Need some help diagnosis an issue with the Mini(non critical) Update: looks like the rim is problematic.

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
10/07/2018 at 22:20 • Filed to: Help

Update: The tire shop put the front tire on the rear rim and vice versa. Now I get vibration when the front rim with the rear tire are on the front side (although the amplitude is less than it was before) . Maybe that rim is distorted.

Original post:

So here’s the situation:

Last week I had a puncture on the leftfront and the shop repaired it(they put a blob of rubber on the inside of the tire about 10x10mm across and about 3-5mm deep). Ever since, I’ve had a vibration (in the steering)from the front left. Vibes started at 50ish mph and increased in freq and amplitude with speed. I switched the wheels front to back and it went away. So its definitely that one tire/wheel combo. I then un-switched front to back. Then I increased the tire pressure on both the front tires by 5psi (31 to 36ish). Now the amplitude of the vibration decreases, its noticible only above 75 80mph. I’ve had the tire balanced thrice now by different shops, it was perfect everytime. I took it back to the shop and inspected the outside as well as the inside of the rim and the tire. Nothing, perfect again. No cracks, bends nothing. Ooh and I’ve also been checking the wheel torque daily, it’s fine. Any ideas?

I think the rubber blob may be just too stiff compared to the tire itself and under load its like hitting a pothole everytime that part of the tire touches the road.

It’s a Firehawk Indy 500 205/50R16 btw. 4-5/32th tread depth on it.

Kavinsky for your time.

DISCUSSION (6)

boxrocket > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/07/2018 at 17:21

Has the tire been more closely examined for bubbles and/or a separated belt? If the tire lost pressure and was driven on enough to get hotter than normal operating temperatures, it could have developed an internal failure, even though it’s a good tire.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > boxrocket
10/07/2018 at 17:46

Me and the guys at the shop checked the inside surface and the outside surface of the tire, it looked fine to us. It hasn't been that closely inspected i guess.

I’ve now put the rear rim with the front tire on the front. No vibes for now. I’ll switch back to front again.

RacinBob > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/07/2018 at 21:06

Another idea is jack the car up and give the wheel a good spin. If the tread does not rotate straight (in other words it gives a good kick to the side as it rotates) I have found that indicates a belt problem. I have seen that kick results in a an imbalance like pulse even when perfectly balanced.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > RacinBob
10/07/2018 at 22:14

Ooh nice one! Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow. Although I think its the rim that is problematic, I'll update the post.

Trunk Impaired 318 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/08/2018 at 00:31

I’m 99% sure I just developed the same problem on my R53...

RacinBob > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/08/2018 at 00:41

If it is the tire, it will have a pronoun ced kick to it. Its a lot easier if it is a tire on a driven axle as all you have to do is jack up on one side and put id in gear assuming you have an open diff. Ps, if you try that be careful.