Tyres out of shape resulting in vibration or balancing?

[James1976]

Evening all.

I've got decent tyres on my SL, Michelin Primacy HP and some Conti's. All are relatively new.

When I got the car the wheels were repainted and the weights removed. I subsequently got the wheels rebalanced by Kwik Fit; must have been by a trainee as they were horrendously out of balance. Went back and they re-did them for free. Guy there noted that the tyres were slightly out of round (rims not buckled). You could see this as they moved up and down slightly on the balancing machine. The wheels are now much better but there's still noticeable vibration when I put my foot down on the motorway, particularly around 80 - typical crusing speed dammit!

So the question is this - will the tyres being slightly out of round (presumably from the car sitting for a long time) result in the vibrations through the car, or have the ****wits just not balanced them correctly again?

I ask as a) it's p!ssing me off as I often cruise at high speed when I used this car and b) I'm about to get the wheels properly refurbished by Lepsons and as much as I don't want to if the vibrations will remain with the tyres as they are I'll bite the bullit, and ditch the tyres for some new ones.... but at a min of £500 you can see why I don't really want to replace them....

Thanks in advance for any advice!

J

 

[horgantrevor]

what size are the wheels are they ome

also how old are tyres i would replace if they are that bad for peace of and and safety

year will marked on tyre as DOT..

i would say all wheels get a little buckled in their life time but also tyres do and can make you have a virbration also i had an issue like this removed and fitted new front tyres all better now

got too a tyre specialist not kwik fit for best results

 

[A210AMG]

Hello


I had a tyre that had a small bulge on the inside and this caused a vibration issue. Do you have the same make on each axel?

Think I would be tempted before spending a lot on new tyres to get them balanced somewhere else? Did they say all the tyres were off round? How long has the car been stood?

 

[BTB 500]

My SL doesn't get used that much and the tyres definitely 'flatten' a little while it's standing. That gives a slight but noticeable vibration for the first 10-15 mins I drive it, but after that it goes and is fine.

As already mentioned, if the car doesn't do a lot of mileage then the tyres may well need replacing based on age rather than wear. About 6 years is the absolute maximum I'd risk on a high performance (and heavy) car like an SL. Bear in mind that's from the date the tyres were manufactured - they may have been sitting in a warehouse for some time before being fitted to your car.

When I got the 18" wheels for my SL the supplier (Alloy Wheels Direct) actually rejected the first set of rear tyres that were delivered for them as they were already well over a year old.

 

[James1976]

Good questions all.

I dated the tyres and the youngest were a couple of years old, and the oldest were about 5 years old. They are indeed the same on each axle. The car actually came from a forum member and I understand stood for long periods of time, possibly I guess with a reducing amount of air in the tyres rather than high pressure hence the tyres went a bit out of round say by being stood through winter with too little pressure?

Sounds crazy but was driving it at high speed again today up the M11 and the vibration seems to be reducing, it's only rough at 75-80 and smooths out over 85+. (sorry officer)

Could it be that the flat or flatened areas are reducing with the flexing of the tyre as it gets used quite a bit? Tell me if I'm talking bollacks and once a tyre goes out of round from standing that's it!

Bill, I agree with you re the tyres - the SL is a very heavy motor as you say which you notice when changing direction quickly or braking heavily; this is one of the reasons I'm somewhat concerned over out of balance / knackered tyres!

 

[James1976]

Sorry, to add from when I've inspected the tyres they certainly don't seem to have any bulges otherwise they would have been ditched immediately. KF didn't notice anything either nor did I when I stood over them watching that they did things properly the second time!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Pirelli replaced a set for me for this reason. I'd actually driven several thousand miles on them by the time they were replaced. Manufacturing fault apparently.

 

[James1976]

I take it you noticed the problem through vibration, similar to me then?

I'm guessing there's little that can be done to sort out the tyres when they're in this state and they just have to be replaced?

 

[EDZ649]

As Bill above, my SL gets flat spots on the tyres from standing, soon goes after a few miles. It's worse in the colder weather.

 

[davidjpowell]

I had 'issues' on my E65 7 series BMW. Took a lot of investigations, and finding a guy who really knew his tyres. The tyres were 'out of round' and you could see a different type of wear depending on where you were looking at it.

