Hi guys. After switching to aftermarket wheels with new tires, I have noticed vibration in the steering wheel when driving on the freeway (there is no way that this steering wheel shaking is normal). I had the tires balanced with a hunter road force machine, but I still feel the vibration. What do you think is wrong? Thanks.

 

Check lugs for proper torque. If its not a bent wheel or bad tire it probably still balancing. Are the wheels hub centric?

 

new wheels suggest new alignment. i'm going with improper alignment.

 

theres a painted dot on the sidewall. this dot should be aligned with the valve stem on the wheel. misalignment can cause a vibration.

 

Never heard of the dot but then I haven't personally mounted a tire in over thirty years lol=learned something new.

 

seen the dot. always wondered lol

 

does the vibration occurs at all speeds or just certain mph?

 

My initial guess would be slight over inflation on the front tires. This, even with a balanced tire/wheel combination can induce and transmit vibrations to the steering wheel.

Tires may have a dot that either corresponds to the valve stem or 180 from the valve. It is color and brand dependent. It's really not important to line up the dot it just generally allows for less added weight when balancing.

Further, some roads with uneven surfaces will cause this in varying degrees. Adjust your tire pressures by the book, 36 F, 44 R then try a newly paved smooth straight road. If you still get wheel shake, take your car back to the people that mounted the tires and have the fronts removed and rechecked for balance.

Alignment generally will not cause this issue.

 

Thanks for the input guys!

Nick they inflated the tires to Porsche specs, so I don't think it's slight over inflation in the front tires.

My wheels are Porsche replica wheels, so shouldn't they be hubcentric?

 

Did you check the pressure yourself and verify they are at 36 PSI cold?

Maybe hubcentric maybe not. If not, they can still be concentric when mounted if they are a good quality wheel, the PCD is very accurately machined and the bolts are evenly tightened.

 

I doubt psi would cause vibration. Since the psi is evenly distributed within the tire, it sounds more like the tire/wheel is off balance.

If the wheels were used they could be slightly bent from hitting a very rough or intense pot-hole...

For reference, what wheels are they?

 

Welcome to the Club!!!

 

I had this same problem after switching to Victor Equipment Innsbruck wheels. After several balancing attempts, it turned out that the problem was that the wheels were not perfectly hub centric. That was enough to cause the vibration at highway speeds. I took the wheels to a wheel repair shop, had them machined and hub centric inserts installed in the center hub. That made all the difference in the world and they are now completely vibration free at any speed.

 

Just another thought, since the rubber is new is it possible you were tramlining?

 

How old are your front tires? Do they have any scuffs around the perimeter either inboard or out?