Michelin Latitude Tour HP ZP wont balance?

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Apr 26, 2025
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This is another one of these countless threads on the internet dealing with vibrations, but here is an issue I am having. New 2018 X5 came with a set of OEM Michelin Latitude Tour HP ZP Star RSC BMW, Run Flat tires, 255/50R-19 on style 449 rims. They served me well and lasted until May of 2024, when they were worn out. All these years the car drove silky smooth with zero vibrations.

In May of 2024 I got a set of the same exact tires from Tirerack, with the same RSC BMW Original Equipment designation. Had them mounted by a local reputable tire shop that I've been coming to for decades, balanced on the Hunter 9700 machine. Drove the car and felt vibrations at 55+ mph. Not anything major, but I'm very particular, and even the slightest vibrations bother me.

I took it back to the shop, they put the wheels back on the balancing machine, checked them with all the old weights still attached, and all four were out of balance by as much as 1.5oz. They took off the old weights, rebalanced all the wheels, but the vibrations persisted. I didn't have the time to go back, so I was just ignoring the vibration as they were rather minor. I thought that maybe something is wrong with their machine, as all 4 tires were out of balance two weeks after the original balance.

I have since put on maybe 5k on the car, and today I decided to address the issue, and took the car to a different shop. All four wheels were out of balance when they put them on their Corghi machine, but to make matters worse, all four of them would not zero out - the machine shows the initial amount of weights to be installed, and after they get installed it keeps asking for more and more. The technician said he has never seen anything like this, and he was completely puzzled on what could be causing this.

I know my rims are not bent as I've never hit any potholes, and old tires were butter smooth. I've seen threads of people having issues with acoustic foam separating inside the tires, but I don't believe this particular tire has such foam? I've read Michelin moved their production to a different country, maybe I got a set of subpar made tires?

As a last resort I can take these tires back to the shop with the Hunter 9700 and ask for road balance, but i don't know if it's worth the bother. Maybe I should just get a set of non run flats?
 
That sure sounds like you need a road force balance.

One new F150 had a balance issue right from the start. Pirelli Scorpion tires. Ford took the truck back a short time after purchase, performed an alignment (it did require some adjustment) and road-force balanced the tires. Those tires went 40,000 miles without another issue.

Also as I suggested in another thread, try more pressure (if you are not at the max) This can reduce tread squirm a touch and can affect the tire shape. I always inflate new tires to the published max. Then lower appropriately after a while.
 
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After for force matching to get the lowest force. They will dismount and rotate the tire 180degrees to get the lowest force reading.

I just wonder what could cause a tire not to balance out. If it was just one wheel, maybe it could be an issue with the rim or the tire, but all four wheels. The technician spun the wheel on the machine, it displayed the initial set of weights and locations. Install the weights, spin it again, it asked for more weight at one of the location. Install more weight, spin it again, its asking for even more. I've never seen anything like this.
 
I just wonder what could cause a tire not to balance out. If it was just one wheel, maybe it could be an issue with the rim or the tire, but all four wheels. The technician spun the wheel on the machine, it displayed the initial set of weights and locations. Install the weights, spin it again, it asked for more weight at one of the location. Install more weight, spin it again, its asking for even more. I've never seen anything like this.
The hunter force machine applies a roller to simulate road forces. I had it done on my tires and I can tell the difference.
 
The hunter force machine applies a roller to simulate road forces. I had it done on my tires and I can tell the difference.

Correct, it can also detect hopping and then the machine can measure the runout. I know mine is not hopping because it would be felt at all speeds, mine is completely smooth before it hits about 55mph. I just don't why none of the wheels would zero out on the machine.
 
A good tire tech can see any tire hop when the wheel assembly is on the balancer. If these Michelin tires have the "comfort control technology" (foam liner), that may be the problem.
 
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Correct, it can also detect hopping and then the machine can measure the runout. I know mine is not hopping because it would be felt at all speeds, mine is completely smooth before it hits about 55mph. I just don't why none of the wheels would zero out on the machine.
U can call ur local HunterForce salesperson and ask directly who is their most talented tire shop that uses their equipment. They can easily assess and differentiate who are the best. U don’t want a hack or an occasional operator. This is no different than when u ask ur surgeon who is their surgeon. A data point only leads to a better data point.
 
Old man story alert….Our fleet shop had a delivery come in of Pursuit radials. The tire shop tech was gone to lunch so the delivery guy offloaded the tires right outside the shop door. A quick summer shower came while the tires were outside. The rain lasted only a few minutes and then the summer sun returned drying the pavement and outside of the new tires. The tire tech returned from lunch rolling the tires in not knowing these tires had several ounces of water in them. They would balance initially on the balance machine but shake your teeth out on the highway. After several returned patrol cars for high speed vibrations, the water was found. FWIW.
 
Makes me wonder....Costco is supposed to rebalance with every rotation. Could this be the reason why? Meaning, if a rebalance is performed, does it mask the tires headed to an out of balance scenario 5k down the road?

And, only 1 Costco near me actually performs the rebalance, so I take our 2 cars with Costco tires there.

There's one other source of skepticism. Shops often cater to the customer when an indie....any chance OP can walk back and see the rims on the machine, and even take pics. I know the indies I go to don't mind.

I've only noticed on OE tires (personal experience doesn't mean other tires don't have them, I've just never seen them), a red dot and a yellow dot. Did the Tire Rack OE tires have those...
 
Speaking of which, took the car to Costco to get the tires rotated, and their job includes a rebalance. They did the work, as we saw the vehicle on the lift without wheels. Also, because my rims are in poor condition (imho Lexus defect, all LS430 are like this and guys on the forum had rims refinished), I can see which rim went where. I already filed the paperwork but I believe the drive wheels go to the other axle (rear to front), then the fronts get criss-crossed to the rear. A FWD is the opposite.

