Vibrating tires

[Alfred_B]

Does anyone ever have issues with vibrating tires when it has rained? It happens only on my BMW and Audi -- low profile high quality tires. After a few minutes of highway driving, the vibrations will stop. In dry weather all is always fine.

My Hondas do not mind the same weather conditions.

The rims on all of them are similar, not steel.

 

[ccap41]

My assumption would be they need to get up to temperature and in the dry the process happens much quicker where you don't notice it.

 

[HangFire]

Describe the vibration. Is there any chance it is unwanted ABS or traction control?

Did both sets come from the same tire shop, and your Honda from a different shop?

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Sounds like the tires are getting flat spots when the cars are parked. In the cooler rain they don't warm up as fast, therefore the vibration is noticeable for a longer period of time.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Sounds like flat spotting to me as well, especially on a BMW that has rather sensitive steering. I've experienced it with many different low profile tires on my e39.

However, I typically don't notice much difference between dry/wet conditions. Mine will vibrate for the first few miles regardless.

 

[Alfred_B]

Interesting point about flat spots. I thought a few drops of water were accumulating somewhere in the wheel thus throwing the balancing off. Flat spots are more plausible. If it happens to others then I will assume it's a "feature" of highly sensitive suspension on these cars.

All the tires are from different shops bought at different time frames.

 

[Alfred_B]

Originally Posted By: HangFire
Describe the vibration. Is there any chance it is unwanted ABS or traction control?

Did both sets come from the same tire shop, and your Honda from a different shop?


It's not ABS or traction control. I occasionally trigger those two (the so-called spirited driving...), but this is just regular vibration like unbalanced tires.

 

[ccap41]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Sounds like the tires are getting flat spots when the cars are parked. In the cooler rain they don't warm up as fast, therefore the vibration is noticeable for a longer period of time.


Exactly my thinking on it.

 

[WobblyElvis]

Can an aluminum wheel be porous? Absorbing water and throwing it out as it rotates. It only does it when it rains. There must have been cold nights without rain and it didn't do it then? Tin foil hat time!

 

[krzyss]

Do Audi and BMW have rain sensing wipers?
Could they be swiping water from brake rotors periodically?

Krzyś

 

[Turk]

Yea, probably flat spots. Happens to my car & truck when it sits for long times.

Get 'em nice & hot on a long trip and see if it gets better. If not, get a "Road Force" balance.

Originally Posted By: Alfred_B

All the tires are from different shops bought at different time frames.


^ THAT is not working in your favor.

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: Turk
Yea, probably flat spots. Happens to my car & truck when it sits for long times.

Get 'em nice & hot on a long trip and see if it gets better. If not, get a "Road Force" balance.

Originally Posted By: Alfred_B

All the tires are from different shops bought at different time frames.


^ THAT is not working in your favor.


Newly bought (about 5k miles ago) Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring ran smooth even after sitting for 2 weeks in +90° days...but this only after HAVING TO GET THEM ROAD FORCE BALANCED to get them to run smoothly above 50mph...

 

[Turk]

Yep, I need to get a Road Force balance to get one of my Saturns to not vibrate at highway speeds.

 

[SubLGT]

Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
Interesting point about flat spots…………….


Tire flat spotting while parked is common, and if that is what is happening to you, then it should also happen during dry weather, and not just during wet weather. I don't think you are experiencing flat spotting.

 

[ltslimjim]

Do all of the big name tire centers have road force balancing options? Discount Tire? Costco? Goodyear, etc?

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Do all of the big name tire centers have road force balancing options? Discount Tire? Costco? Goodyear, etc?


I know that Discount Tire & Tires Plus has Road Force Balancing.....

Call around to make sure though!

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Do all of the big name tire centers have road force balancing options? Discount Tire? Costco? Goodyear, etc?


I used to say that Discount Tire DOES, but I have found recently open shops that don't.

Do big name places have one of those? I don't think we can make across the board statements like that. I suspect that most car dealers that deal in tires would have one. I suspect that tire shops in the south are more likely to have one. But beyond that, it would be hard to tell unless you asked. But this web site will help:

Hunter GSP9700

 

[stephen9666]

My local Discount Tire did not have a road force machine last time I was there last year.

But they do have pretty advanced balancers that can find high spots in the tire with a roller.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
My local Discount Tire did not have a road force machine last time I was there last year.

But they do have pretty advanced balancers that can find high spots in the tire with a roller.


If it has a roller, it is a RoadForce machine.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer


If it has a roller, it is a RoadForce machine.


Not correct.

Hunter offers two lines of balancers with rollers. The Roadforce machines and another series of balancers with a roller but without road force measuring capabilities.

The Quickmatch line of balancers has a roller, but it's only used to measure runout in the tire, not to push on the tire and measure the road force number.

Quote:
Runout Measurement
Roller detects high spot of tire & Entire contact patch is measured, ensuring accurate results - See more at: http://www.hunter.com/wheel-balancers/quickmatch#sthash.6h52pfrY.dpuf