Tire guy just can't get it.

[borispeed]

I got new tires, Ventus Hankook P275/40R17. At decreasing and increasing speed the car was vibrating. The guy from Discount Tire rebalanced them twice and the problem wasn't fix. After the second rebalance, and before I drove the car, he said they were experiencing some "little problems" with the balance machine. When I took the car back, he replaced tires for Yokohamas, same size. Now I feel same thing but much less. However I don't like the fact that old tires were feeling better (about vibration) than the new ones. I'll go back to the shop.

Besides, I have not feeling the car the same that when it has 10,000 miles lees. I'm talking about the car feeling unstable (going to one side or the other side in very minor scale). This has been increasing up to the point that when braking, the car do not feels stable. At 87,000 miles I have not replaced rotors, and I just flushed the steering system, since there was a leak. After I put Vavoline stuff, the leak was gone.

So I need your help guys. I have done a search without answers. What it may be the vibration and the unstability?

[shock_core]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

It's not the tires. If you feel instability at high speeds, check your tie rods or the ball joints in your upper and lower A-arms. I got $5 that any one of those parts is bad. Any play in any of them and the part is bad.

[borispeed]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

The big question is WHY the car was doing OK with the old tires, and now is vibrating with the new ones?

[Fletch33]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

It's not the tires. If you feel instability at high speeds, check your tie rods or the ball joints in your upper and lower A-arms. I got $5 that any one of those parts is bad. Any play in any of them and the part is bad.

Agreed, could also be a wheel bearing issue, I just finished fixing that on my car. Was weird that it would vibrate at different speeds and breaking, but normal cruising and turning around town seemed fine.

Maybe the new tires are less forgiving to hte road being more firm and is now just showing a problem that you had. The tread on your old tires, did you have any? Were they bald?

[borispeed]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

Agreed, could also be a wheel bearing issue, I just finished fixing that on my car. Was weird that it would vibrate at different speeds and breaking, but normal cruising and turning around town seemed fine.

Maybe the new tires are less forgiving to hte road being more firm and is now just showing a problem that you had. The tread on your old tires, did you have any? Were they bald?

The wheels are new (17's ZR1), replacing the stock ones. The tread on the old tires were not too worn, and OK. I just replaced them cause the cracking on the sides.

I took the car to the shop, the guy put the car on the cumputer alignment, and it showed that both front tires were running in this direction // //. They also said that the car needs inner and outer T-rods replacement. They said can't guarantee that after doing that, the problem would be solved. They said it s very probable that it is the pinion thing. They recommend to go on the alignment first and feel how the car respond. So I did it. Did I do OK?

[David8399]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

when i went from 16 to 17 inch wheels i also went with a performance tire.i noticed the car would pull all over the road, but it just felt like the tires were sticking to our horrible and i do mean horrible roads. just figured the 9 inch wide tire was grabing more road so i got to feel the groves better.

[PalmHarborBlkv6]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

when i went from 16 to 17 inch wheels i also went with a performance tire.i noticed the car would pull all over the road, but it just felt like the tires were sticking to our horrible and i do mean horrible roads. just figured the 9 inch wide tire was grabing more road so i got to feel the groves better.

I think this is a perfect example why re-engineering a car is not a good idea. I would have stayed with the OEM size. Then the change in size cannot be an issue. Personally, I would bring it to a Chevy dealer. These other guys are going to replace every
part until the problem subsides and then the chief in the dept
will say," yeah those older Camaros all do this".
Go to the Chevy dealer and stop screwing around.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

I think this is a perfect example why re-engineering a car is not a good idea. I would have stayed with the OEM size.

275/40-17 is STOCK for a Firebird or Camaro.

[borispeed]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

I think this is a perfect example why re-engineering a car is not a good idea. I would have stayed with the OEM size. Then the change in size cannot be an issue. Personally, I would bring it to a Chevy dealer. These other guys are going to replace every
part until the problem subsides and then the chief in the dept
will say," yeah those older Camaros all do this".
Go to the Chevy dealer and stop screwing around.

A friend, he's a mechanic, will help me to replace T-rods, pads, and probably rotors (maybe just resurfacing). Sometime ago a mechanic told me that rotors need resufacing, and pads replacing. After all, I have not serviced brakes and suspension since the car has 35,000 miles. Now it has almost 90,000. Servicing my car little by little will keep it in good shape without paying 70 or 90 dollars for diagnosis to a chevy dealer. Anyway, thanks for the advise.

[David8399]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

I think this is a perfect example why re-engineering a car is not a good idea. I would have stayed with the OEM size. Then the change in size cannot be an issue. Personally, I would bring it to a Chevy dealer. These other guys are going to replace every
part until the problem subsides and then the chief in the dept
will say," yeah those older Camaros all do this".
Go to the Chevy dealer and stop screwing around.

i actually work for the dealer, the wheels i got are part no. 12498900 bought from gm, are factory engineered for performance and drive ability. my rims and tires were installed by a factory trained and certified tech. but i didnt use the tires recommended or engineered for the rims, i used fuzion zri not factory tires.

[borispeed]

Re: Tire guy just can't get it.

A week ago, my friend help me replacing T-rod ends, since the rounded joints weren't firm as the new ones. The front rotors weren't too worn so I got them resurfaced for just 10 bucks. The pads needed replacement: Thermo Quiet was a very good choice, eliminated the squeaky noise that Chevy Dealer never fixed (either replacing pads and other "bulletin" stuff) when the car had 35,000 miles. Also the alignment cost me just 40 bucks. Despite of the problem wasn't solved, I'm satisfied with the maintanence given to my car with minimum expense. After a week the car started making a squeaky noise when turning the steering wheel to left or right in speeds of 0-10 mph. The noise sounds like a non-lubricated hinge. The car had that noise some months ago, but after doing some flush, the noise was gone. However, the car keep feeling unstable when I drive from 30 to 70 mph. I think is the steering pump. What do you think guys?