New tires but new problem

[oilstudent24]

Long Post-
Earlier this year I bought a set of Michelin Primacy MXV4s at Sams to replace the poor Conti-Pro-Contacts 205-60-16. The Michelin tires seem like they will be good tires. Sams installed and they had a vibration at Highway speeds. They showed me that I had a bent rim on the inside unseen from the outside. I bought a replacement rim elsewhere and had it mounted. There was still vibration after the new rim. I found it odd that the poorer continentals did not vibrate like this on the highway with the bad rim thats why I never knew I had a bad rim . I paid a shop who used a Hunter Road force balancer to get them balanced. Mission accomplished. Then came time for Sams to rotate the tires to maintain my warranty. They balanced them as well-good customer service, but they now vibrate again on the highway. Is this just a bad balancer at Sams or a normal occurence. I don't want to keep going to Sams to get rotated for free then have to pay for an expensive balance elsewhere each time just to keep my warranty. I am not down on Sams and know I can go elsewhere to maintain my warranty at my cost.

 

[JustinH]

Is sams zipping the lug nuts on with an impact wrench?

I have seen improperly torqued wheels cause a vibration.

I have also seen excessive brake rotor runout cause a vibration, this doesn't seem to be your problem, but there are some WEIRD things that will cause it.

Are these steel wheels or aluminum? Most shops can fix a bent steel wheel with a dogbone tool. I have had seriously bent rims fixed quick.

 

[oilstudent24]

I believe they are aluminum. I assume they used an impact wrench. I didn't even ask about fixing the wheel. I knew Sams didnt have the capability to do so and just kept the wheel to mount a spare on. I believe I paid about $120 on ebay for some brand new aftermarket wheel. What does it cost to fix a bent rim?

 

[robshelton]

I had stock Aluminum alloy wheels on my old Integra and Sam's kept installing the wrong wheel weights and they would pop right off. Some folks don't know or pay attention to how the edge of the weight touches the rim. Steel rims are rounded and the aluminum ones I had were squared off. After I discovered what was happening, I had to tell them every time to use the right weights!

FWIW, I'm pretty sure they torque the lug nuts down with a torque wrench or torque limiting (semi flexible) extensions so that should be ok.

 

[firefighter]

Let sams rotate just ask them not to balance, then no problem

 

[lyle]

You had them balanced on a Hunter machine and the problem went away. Then you brought them back to Sam's and they ***** them up again. Either Sam's machine is not properly calibrated or the people don't know how to use the equipment or just don't care. I would not have Sam's balance them again even if they paid you to do it. Telling you a wheel is bent when you've had no problems before is a shop's way of saying "we've got your money and we don't want to go the extra mile to satisfy you so go away".

 

[Colt]

Originally Posted By: firefighter
Let sams rotate just ask them not to balance, then no problem


Exactly..

 

[mcrn]

Originally Posted By: Colt
Originally Posted By: firefighter
Let sams rotate just ask them not to balance, then no problem


Exactly..



Yep. Seems easy.

 

[FZ1]

First of all. Sorry for your trouble,time and expense. Hip shot,something was wrong with the new tire,installation or balance on that wheel/tire combo at Sam's. Use Discount Tire in the future. You can replace an entire set of tires,with new tires, at DT for just the cost of the install within the 1st 30 days,if you don't like the tires.

 

[oilstudent24]

I picked Sams by price and availability because it was basically free installation at the time and about $100 cheaper than their competitors including their warranty (Road Hazard) but I think Ive learned my lesson. I could have bought the tires online and had them installed, but I would not have retained much of a warranty. I know Discount Tire is supposed to have a Hunter machine. I have dealt with Discount tire after this purchase and am pleased with their price matching and service using them for my other vehicle. I may use them to balance and rotate to maintain my warranty.

 

[FZ1]

Everyboy's got to learn. I think you should install the tires at the same place you buy them. Less problems.

 

[oilstudent24]

I agree with you. Thats what I did. I thought they would be better about the balancing than what they were since I purchased them there. But I learned a valuable lesson in the process.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: oilstudent24
I agree with you. Thats what I did. I thought they would be better about the balancing than what they were since I purchased them there. But I learned a valuable lesson in the process.


So did you solve the problem or not? If you did, what did you do?

 

[oilstudent24]

$100+ and the problem is much better now. I had them balanced at a store with a Hunter Machine. It was a little better the first time they balanced. But it is acceptable (now my hands don't hurt after driving on the highway).

 

[HTSS_TR]

Next time get the best price online then go to Discount Tire for price match. That way you don't have to run around for balancing, tread life warranty, road hazard warranty, rotation, flat repair ...

 

[FZ1]

Right. "One call does all". Lol.

 

[woodibly]

I wish I got here earlier...the America's Tire Co.(same as Discount Tire Co.) in my area does lifetime balancing and rotations for $30.

It's sad that so many tire shops, nowadays, either don't know how to balance wheels or don't know how to calibrate their machines.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I appreciate Sam's Club for their low initial prices, but as others have suggested, I do my own tire "maintenance". I'll rotate them myself at home, and I don't ever have tires re-balanced unless I feel a vibration. Sam's does like to re-balance whenever they rotate. You can ask them to not do it, but I find it easier to simply rotate the tire myself at home. That way, I can look at the brakes while I'm doing it, and wash out the inside of the wheels, etc.

 

[iluvhonda]

by the tires at a discount store, go to tire shop to mount them.. or buy from Tirerack have a reputable shop install them..

 

[FZ1]

No,man. You want to buy the tires and have them installed at the same place.