I am having a vibration problem and it all started shortly after I got my BFGoodrich Radial T/A's (275/60R15). Before, I was running two different set of wheels and tires, one for the winter and the other for the summer. Looks you know !! The winter set consisted of the OEM Aluminum (15x7.5) wheels and a set of Michelin LTX M/S (235/75R15). The summer set consisted of pro-spoke steel chrome (15x8) wheels with another set of Michelin LTX M/S (235/75R15).

Last April, I bought some T/A's and put them on the chrome wheels. Shortly there after I began balancing them because of a vibration. I was probably balancing them about every two weeks or so. Damn, it is irritating too. In July, I went to the place the I bought the tires from, they said the wheels were bent on the inside lip. They took the tires off and showed me the movement of the wheel while on the balancing machine. So I replaced them with a set of American Racing Hellix (15x8) wheels. They are steel wheels chromed plated. Put the original set of T/A's on the new wheels and by the time four days were up, I was getting the vibration again. The shop that I bought the wheels from thought it might be the tires, so they did an adjustment on them. Got a brand new set of T/A's - same size as before. Well shortly after that I have the vibration again and it seems like I am going back to the wheels being bent. I have eliminated the truck as I put my winter set back on and I had no vibrations at all.

The truck had a ball joint (pass. - lower) changed two years ago and I had an alignment done on it. The truck needed more adjustment for camber than it would allow and the dealership didn't have the larger size adjustment kit to put in it. The camber was set to 1/2 degree out, so the top of the tire sits in more than the bottom. This has done no wrong with tread wear. The Michelins are all wearing even across the board. The 235/75R15's are 7" high on one side of the wheel (lip to road) and the 275/60R15's are 6.5" on the same side.

What I am wondering is if anyone has any ideas as I am thinking that it is the front end that is bending my wheels. I DO NOT do any off-roading and I don't travel on gravel roads.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

IzzyEddy,

Is this the root of the vibration problem you've been working so hard on???

Are you sure the shop isn't doing something wrong? If your wheels are bending and there is something wrong with or worn out in your steering or suspention they should pick up on that right away.

I had my tires relpaced about a month ago. Before that I didn't have any balancing problems. I went 56,000 miles on my 1st set without rotating or balancing even once. Then I bought a set of Wilderness A/T's last summer and they were balanced perfect the 1st time. I've been having A LOT of problems with my new tires being properly balanced but I don't think it is because of the tire per say. I think the people at the chain store shop don't know what they are doing. I've been back 3 times so far for balaning. They got it right the last time but they cannot seem to get the weights on the inside to stay. My weights keep flying off and then I get a thumping and vibration so I go back. I'm going to the dealer Monday where hoepfully they'll get it right. Is the shop using the best possible computer for balaning and are they even putting the tires on the wheels properly? Sometimes tires need to be match-mounted.

 

AjRagno: Actually, I have been to four different tire shops and they all balance the wheels and tires off of the truck. I even sit there and watch to make sure what is going ... zero everytime on both sides.

I am trying to figure this out on my own while I don't have the truck in at the shop. I know as soon as I put my Michelin's back on, I will have no problems. I can not see how a wider tire can change soooo much on my truck, it is just so damn irritating. One thing that I have noticed is that the wheels that I have on right now has a load index of 1500 lbs. My front axle can hold 3200 lbs. (1600 / wheel) and the rear is 3900 lbs. (1900 / wheel). Now the truck only weighs 5100 lbs with the one tank full and me in it but then you have the force of hitting inperfections in the road as well. Technically that is 1250 lbs. / wheel so I do have some allowance for some extra weight or force. I keep wondering if the rims are bending due to the front end being out of alignment that little PLUS the force of the road bumps ??

The current shop that I am dealing with, is leaning towards the wheels because they have run out (I say bent ). I have had no problems before these T/A's, and now it seems as though I have went through two set of wheels from them being bent. This is what I am trying to figure out !! Trying to bounce ideas off of different people to see what I can figure out. I am trying to figure this out by the end of the month as I will be taking these guys off for the winter and putting my Michelin's back on till next April. This way if they are screwed up then I might be able to get some new ones via warranty. If not, they sit till next spring and I look for another set ... the wife won't like that !!! Oh well !!

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

Well went over to the shop today after running for a complete day on my aluminum/michelin combination. I had a really slight vibration but nothing that I couldn't tolerate with over 180,000 kms on the truck. Anyhow, they took the michelin's and pulled them off of the aluminum wheels and put them on the chromies. And put the BFGoodrich Radial T/A's on the aluminum wheels. Took the T/A's out for a spin and nothing major, went back and put the michelin's back on. Getting close to going to work, so I went home and got ready, jumped in the truck and left. Going down the road and I got the vibration. I will test this scenerio in the next couple of days and then I might even put the T/A's back on to double check. Then I will return to the shop that I bought the wheels from to see what they will do, should they still be the problem. It will definitely be interested to see what they are going to say about this !!!

