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[STALKER]

I installed my track wheels and tires last week. They are ADVAN RS wheels with Dunlop Star Spec tires, 265/35 and 275/35.
As soon as they were installed, I had a nasty vibration in the steering wheel and the car would pull to the right badly. Any speed over 60mph this would occur. I had an alignment done about a month ago and before the track set up was mounted, it was perfect, no shakes, no pulling and the steering wheel was dead on center.

When I took it back to the shop, they re balanced everything, it was better, but still not perfect. So they ordered two new front tires. Had them mounted and balanced today and its even worse.
Also, if you saw(back and forth) at the wheel at speeds above 50mph, the car is very unstable, feels like it wants to swap ends, not secure feeling at all.

So should I take off the Advans and put back on my RAC wheels to see if all goes back to perfect, or try another shop to balance them? Im concerned because the car feels very unstable and I have a track day coming up this weekend. Looks like I might have to run my street set up.

Could it be a suspension or brake issue, I did do a complete flush of the fluid the same day I installed the track wheels. Perhaps one of the calipers is not releasing?

Suppose to be going to Road Atlanta this weekend, really frustrated.

Thanks.

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by STALKER

As soon as they were installed, I had a nasty vibration in the steering wheel and the car would pull to the right badly.

Seems obvious to me something's wrong with your track wheel/tire setup, no? It's a b*tch to properly balance tires on the M3, for some reason. I had to do it THREE TIMES after powder-coating my wheels, and are still not perfect, but close enough. Just like you, my car drove perfectly before the job, so I knew it wasn't the car. Good luck.

[STALKER]

I need to figure out if its the tires or if the wheels are warped.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by STALKER

I need to figure out if its the tires or if the wheels are warped.

Strip the tires off the wheels and check the balance & runouts on the bare wheel.If they are OK remount the tires and see what happens to balance and runouts.Might also be a good idea to check the runouts of the bare wheel mounted on the hubs.I have had wheels that have had the centre bore and bolt holes bored off centre.

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

Strip the tires off the wheels and check the balance & runouts on the bare wheel.If they are OK remount the tires and see what happens to balance and runouts.Might also be a good idea to check the runouts of the bare wheel mounted on the hubs.I have had wheels that have had the centre bore and bolt holes bored off centre.

What are the runouts?

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by STALKER

What are the runouts?

Read these articles.It might help

http://www.aa1car.com/library/wheel_balancing.htm

http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_...ire_Runout.htm

[calintexas]

out of roundness - up and down movement as the wheel and then the mounted tire spins.

lateral runout - side to side movement as the wheel and then the mounted tire spins.

Make sure your wheels are setting flush on the hubs and that there is minimal movement side to side when the wheel is setting on the hub (but not bolted down) assuring the the hub pilot is the correct size.

The Advans are high quality wheels. I'll be surprised if there is an issue with them. You bought them new, right?

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

Read this article.It might help

http://www.aa1car.com/library/wheel_balancing.htm

Thanks.
Im gonna take it to another shop tomorrow morning and have them check the wheels and tires.

Could a warped wheel or bad balancing cause the car to pull to one side badly?

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by calintexas

out of roundness - up and down movement as the wheel and then the mounted tire spins.

lateral runout - side to side movement as the wheel and then the mounted tire spins.

The Advans are high quality wheels. I'll be surprised if there is an issue with them. You bought them new, right?

Ya brand new.
I would be shocked if the wheels are warped too, but you never know.

[calintexas]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

Read these articles.It might help

http://www.aa1car.com/library/wheel_balancing.htm

http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_...ire_Runout.htm

Those are great reference pages.

[calintexas]

Originally Posted by STALKER

Could a warped wheel or bad balancing cause the car to pull to one side badly?

The last time I rotated the tires on our Accord, I got a shake and a pull to the left. The tires are almost worn out; so, I've just lived with it. everything was fine when the wheels and tires were on the front previously. I don't think the wheels are bent, but my experience is; yes, a balance issue and or bent wheel can cause a pull.

Let us know how it goes.

[STALKER]

What if they mounted the 265 tire on the larger rear 10" rim and then placed that rear wheel up front, that would explain the pull, but not really the vibration.
Wheels look the same front and rear, but are 9.5" and 10", gotta check the inside once the wheels come off to see if the above mistake was made.

[aus]

Sorry to hear this after you waited so long.
Hope things work out soon for the track day.

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by aus

Sorry to hear this after you waited so long.
Hope things work out soon for the track day.

I hope so too.
Im really frustrated right now, especially since the 2nd set of front tires did not do the trick.

[aus]

Like other's have said, have them just mount the wheels with no tires or TPMS on first to make sure they're balanced.

[OMID INC]

I got heavy vibration at 80mph+ for a few weeks after getting new tires on. After a few hundred miles it went away.

For me, I think it was a tire break in issue.

[JAJ]

Is there possibly a problem with the centric rings (if they're used). That's what it sounds like to me.

Is that possible?

[STALKER]

they are suppose to be hubcentric.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by STALKER

What if they mounted the 265 tire on the larger rear 10" rim and then placed that rear wheel up front, that would explain the pull, but not really the vibration.
Wheels look the same front and rear, but are 9.5" and 10", gotta check the inside once the wheels come off to see if the above mistake was made.

Yes that would explain the pulling.Just go back to the basics and hopefully you will get it sorted out.

[Jaypod]

Sorry to hear - hope you get this sorted out. I think you may want to go to a different shop and try to get it sorted. Like you mentioned, make sure they are mounting the proper tires on the proper wheels! (wonder if your front and rears a mixed up in some fashion)

Good luck hope you get this figured out for Road Atlanta!

[Dartanium]

I had the same issue and it seems the shop is incapable of balancing correctly with TPMS installed, it is harder than you actually might imagine.

My solution is that I went to Gran Turismo east, they have an on-car balancing machine so they could physically see where or how the wheel/tire is behaving at speed. They took my PS2 off the wheel, rotated it so that the heaviest part of the tire is sitting at the opposite side of the TPMS and vibration is gone after balancing.

Before you go, make sure to call since they are very busy at times. Let me know if that helps.

[STALKER]

I put the RACs back on today. Car felt spot on.
Did not pull to the right at all.