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New Tires are being wobbly, need help


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bball_1523
User

Aug 15, 2008, 11:53 AM

Post #1 of 10 (5772 views)
New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

Car: 1997 Nissan Altima SE

I just got new tires and a rotation of the back two tires to the front, all from Discount Tires. After they put it on I've been driving on the freeway for the past few days and I've noticed my car has been feeling a little wobbly while driving at 65 mph. By wobbly I mean the car seems to slightly pull left and right by itself. I am unsure what the problem is and want to find out what I need to do?

I asked Discount Tires about this and they told me to come in for free and they fixed something, but I still feel the car moving wobbly. I don't know if this is an alignment issue or not and am unsure if Discount Tires did an alignment. Were they supposed to and am I supposed to now get an alignment after getting two new tires?


(This post was edited by bball_1523 on Aug 15, 2008, 5:36 PM)


Double J
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Aug 15, 2008, 12:01 PM

Post #2 of 10 (5768 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

Did they put the new tires on the rear?

You stated they rotated the rear tires to the front,now the wobble.
I'm guessing one or both of the tires are causing this and its now more pronounced since they're on the front.
I would recommend having the new tires put on the front.Always want good steering tires.
Have them check the tires on the balance machine.If they're suspect,replace them,if they just need to be balanced ,have that done and put the new tires on the front.

Discount Tire doesnt do alignments. ( They do tire repairs and rotates for free tho>>>Just an FYI to all)
Yes,have the new tires put on the front and have the vehicle aligned.
Take it to a qualified tire shop/repair shop for alignment.Ask them to thoroughly inspect all the front suspension and steering components too.


Thats my opinion

Jim


bball_1523
User

Aug 15, 2008, 12:31 PM

Post #3 of 10 (5764 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

Yes, they put the new tires on the rear. I think they told me to get my rear tires rotated for more lasting tread or something, I forgot what exactly they told me.

Does balancing and alignment cost a lot? I really don't want to keep dishing out money. I spent around $323 for two near tires and rotation at Discount Tires. Do you think Discount Tire should balance my tires for free? I already called them about this wobbly issue, but I don't know what specifically they did after I took it back in.

Here is what it says on the receipt for the 2nd time I brought it in to Discount Tire:

OEM Inflation F:28 R:28
Fronts
Bolt Pattern: 4-114.3

That's all it says.


Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Aug 15, 2008, 2:10 PM

Post #4 of 10 (5761 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

Average alignment is approx $90.00...
I doubt they will balance the other 2 tires for free but it doesnt hurt to ask.
They are a pretty reputable company for tires.
I use them a lot for free repairs...and have sent a few friends there for tires,never had a problem.
I would get the new tires on the front for sure....make sure the other 2 on the rear are ok,have them balanced.
They may have a broken belt in them causing the wobble,might not be that severe yet or that noticable to the naked eye but should be picked up on the balancer.
Then get the wheel alignment performed.

Receipt doesnt show much...tire pressure front and rear and ?bolt pattern?...they usually put the lug nut torque settings on there....they do use a special torque wrench for this..i commend them on that!


Keep us posted

Jim


Double J
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Double J profile image

Aug 15, 2008, 2:11 PM

Post #5 of 10 (5760 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

BTW!

What kind of vehicle are we talking about here?


Jim


bball_1523
User

Aug 15, 2008, 5:37 PM

Post #6 of 10 (5735 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

Sorry about not informing you all of my car. I edited my first post and added what car I have. (1997 Nissan Altima SE).

Does tire rotation usually cost a lot?

I'll check into getting an alignment.


(This post was edited by bball_1523 on Aug 15, 2008, 5:38 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 15, 2008, 5:53 PM

Post #7 of 10 (5729 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

Ok: Tire rotation alone is simply taking the whole wheel with its tire and switching it to another location. Ex: Back wheels/tires to front, or crossed like front left to right rear etc. Should not be expensive at all. Perhaps $20 or so to do just that. It's doable yourself if you have two jacks or want to fiddle with one and jack stands.

It's a means to get even wear on tires as the position they are in is not equal to all as for wear. Fronts do the most work and would normally wear faster than rears,

T



bball_1523
User

Aug 16, 2008, 9:41 AM

Post #8 of 10 (5721 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

I wonder why discount tire put the new tires on the back then after rotating the old rear tires to the front.


flgmtech1
User

Aug 16, 2008, 10:44 AM

Post #9 of 10 (5715 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In

If you can ask this company if they have a Hunter Wheel Balancer that can force balance your wheels, this can establish if the tires, the rims or the assembly are the cause of your vibration. The OEM tire placard is generally located on the inside of the drivers door or on the b pillar where the drivers door opens at the body side, this placard should specify the tire size and more importantly the tire speed.
The importance of not only having a matched set of tires for the intrest of tread pattern and shoulder height and width is the essential requirements to ensuring the ride quality of your vehicle. The tires should list a tire size on the side wall suchs as P205/65/16 97S the 97S is the speed rating the higher the rating such as a Z rated tire is not only more expensive but generally a more performance based trire versus an S or T rated tire which are less expensive and are more commonly found the average passenger car typical of OEM tires.
The importance of force blancing the tires is to ensure that the road force is below 22 pounds of road force, the closer to zero the better the ride, the higher the number of road force the worse the ride is going to be. If the number is excessive the machine can be used to determine if the rim is bent or if the tire has a bad belt or excessive radial or lateral runout, some times dis mounting the tire and indexing the tire on the rim can solve this issue. My concern is if the vehicle did not have this wobble prior to the tires being installed, it could very well be a defect in the New tires and NOT the older tires that were rotated to the front from the rears and they should be also road force blanced tom test for excessive road force. The Hunter Wheel Balance machine we use will also indicate if the tire is out of range and can not be nrought into specs and Must be replaced, if this is the case the tire company would have to replace the tires you juswt bought at no charge to you or pro ration if you just replaced them.


(This post was edited by flgmtech1 on Aug 16, 2008, 10:46 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 16, 2008, 6:10 PM

Post #10 of 10 (5709 views)
Re: New Tires are being wobbly, need help Sign In


In Reply To
Car: 1997 Nissan Altima SE
I just got new tires and a rotation of the back two tires to the front, all from Discount Tires. After they put it on I've been driving on the freeway for the past few days and I've noticed my car has been feeling a little wobbly while driving at 65 mph. By wobbly I mean the car seems to slightly pull left and right by itself. I am unsure what the problem is and want to find out what I need to do?

This thread got long enough in a hurry! Refesh from the top here as seen. This "Wobbly" feel and pulling right or left "by itself" is suggestive of loose front end parts and or improper alignment angles noticed more with driving on a "crowned" road in my experience. Imperfect alignment and or trueness of wheels can wear into a tire such that the old ones "got used to it" if you will and now new ones may be true on untrue and improperly aligned wheels/front end. IMO - imbalance, untrue wheel and or defective new tires would not cause random left and right pulling (unless it's brakes causing this and only when applied and released) but freeplay of front end and improper "caster" (an alignment setting) could cause that. There's two areas here that need to go hand in hand. Wheels and tires need to be known true, in proper balance and matching sized for the car and with others (tire shops job). When that is known proper then a proper alignment should include checking that all front end and suspension parts are good to proceed with adjustments to the alignment as needed which apparently is not done at the tire place but they should be affiliated with a shop for that. All this needs to be known good all at the same time....... T



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Aug 16, 2008, 6:12 PM)






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