I know this is a S2000 board, but I need help with my Civic. I figure that the technical expertise here is higher then what I might get elsewhere. So if I offend anyone, sorry in advance. Anyways...

So I have 45k miles on a 2005 Civic LX and decided to replace the tires (stock RE92s are junk). I picked up a set of Bridgestone RE960AS tires in 195/60R15 (stock size). After having NTB mount them I noticed a serious vibration starting at about 55MPH and lots of wheel chatter at 65ish. I took it back right away and had them rebalance the front tires (they were in fact not done correctly). However, while I watched them do it this time I noticed that the steel wheels (stock) were out of round. The serious vibration went away, but there was still a minor vibration starting at 65MPH.

So I decided to pick up a set of decent, but cheap alloys (stock size) that I had been considering anyways. Picked up a set at TR with another set of 4 RE960AS tires (I drive 30-35k miles a year on this car, I calculated that I would save money this way [NPV] and a hassle). After installing these still have the same vibration. Just took them to a different NTB and had them check the balance, everything is ok. Wheels are round, tires are balanced, etc. I just changed the oil yesterday and there didn't seem to be anything obviously wrong, but I didn't check too much.

This car sees mostly highway (75%), a few back roads (24%), and rarely a short gravel road (1%). The vibration is minor and mostly an annoyance at this point, but I still want to find out what it is though. One possibility is that the 960s are stiffer then the 92s and so it could always have been there and I just notice it now.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

could it be that from the prior vibrations the axle buckets are wore out kinda like it happens to ours?

 

How would I check that?

 

oh boy, i dunno. do a search for "thoose with the shakes" and "axle bucket swap" and see if you can suck any info out of thoose threads.

 

I did search, but it seems that people with axle bucket problems have noises and it occurs unders acceleration. My vibration is almost always there (never really paid attention to accel/decel) and there are no noises.

 

aight. wait for some of the experts to chime in. sorry.

 

Axle bucket swap is to fix a vibration. There is no noise involved.

 

No vibration existed before the tires, and it vibrates after. It's the tires. Do not try an Axle bucket swap on this car. The inner CV joints are different sise to side. They are also not your problem.

Take them to a place with a radial force variation balancer.

There are some tires that are more prone to vibration than others. Potenza G-009's are horrible. Not all Potenza's are created equal. I wouldn't put them on a lawnmower. Any tire that says Wynstar, Warrior, Lemans, Nankang are barely round. Toyo Spectrum is also a fine crappy tire.

The Potenza's on new 07 Accord 2dr Ex's all vibrate above 70. All of them.

IT'S THE TIRES

 

i guess I've been lucky with my G009's on my wagon

 

Billman250

What causes this condition and can it appear suddenly? Thanks.