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.

 

its a balance issue--I deal with this all the time with my 22's and every set of custom wheels I have purchased. I bet you feel it about 65-75mph the most? I would take them to a reputable shop that specializes in custom wheels and find their best tech to balance them out. I also watch and talk to the techs to see what they see. Alteratively you could have a tire that has a broken belt or shifted belt. That happens all the time as well. I would go back to the place you had them mounted and tell them they are not quite perfect. A few tenths of an ounce off or weights in the wrong spots on the wheel are notorious for steering wheel vibration.

 

Orange, could it be something else? Most likely it's a balance issue, but I just want to cover all of my bases. Thanks!

 

If the problem is net new, meaning it wasn't there prior to installing new wheels ( or someones used...the thread didn't say), I would be about 95% confident it is an OUT OF BALANCE issue. Steering wheel "shimmy" as we call it isn't normal, but can be corrected if the tech can redo the mounting and balancing. You won't know for sure, until they are put back on the machine. The hunter machines are awesome, but there is still a human element that you and I can't account for. A shimmy is also most of the time related to the front two wheels. If you had a vibration in the car, but the steering wheel doesn't shake, then it would most likely be a rear wheel/tire issue. I would take the wheels back to the shop and ask them to verify that they are balanced. Ask if you can watch the tech. Ask him questions. Get to know him. A good wheel tech is hard to find, sure there are a bajillion tire/wheel shops, but ask the forum for a reputable place in your area. Someone here is bound to know a good place for you to get that rectified.

 

X2 on the above. Sounds like simple out of balance issue. I just had Discount balance my Rover wheels for the third time in two weeks as the first two times the balance was off. Each time they told me they were balanced correctly. Just go back and tell them they are of balance.

Also bear in mind that some tires flat spot easily, Nitto Invo example, and will require a few miles to warm up before they stop feeling out of balance.

 

Had the same thing happen: new wheels and tires = vibration. Once I had them balanced, the issue got resolved.

 

don't you guys always get a balance done when you have new wheels and/or tires mounted?

 

Have them road force balance the tires. This will show if you have a possible tire that is out of round. Also check the hub centers of the wheels that they fit tight on the hubs on the rotors. Many aftermarket wheels are universal fit and require centering rings to take up the gap. If the hub on the wheel is larger than the hub on the rotor, you will always have a vibration

 

Do you have spacers up front? If so, take then off for a test to see if the vibration goes away.

Also reinstall the wheels without the wheel cap emblems and visually check for play at the hub. You are visually verifying everything is hub centric and lines up. Since these are aftermarket wheels you need to verify the hub diameters match up properly. If they don't you will get steering wheel vibrations.

 

Well it's a Porsche replica wheel. So shouldn't it already be hubcentric?

Orange, My vibration is best described as the steering wheel vibrating by turning back and forth from left to right, but very very quickly, and very slightly, but visually noticeable, and obviously you can feel it while driving. If this is what you mean by "shimmy," that's what I have.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

that's a shimmy....good luck with the rebalance...let us know how it turns out.