New tyres did resolve it.

 

[pingping]

there are a few things that could make the wheels or tyres seem imbalanced or you may think it is the tyres out of round etc ,could be a sticky caliper or warped disc,could be a steering bush or joint ,a dodgy track rod end on my old motor caused a similar thing to what could of been thought of as an out of balance wheel.

 

[James1976]

I've seen they're out of round as I saw them going gently up and down on the wheel balancing machine - not good when you consider the speed we "can" go..

I guess if they're in balance, they're in balance, but it's going to make no difference if they're bl00dy oval, the car will still vibrate as it bounces up and down like a kids toy!

Oddly enough EDZ and Bill, mine get better the more the car's driven, but it never dissapears; I think the problem must be that they were sat for so long one time in the same place, possibly with falling pressure that they've permanently gone out of round as it were, and they've gone so out of round no amount of heating up, cooling down and driving on them will make them better.

I therefore reckon maybe time to get the wheels refurbished when the tyres will be expertly rebalanced by Lepsons, and then see how they are. If they're still bad they are out of round and time to ditch them. I guess they're safe unless I'm going really excessively fast so they bounce enough to get off the ground crazy which to be honest, I don't do....

Sound sensible?

Pingping, thanks for the advice. I've been through the car with a fine toothcomb as have a couple of garages for various reasons, and pronounced all bushes etc fine - it's just had the strut mounts replaced as they were a bit tired but still fine. Drives tight it's just the bloody wheels vibrate over a certain speed.

 

[pingping]

I've seen they're out of round as I saw them going gently up and down on the wheel balancing machine - not good when you consider the speed we "can" go..

I guess if they're in balance, they're in balance, but it's going to make no difference if they're bl00dy oval, the car will still vibrate as it bounces up and down like a kids toy!

Oddly enough EDZ and Bill, mine get better the more the car's driven, but it never dissapears; I think the problem must be that they were sat for so long one time in the same place, possibly with falling pressure that they've permanently gone out of round as it were, and they've gone so out of round no amount of heating up, cooling down and driving on them will make them better.

I therefore reckon maybe time to get the wheels refurbished when the tyres will be expertly rebalanced by Lepsons, and then see how they are. If they're still bad they are out of round and time to ditch them. I guess they're safe unless I'm going really excessively fast so they bounce enough to get off the ground crazy which to be honest, I don't do....

Sound sensible?

Pingping, thanks for the advice. I've been through the car with a fine toothcomb as have a couple of garages for various reasons, and pronounced all bushes etc fine - it's just had the strut mounts replaced as they were a bit tired but still fine. Drives tight it's just the bloody wheels vibrate over a certain speed.

yep i know this feeling very well,may the force be with you and you get your bumpy tyres sorted my friend,nothin worse than doing all you can only to drive on the flatttest road in the known world and still feel that nagging bobble

 

[James1976]

yep i know this feeling very well,may the force be with you and you get your bumpy tyres sorted my friend,nothin worse than doing all you can only to drive on the flatttest road in the known world and still feel that nagging bobble

Thanks pingping! that nagging bobble just about puts it perfectly. Damn annoying when you know how smooth the car should be!

Let's see how I go after getting the wheels re-done and balanced! Will report back in a few months

 

[James1976]

Wheels refurbished by Lepsons, new tyres fitted and the vibration's gone.

result :bannana:

 

[E55 in waiting]

Pirelli replaced a set for me for this reason. I'd actually driven several thousand miles on them by the time they were replaced. Manufacturing fault apparently.

That is interesting. Mine have small cracks is raised places on the tyre and they make a noise at all speeds though at about 20 they are at their nosiest. I did not think I could have sent them back so now reading this have ordered a new pair and will be sending the old ones back for hopefully some recompense.

 

[Midland45]

I had a front tyre out of round, causing vibration from the front. I remember hitting a pot hole some months previously, and have no doubt this caused it. I ended up changing back to Continental sport contact 3 MO tyres, and couldn't believe the improvement in the cars ride and handling. Had been using Goodyear Eagle F1s, they made the car very camber sensitive. This has all but gone.