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New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad


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ryan44
Novice

Jun 26, 2011, 9:48 AM

Post #1 of 9 (5692 views)
New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

2007
Nissan
Maxima
35k miles

Did discount tire mess something up?

I bought 4 new goodyear eagle gt tires from discount tire and I was getting a lot of vibration between 60-80 mph.

Took the car in for an alignment (they said it was only off slightly), and right after that 50 mph gave me a lot of vibration now too.

Went back to discount tire, they rotated and rebalanced. I popped on the freeway for a test run and the vibration is WORSE than ever. At 60mph I felt like I was riding in a horse pulled wagon.

What can possibly be the issue? I feel like the car is going to shake itself apart if I keep driving it this way.

Thanks for any help, ideas, or possible solutions.
-Ryan


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 26, 2011, 10:53 AM

Post #2 of 9 (5681 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

Ryan - Did this happen instantly with the new tires?

Rare to me for this car but possible I guess. Many rotors are not part of the hub nor bolted to it which is more common on the foreign cars can tilt from just taking a wheel off and any debris (here it would be rust) can fall down such that when wheel is put back on it's not true anymore even though lug nuts feel tight enough.

The alignment should have ruled out loose parts but this one quirk I speak of can happen from just removing a wheel even if you had just changed a tire or something yourself.

This has to be found and fixed at once IMO. If the new tires are somehow causing this then they have to go. IDK - would be tons easier if checking in person. Wheels should be spun with all suspended to look for trueness or flaws in rubber or who knows what will be found. Too low of miles IMO for something like this but anything can happen and if exactly with the new tires that's the clue for where to look.

Perhaps seriously over tightening lug nuts causes a problem and can but would hope a tire place would not allow something like that.

Good luck. Don't give up till it's found out why,

T



ryan44
Novice

Jun 26, 2011, 11:28 AM

Post #3 of 9 (5675 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

Thanks. Yes and no. It had a minor shake prior to new tires, but I had one front tire with a plug that always needed air every 3 or 4 days, and I honestly thought that's what the problem was.

I can picture what you're talking about, and yeah it seems unlikely but it's worth looking. Should I remove the tires and take an air compressor to the rotor and other parts? Blow out anything that might be there.

I didn't want to mess around with anything, and ordered what I thought were the original replacement tires, but they are clearly different, much wider tread and different tread design. This was the first time the car got new tires.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 26, 2011, 11:48 AM

Post #4 of 9 (5670 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

Tires should be of the recommended size and some will look different by brand.

To check for the debris, spin the wheel while on and you can probably just hold a screwdriver or something to the rim and see if it's way off with the description of the problem. If so the rotor needs to come off to scrape clean IF AND ONLY THIS IS THE TROUBLE.

The slight "shaking" with the old tires, one with a plug isn't all the relevant right now.

Other but I doubt just vibration is a wheel bearing may not show up till new tires are installed. They historically growl not so much vibrated at speed and if so you would be feeling freeplay where there should be none! Freeplay is an emergency to fix,

T



ryan44
Novice

Jun 26, 2011, 12:09 PM

Post #5 of 9 (5665 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

Thanks Tom, I'll play around and see if I can find anything off.

I assumed the minor shake was going to be gone with the new tires, not get a lot worse. It's frustrating.

There are a few speeds it's fine with, like 68 or 72 mph etc., which still feels like a balance issue. Decelerating is a lot worse, especially 65-50 range.

If I can't figure it out I'll have to take it to a mechanic I guess. Although I'm tempted to take to a different discount tire location first and see what they say. Either way, I'll keep the board updated on what I find out.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 26, 2011, 4:32 PM

Post #6 of 9 (5656 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

Ryan, Discount doesn't mean then shouldn't be capable. Stuff happens and if experienced should know what can. Good luck and sorry this happened to you with all good intentions,

T



ryan44
Novice

Jun 27, 2011, 2:59 PM

Post #7 of 9 (5645 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

Tom, I went to a different Discount Tire location and 45 minutes later all is well!

They said the drive-force of the front passenger tire needed to be cut in half. I'm not really sure what that means, but the car drives great now.

Hard to believe the other location had two shots, and two hours of my time and couldn't get it right.

Thanks again!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 27, 2011, 3:32 PM

Post #8 of 9 (5634 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

If they have a "road force" balancer, that's top of the line equipment and finds problems that a regular balancer can't.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



ryan44
Novice

Jun 27, 2011, 3:45 PM

Post #9 of 9 (5628 views)
Re: New tires/balance/alignment shaking bad Sign In

To the original locations defense, the one that got it right said all the locations were recently upgraded in the last 6 months with new equipment and maybe they didn't get any for some reason.

The way the place is laid out at the original location, you can't see anything going on, but I could at the this one. It looked new. They put the wheel on the machine, then a large (half tire shaped) cover went over it, and they pressed some buttons, took it out and put on new weights.

I'm just really relieved, you would to have been in this thing to see how bad it was bucking. I almost feel like taking a wrench under the hood and making sure everything is still tied down.






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