Winter tire balancing question?

So last winter I bought a set of Michelin Pilot Alpins for the boxster. 05 987 with the 18 boxster s wheels.

The local NTB put them on, the first drive on the interstate above 80 they would get real rough. So back to the shop, they took extra time hand cut weights and got it so no vibration unless I was above 90MPH, I just dealt with it.

Ok so winter tires went back on today, same friggin thing, I hop on the interstate tonight to head home, and vibration is back, worse than last year. Same people installed tires, same store manger, had a conversation about it before the tires went on.

I have been told that road force balancing will not work on snow tires. Is this true? also told that since the number of sipes allowed the tread blocks to move making it more prone to this.

I drove my Z3 with much smaller and softer blizzaks for years, and those tires would just float, not vibrate to hell.

I mean these are N spec tires, I cannot believe Porsche would tolerate a vibration.

Any ideas? or is the shop just not able to handle this?

 

I am having the same problem, keep us updated with your progress. My shop threw their hands up.

 

Was there a vibration with your regular tires as well?

Whenever installing the winter tires, I've always done the Road-Force Balancing. And at no time should you feel a vibration, although you will get a little rougher ride and increased tire noise.

Since you indicated that the vibration is only at a higher speed, leads me to believe that it is a balancing issue. If you noticed the vibration all the time, I would say you probably have a bent rim(s), but since this is not the case, then it is not in question.

I'd have another place take a look at it, quite possibly the person using the Road-Force Balancer does not know how to use it properly? He may have put the wrong weights on? The list could go on, but with your particular complaint, as I stated, sounds like a balancing issue.

 

No problem with the Pilot sports. They have not been road forced, but NTB is has stated that road force is not effective on snows due to the soft tread blocks.

I have driven on various snow tires in multiple cars and understand the trait of snow tires, however this is the first performance set of snow tires, but I can't imagine that is the issue.

I took the car back on Monday, they redid the weights and said it was way off, now I have a lighter vibration but still a vibration nonetheless.

It is there right now, if they dont fix it today I am taking it to get roadforce balanced.

 

The only tires I haven't Road-Forced is DRAG SLICKS

It may not be recommended but I have never had an issue with the snows after a Road-Force Balance. I'm surprised that NTB out of all the tire facilities would not do this off the bat. Just for grins, does that NTB store have a Road-Force Balancer? Or are you going to have to go elsewhere?

 

No, that NTB does not have a road force machine, and that is why I was second guessing them.

But last winter when I called the only local place that does and told them the issue they said with snows it is not always a guarantee, so I let it ride till now.

It is tricky, the NTB is the only place that can mount tires without screwing up rims in my area, however I am having this balance issue.

I will see how it goes today.

 

Sounds good. Keep us posted.

This may help... http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

 

Ok,

Went in this morning to have road force done.

Turns out that Porsche calls for less than 12 pounds of force around the tire.

The only one that was in spec at 10 pounds was the left rear, all others ranged from 22 to 58 lbs. Way out, so ran up to NTB, without blinking the manager ordered new tires and will cut a check for the $106.00 road force balance job.

It is odd that three out of four tires would have been bad like this, especially considering that these are "quality" tires.