rangerphil

I bought some Firestone Wide Oval tires for my 92 about 6 months ago and have had to take it back on 2 occasions to correct a vibration that turned out to be tires out of balance. They used the Hunter Road Force machine each time and it drives like a dream when they are done. I was wondering if it was possible for the low tire pressure sensor assemblies to move inside the tire and cause an imbalance?

geogolf

are you using stick on weights if so maybe they are falling off

rangerphil

They are in fact using stick-on weights. I will make a note of the locations on all the tires and check them regularly.

Aggravated4life

Stick on weights are applied inside the rim,where you cant see it unless you take the wheels off and look inside there.I dont mean the inside outer rim where they usually do it.
Is this what youre talking about or are they using stick on weights on the sides?

Also be sure the rims are clean inside,no grime,grease build up,tar rocks stuck there,etc.

About the sensors moving,no idea...good question.Havent heard about that one before.

jdeatsch

if the sensors are the stock, banded type then it's going to be hard for them to move.

ASSUMING (I know, I know) that the bands were tightened of course.

I had my wheels balanced and they used vinyl coated, clip on weights, on the inside lip of the rip. No worries.

hth,

Jim

rickneworleansla

I've had a vibration problem ever since I installed my new wheel and tire combo. The wheels are new OE Concepts ZR1's from Tomz and the Sumitomo wheels I ordered from Tire Rack. I've been to three different tire shops for wheel balances and two seperat alignments. One shop said they thought one of the rims was bad. The last one had the Hunter machine and tried to balance them again. I went back twice to that shop. There is still a small vibration that only occurs at certain times accelerating from 30 to 60 then goes away. I got tired of spending money for wheel bances and gave up. If you find the problem let us know. It may help me also.

Thanks

Chatman

Many people put aluminum tape over the stick on weights. That's real aluminum with a peel off backing, not common duct tape.

pcolt94

Some years back I had a similar problem with another car. The tire company told me it was the tire changing characters weather due to wear, time and usage. I changed the tires and no more problems. Know you don’t want to hear that, and it’s a big investment just for a test or theory.

Da Mail Man

....any time my tires were balanced using the stick on weights, i'd "throw 'em off". so, now i insist on the hammer-on weights.

eschoendorff

I am currently having the same problem with teh same wheel and tire combo from the same vendor! My vibration really starts at 60 and by 75 mph, my wife was reaching for dramamine!!!!!!! I have had these roadforced twice already too....

rickneworleansla

I'm thinking it may be the inexpensive rims. We may have a bad one on there.

eschoendorff

My rims checked out okay on the roadforce machine.....

rickneworleansla

Mine did too but the vibration is till there.

rangerphil

Have gone about 400 miles and so far so good. They used the stick-on wheelweights and I have made a note of the locations. I'm suspicious that some of the prior stick-ons did not stay attached.

jhammons01

If the wheel is bent, balancing will help for a short period just as you describe. Then the vibration starts again.

You'll have to break the bead and remove the tire. then place the rim itself on a spin balancer to see if the wheel is rolling true or if there is a wobble. You'll be able to see it with your naked eye if it is bent.

wheels with a deep dish are horrible on the extreme side of the dish and have a tendency to become Egg Shaped.

If this is the case you need to seek out a Wheel repair facility that can refurbish the wheel for you. That will cost about $125 per wheel.

Wheel Repair Specialist
Keystone wheel repair
Wheels America

Numerous other smaller outfits that can handle the job. Check with Body shops, they send wheels out for repair almost daily.

eschoendorff

Here's an update... I just replaced both of my rear wheel bearings and the vibration is still there

WhipWhipWhip

I am not familiar with the stick on weights. I always get the hammered on weights, both on the inboard and outboard of the rim. (For example)With my truck when i would get the tires ballanced they only put weights on the inside so they would not show on the chrome rims. After a thousand miles or so I would start to feel it on the wheel and hear it on the road. Just ask them if they can put weights on the in and out. It would feel and sound much better.

Chatman

To control dynamic and static balance you need weights in two planes. They don't need to be on the rim edges. It used to be difficult to place stick-on weights behind the wheel's face because it took some trial and error but now the machines allow the option.
PS There are lots of chipped/damaged rims out there from hammer-on weights.

89 Bob L

It sounds like the weights are falling off. I had the same issue. After the third time, I pulled the tires and cleaned the inside of the rims with denatured alcohol, then took it immediately to the shop. After they balanced the tires I used a very small amount of aluminum tape over the weights. Problem solved.