taken off, the car tracked straight and true (had an alignment done only 5 months ago, car tracking dead straight prior to taking it into the shop and wear was even on all the tyres).

This is the second time something like this has happened- when I had a rear wheel puncture over a year ago a different tyre shop took the wheel off and replaced it, and I also had alignment issues post.

Why is this happening? Surely taking off a wheel shouldn't affect the wheel alignment?

Are the mechanics deliberately fiddling with the alignment without telling me or using excessive force taking off the wheel?

Am puzzled, and its costing me alot to get a wheel alingment every time a wheel gets taken off!!!

[twin2626]

By chance, did you go to the same shop both times? There is no way changing a wheel would do anything to the alignment. Unless when you punctured the tire, it was because you ran into a curb or something like that.

Sounds fishy and I wouldnt go back there anymore. You should call them up and complain about it to them. Dont go back there though.

[Ice Halo]

Thanks- No I went to a different shop both times. Puncture was because of a nail. Haven't touched a kerb for years.

Am going to get an alignment done by my usual suspension/race alignment shop in the next couple of days. Will get them to check the settings compared to last time and see the difference and make a call after.

Just wouldn't have thought a tyre shop would do something like that, especially as they seemed pretty genuine, unless the mechanic accidentally knocked something out?

[twin2626]

Weird, maybe your wheels were seized on and they had to use a BFH to get the off (or kick them, I've seen that before)