I did a search and everyone else's problem seems different from mine. Every summer I put on these 17" rims that inconsistantly vibrate steering wheel. Last week I mounted new tires on them thinking this could be the problem, and bought new hub centric rings, however the shaking is still there. I say 'inconsistantly vibrates' because for instance I could be driving 50mph and its smooth as silk, and 30sec later its vibrating like hell, then smooth again. The shaking seems to have no relation to road surface. I put my factory wheels back on and the shaking disappears completely (which says its not a broken suspension component) What could be causing this?

 

Have the tires rebalanced. I prefer to have the tires balanced while mounted on the car.

 

No they haven't. They can ballance them on the car?

 

Check wheel runout to make certain within specs. If you have a dial indicator fine, if not place a bock of wood or something that will give you the height needed to put a dowel against the rim edge. Turn the tire 360 degrees and see if the the rim distance varies.If within specs, spin the tire/wheel to check if tire is out of round. Place the block of wood directly in front of the tread. Put the dowel against the tire, then turn the tire 360 degrees to see if out of round. You will see only minor variation. If all checks out looks like the balance is a problem. Take the tires to a different shop to have them balanced. I've seen shop balance a tire, and it is perfect according to the machine. Still a vibration. Only to find the machine wasn't calabrated correctly. Another check is after the tire is balanced using inside & outside weights, have the operator change setting to check if only installing outside weights. Results should be pretty close.
Sorry for the long post, but I've had my share of alignment/balnce problems over the years from shops that really didn't know that the machines were out of calibration.

 

Do what Turbonut said. If you don't find any out of round condition then have them rebalanced.
And yes you can high speed balance tires while on the car.

 

Just wanted to add, if you have them balanced while on the car, which can be done, you MUST mark stud location when you remove the tires as you're balancing the entire rotating assembly.

 

Good point but what happens when you rotate them? Rebalance? I haven't had any issues when I rotate mine.

 

What kinda rims?
What kinda tires?
Who did the balancing and mounting?


-Ted

 

17" ADRs w new Falken 205/45s

I just took them to a shop to have them rebalanced this morning, I'll know how it drives later today. Thanks for all the advice

 

Well it's later today. Is it better?

 

Im at work now, I chickened out and put the factory wheels on the front (no vibrations). I'll swap them this weekend. Come to find out my pass side front caliper is leaking, so I need to replace that first.

 

Update: Even after the wheels were balanced, I still have the inconsistant vibration problem with the 17's. I guess I will just have to live with it.

 

Many ADR wheels are Lug centric, not Hub centric, so balancing the wheels on a Hub centric wheel balancer will only get it in the neighborhood of being balanced.

You need to get the wheels balanced at a tire place that can balance Lug centric wheels. This rules out 90% of the tire places in the USA. You will need to call around.

 

So should I just mount them without the hub spacers?

 

Same shop or a different shop?

 

The Rim is bent. You can balance all day long but I promise you if you take the Tires off and spin the rim, it is bent.

Just do this to confirm. Lift the car and use SOMETHING for a dial or something stationary. (like a pencil duck taped jack stand so that you can get it right up next to the wheel) Put your pencil right up next to the rim and spin it. Check the inside as well. See if the hoop of the wheel is bent.

 

I mean, considering that the rims are lug centric, should I just go ahead and leave the hub rings off?

 

well hub spacers can also throw the balance off

 

Im sorry, I meant the hub centric rings. If the wheels are lug centric, Im guessing that the hub ring could be keeping the wheel from truely being balanced

 

There are three plains to a wheel that need to be straight. The hub needs to mount flush to..... Then the ourter bead area needs to be balanced with the hub as well as the inner bead area.

Seems my other post on the topic was ignored.......check the wheels. I've seen them come straight from the factory off balance.