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

You need to look for a shop with a "Road Force Balancer" it will cost you up to $150.00 for a full balance but if it doesn't fix your problem than it is somewhere else!

If you can't find one make sure the tire jockey has the balancer set below a 1/4 ounce. If he looks at you like you are nuts go somewhere else!

Good luck!

 

Is it possible a belt has become separated in one or more of the tires? This happened one of my Goodyears when they were practically new. All the balancing in the world wont help. Good luck!

 

So far I have made a confirmation that the wheels do give me a vibration so the wheels will need to be replaced. I currently have the T/A's on the truck and will be heading to St. Thomas Dragway (2 hour cruise) and will see if they give me a vibration as well.

I was talking to a guy today at another tire shop and was telling him about the situation. He said that it will probably be the tires as well as I have widen the tires but have not stayed with the correct height as well. He said that I should try and keep the same height with the new tires whether I widen or not. That means I would have to get a 29" tall tire instead of my current 28" tall T/A's. So this weekend will tell the tale.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

I have always had better luck with Michelin tires. They seem to stay balanced. They seem to be made better and require much less weight...

 

Did they put weights on the inside and outside? I have always found that static balances are worthless.

 

I put on a set of 22" rims with 305/45 Toyo tires and when I reach speeds of 70+ mph, my Expedition begins vibrating pretty bad. This is my first set of low profile tires so I don't know if this is normal. If anyone could help me out that would be great. Thanks.

Robert

 

JScott: Yeah, I love the Michelins too. I had a set for my summer set of wheels/tires but I wanted something wider and that would give me better wet traction. I looked for a long time doing comparisions with various tires and decided on the T/A's. Don't know if that was a good thing. Michelin didn't have anything that was wide enough.

BeenLaden: Yes, all of my tires have weight on both sides providing they need it. I have been told my numerous people that this is the only way to keep them balanced the best. Although it does mess up the look of new wheels alittle but the comfort of no vibration compared to vibration is irr-placeable (?sp?).

I am starting to think that I went too wide with the tires OR I should have went up in wheel size as well to keep the height somewhat proportional to the width. Also to keep it almost bang on for the speedo but I have to figure this out now too as my tires were giving me the vibrations as well as certain speeds.

Has anyone heard of Dueller H/P's ??? I have seen a couple of sites that list them is the size of 255/70R15 but when I go to the Bridgestone site they don't have that size on there. If possible, can someone check their local tire shops to see what they can come up with. I check here in Canada and the Bridgestone/Firestone guys say they don't exsist unless they are made by Bridgestone for Sears as a Sears tire. Let me know if you find anything.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

Here's my thoughts......

I bought a set of Crager classic mags last year for my 1970 Cutlass. My regular mechanic kept insisting the wheels were out of round because of the wobble on the balancer. I kept swapping wheels and couldn't get them balanced correctly.
Turns out that the Crager, as well as MOST aftermarket wheels are lug centric, not hub centric. Basically, they have to be balanced by a machine that will mount the tire/wheel combo via lugs, not by sliding it onto the spindle and putting the cone on.
So, after making ALOT of calls, I finally found a shop that knew what I was talking about. Sure enough, they had all the right stuff. They balanced them by the lugs, and I couldn't get the car over thirty without rattling my teeth out.
I did find a fellow that had an on-the-car balancing machine (he had to find it and fix it first). He balanced them on the car and it's been great.
I dragged this out, but the moral of the story is that aftermarket rims should be balanced by a lug mounted balancer. If that doesn't work, have them balanced on the truck.

 

I was talking to American Racing again today about my vibration problems to see if they could help me and they referred me to a tire shop in London (Firestone Shop). Two hours down the road from me. I gave him a shout and told him about what I was experiencing and he has a Hunter Load Force machine. He can do lug centric balancing !!! YEAH !!! He told me almost exactly what was happening with the wheels and tires. They can off-set balance the wheels and tires for about $20 / combo and they even print out what the combo is doing. Man, it is about time something starts going in my direction.

Anyhow,

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

I went to see Bob Williams in London, he is the guy that has the Hunter Load Force Balancing Machine. Man, is that ever a sweet machine, it can almost do the entire job by itself !!! Anyhow, I had to change my current wheel/tire combo back to the way I needed it for the winter and summer time. The Michelin LTX's on the OEM Aluminum wheels and the T/A's back on the Steel Chrome wheels. They did that and just normal balanced the aluminum ones and then they match balanced the T/A's along with load force balanced them too. This verified that I have a bad tire, so I now have to go and get a replacement for it. Then travel back to London and get it matched, load force balanced to verify that it is a good tire. They said that the wheels are with the tolerance limits so I guess they are okay for now.

Sorry to do this too you all but please see Pre '97's for the continuation as I will have additional questions that I need help on there.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean