Hi all,

Quick question for those of you running relatively light weight wheels...

I recently replaced my S-lites with much lighter weight wheels. I had these mounted/balanced/ and installed this past weekend at a local garage that I've had do all my tire work over the past few years.

I am now noticing more vibration coming though my steering wheel since these were mounted. The vibration isn't severe, but it is noticable (especially on acceleration). Can a lighter wheel give more "tactile" feedback through the steering wheel? (Does that make sense?) Or is this a tire/wheel out of balance? (Note that I also had a front end alignment done at the same time as the new wheels.)

Any thoughts?

thanks,
Ed

 

2 ideas -

Out of balance new tire and wheel combo, likely the culprit. Have it checked.

If you still have your old tire and wheel install them and see if the vibration goes away. If it doesnt its a car issue. If it does - post back and we'll go from there!

Alex

 

Alex,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm taking it back to the garage tomorrow. I'm hoping a rebalance will take care of it. First time this garage hasn't gotten it right the first time...(I usually have all my TireRack tires shipped there )

-Ed

 

If the wheels require it, make sure you have the correct hub rings on too - I had the most annoying vibration on a car one time when wheels were mounted that were not hubcentrically (is that a word? ) correct.

 

Did you have new tires or new tires mounted on the new wheels?

 

I remounted my OEM runflats on the wheels. Last fall I had new snows mounted on my S-Lites, and I stored the runflats for the winter. I had the runflats mounted on the new wheels now so I can just swap the tires myself every fall/spring (that, and the fact the new wheels look nicer than S-Lites).

I used the hub rings that came with the wheels. I assume these are good enough (aluminum)...

Thanks for the feedback everyone...

 

I wonder if your OEM runflats were installed in the same position they were in when they were removed? (ie: DF, DR, PF, PR)

Did you mark your runflats before they were unmounted last fall?

 

Great question... I had the same garage dismount them last fall. I'm not sure if they marked them. Frankly, I'm not used to having to worry about that (I'm new to runflats), so I didn't ask the question.

I'll ask today when I talk to them. It's a Goodyear garage, so they _should_ know better...

 

Not to hijack but I seem to be having the same issue. Alec I picked a set of 18" AR1's last week from Tirerack. I noticed a vibration so I had them rebalanced locally. It helped a little bit but its still not right. I just thought it's a characteristic of the 18"s but I had a chance to drive another car with JCW 18"s and it was smooth. I never had vibration issues with my 16"s. What needs to be done to get this resolved.

Thanks,

 

i'm guessing either the balancing is off or the hub rings aren't right

 

My situation appears to be resolved (at least for now.) I took my car back in last week. The garage took the car for a test drive (the service manager really liked the Mini! ). He was able to reproduce the issue. However, when they checked the balancing, it was dead on.

They remounted the tires and the problem seems to be gone for the most part (to the point it's barely noticable). He figured it may have been the rings not giving a completely proper fit on the first try.

Oh well, I'll take the it! New wheels are on, and snows are off!

Thanks for all the ideas...

-Ed

 

Ed, good to hear you got your prob sorted...there is hope!

I'm going to dive in with the second hijack. Alex, if you're still reading:

config 1: 17x7 lenso alloys with new 205/45/17 Toyo Proxes 4 + balance = wobble 80-95 km/h.

config 2: swapped front to back plus a balance at a different shop = same wobble.

config 3: suspected the locators, put new tyres on s-lites plus balance = same wobble.

config 4: took car to local bmw dealer and got them to check steering and suspension - they said everything was ok (noting that they are a particularly incompetent dealer) got the original tyre fitter to have a close look. rebalance. = same wobble.

this is starting to really annoy me. I've had the tyre dealer contact toyo and send a rep out. But I'm not holding my breath...

Do you have any ideas...??

 

What are the tire runout specs radial and lateral?

What are the force variation measurments?

I am beginning to think its a car because the wobble exists no matter what.

Wheel bearings tight?
Tie rods tight?


What else is not OEM on the car?

 

Just curious, did you try putting the stock wheels/tires back on to see if it was okay back that way?

And to the OP - you said you stored the runflats for awhile, how were they kept? Could one or more maybe have developed a flat spot?

 

its probably the hubcentric rings (if that hasnt been stated) if you dont have them it will vibrate too. mine did it when I put on my aftermarket rims. simple fix