But look at this here. I know all 4 rims were rebalanced because stick on tape from the last weights has residue, and then there are shiny new weights. Look how many needed (not good)....

IMG_2172.webp


And stick on tape from last weights

IMG_2171.webp


p.s. this is the only car I've owned where the finish flaked off! I'm ok with it it's going to be 20 y.o. in September but was a FLA car for 10
 
This is another one of these countless threads on the internet dealing with vibrations, but here is an issue I am having. New 2018 X5 came with a set of OEM Michelin Latitude Tour HP ZP Star RSC BMW, Run Flat tires, 255/50R-19 on style 449 rims. They served me well and lasted until May of 2024, when they were worn out. All these years the car drove silky smooth with zero vibrations.

In May of 2024 I got a set of the same exact tires from Tirerack, with the same RSC BMW Original Equipment designation. Had them mounted by a local reputable tire shop that I've been coming to for decades, balanced on the Hunter 9700 machine. Drove the car and felt vibrations at 55+ mph. Not anything major, but I'm very particular, and even the slightest vibrations bother me.

I took it back to the shop, they put the wheels back on the balancing machine, checked them with all the old weights still attached, and all four were out of balance by as much as 1.5oz. They took off the old weights, rebalanced all the wheels, but the vibrations persisted. I didn't have the time to go back, so I was just ignoring the vibration as they were rather minor. I thought that maybe something is wrong with their machine, as all 4 tires were out of balance two weeks after the original balance.

I have since put on maybe 5k on the car, and today I decided to address the issue, and took the car to a different shop. All four wheels were out of balance when they put them on their Corghi machine, but to make matters worse, all four of them would not zero out - the machine shows the initial amount of weights to be installed, and after they get installed it keeps asking for more and more. The technician said he has never seen anything like this, and he was completely puzzled on what could be causing this.

I know my rims are not bent as I've never hit any potholes, and old tires were butter smooth. I've seen threads of people having issues with acoustic foam separating inside the tires, but I don't believe this particular tire has such foam? I've read Michelin moved their production to a different country, maybe I got a set of subpar made tires?

As a last resort I can take these tires back to the shop with the Hunter 9700 and ask for road balance, but i don't know if it's worth the bother. Maybe I should just get a set of non run flats?
I'm having a Similar issue with the Continental tires on my neon. The first set were great but wore a little fast. Discount Tire prorated them. They had the same exact tires in stock. With several rebalances they still have a shimmy around 35 & 45 mph. I've put 12k miles on them hoping they'd even out but no luck. 2 tires have more wobble than the other two. I've never had this happen. Unless my front brake rotors have some influence which I get no pedal pulses when on the brakes.
 
This article has some useful tips on your tire issue

https://www.tirereview.com/chasing-catching/

.........You add more weight, drop the hood and…it asks for even more weights?!

This little play is called “chasing weights,” and is a seemingly endless cycle where the balancer keeps asking for more and more weight, usually in different places. Most techs know from experience what to do and what not to do when this happens.

Unfortunately, from my own experience seeing wheels much like the one pictured come into my shop, there are still a good number of techs out there that don’t quite understand the phenomenon.......
 
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Was curious what a single weight might cost online…survey sez $0.08 when 240 purchased…maybe a nickel to a shop?
 
Went to a new tire shop that does road force balance using a Hunter 9700 machine, and their technician is a true old school master pro! He was taking words out of my mouth as I was explaining my issue.

He did road force balance on all four wheels, all four were initially in the red zone when he measured run out. The good news is all four rims are fine, the runout was in the tires. He said he sees it more and more lately with Michelins unfortunately.

He was able to reset the tires on the rims, and one wheel set into green zone on the run out, two wheels in the yellow, and one was still in the red, but with half the run out force than before - 25 vs 51 (I think its measured in pounds).

As far as the balance, he was able to zero out the balance on all four wheels. Two wheels did not even need any weights at all.

Drove the car, and it felt silk smooth on the highway, so I am satisfied. However, I won't be buying these same tires next time around. Disappointed to see the most reputable brand drop their quality.
 
Went to a new tire shop that does road force balance using a Hunter 9700 machine, and their technician is a true old school master pro! He was taking words out of my mouth as I was explaining my issue.

He did road force balance on all four wheels, all four were initially in the red zone when he measured run out. The good news is all four rims are fine, the runout was in the tires. He said he sees it more and more lately with Michelins unfortunately.

He was able to reset the tires on the rims, and one wheel set into green zone on the run out, two wheels in the yellow, and one was still in the red, but with half the run out force than before - 25 vs 51 (I think its measured in pounds).

As far as the balance, he was able to zero out the balance on all four wheels. Two wheels did not even need any weights at all.

Drove the car, and it felt silk smooth on the highway, so I am satisfied. However, I won't be buying these same tires next time around. Disappointed to see the most reputable brand drop their quality.
Any brand can have this problem. What is the country of origin for the tires? The one with 25 lbs force should have been culled.
 
Any brand can have this problem. What is the country of origin for the tires? The one with 25 lbs force should have been culled.

Yes, but generally Michelins have been problem free. I believe these are USA made, need to double check.

I can live with the 25lb as I don't feel any vibrations through the car. It started with 51lb, so big improvement.
 
Yes, but generally Michelins have been problem free. I believe these are USA made, need to double check.

I can live with the 25lb as I don't feel any vibrations through the car. It started with 51lb, so big improvement.
If you can live with it, that's fine.
 
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