So ~ When I bought my S used it had chrome rims too large for the car and it bottomed out and I went with Shuk 17" because I like they look, and they were fine for years I've had the car. Now I don't know if it's the Fwys in CA or what - even on smooth roads like Laguna Canyon - I hit 80 and I get a vibration and I don't like it. Went to an alignment guy - balance tires and did a spot on alignment and it seemed to help, But I feel it should be smooth at 80 ~ He said the wheels were not true, and he seemed to point to the fact there is not a lot of "meat" due to the 5 spoke design and that can tweak the wheel eventually. Not out a lot he said but the are when put on the machine ~ I like the looks of the 17's and there were some OEM 10 spoke 17's for the 2005 but not the 2002 ~ Anyone else have that problem with a 5 spoke rim? If so how did you fix it? I'm not sure what to do at this point - I could get some aftermarket - but they are pricey, and they could be off too .... things that make you go hmmmm...... Any suggestions/Comments? I think I need to change the wheel Grrrrr ... And taking the car on a 2000 mile road trip end of May - be nice to be able to open it up at times

Thanks!

 

Is the wheel pictured the 17's you are talking about? Is anything else done to the car? Lowered? Where is the vibration? If you swap the wheels around does the vibration move? What are the wheel sizes not just the diameter? Have you performed the axle nut TSB for the rear? Age of the tires? There is a lot of things that can cause a vibration not just the wheels.

 

Thanks for the reply manga ~

Yes I have that two piece wheel ~

I run 225/45ZR17 on Front 255/40ZR17 rear 94Y - So I don;t rotate ~ Have not had the Axle Nut TSB I don't think - But I am going to look into that ~ Tires are fine Maybe 25% wear - it's stock other than wheels ~ But I think I should get a new set of wheels ONE piece Speaking of rotating tires - even with the same size how do you rotate with different offsets I read about on front and rear?

I bet that axle nut could be something - I do get some squeaks making me wonder if its ever been LUBED - Gotta keep her lubed

Any wheel make suggestions?

Damn -- might need to cash in my stock portfolio

 

The Axle nut is so the wheel bearing doesn't wear prematurely. Maybe see if someone local can let you put their wheels and tires on you car and go for a quick drive? I am still wondering where you feel the vibration in the front or rear?

 

I'm not sure ~ Funny now I'm lookin at diff wheels and I need to pick a width ~ Oh well not sure what to do at this point - I don't recall picking width I just bought 17" rims at tire rack - i'll let my mechanic deal with the axle nut - deal with the wheels another day - after I know what width I;m running now - Thanks again

 

I thinkin I'm just gonna go back to stock ..

 

Stock wheels are strong. Aftermarket wheels are often lighter, but light and strong is expensive.

Strong, cheap, light - pick any two

So if you want wheels that will not have this problem again, and don't have serious coin to spend, then used stock wheels would be a good choice.

You mentioned tire guy could see the wheel out of round as it spun on the balance machine. That says that is the problem. There is a type of balance called Road Force balancing. It costs more, but this is a situation where it could potentially help. Instead of tire spinning freely, its pressed against a roller that simulates the road. Then the machine tells the tech if they should realign how the tire is mounted to wheel. Rotate it to align high spots of wheel with low spots of tire. So tech dismounts tire, turns it, remounts, and rebalance. Then machine tells him where to add weight like normal.

Since your wheels are out of round, this could potentially help. How much it helps and if its enough, you have to do it to know. Could be worth a shot before swapping wheels.