Tires/Wheels Question

[goobee]

OK, my sad story. My car is a 2008 Toyota Camry with stock 215-60-16 tires.

This past Saturday, I had wheels and tires put on at America Tire.

17" Konig Reasons:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/wheelProduct.go?tc=KONREA&utm_source=Google+Local&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=2007&rc=CALINT&rcz=91010

and Goodyear ResponsEdge 235-50-17.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireProductCategoryDetailBrnd.do?rcz=91010&rc=CALINT&tpc=GDYHVF&tp=Passenger%2FPerformance&tc=GDYHVF

So far, they have been back twice for rebalancing and on the last visit, they put hub rings on.

It's still vibrating and shaking at speeds above 65 mph. American Tire is telling me that even though 235-50-17 is an approve fitment, it's too big for my Camry and I should downsize to a 215. Is this guy blowing smoke up my !@#$% or correct?

I've seen people with 245-45-18's on their cars without any problems. :rolleyes:

[Mark]

i'm no tire expert at all, but are you sure the shocks/struts and all suspension joints are not worn out.

i assume they would have kinda checked for that already though.

[goobee]

i'm no tire expert at all, but are you sure the shocks/struts and all suspension joints are not worn out.

i assume they would have kinda checked for that already though.

Hey Mark, didja see the part about it being a "2008 Toyota Camry?" ;)

[Mark]

Hey Mark, didja see the part about it being a "2008 Toyota Camry?" ;)

ummmmm, no i kinda missed that LOL

:D

[YeOldeStonecat]

Sounds like they didn't do a good job balancing the wheels after fitting the tires. The main difference 235 and the 215...is 20mm of width. Be it 215/50 or they were probably suggesting 215/55 series to keep the rolling diameter the same.

Width of tire might impact scrubbing against the struts during tight turns. But balance at highway speeds? :nope:

Sloppy job doing the balancing IMO, or else they used the cheap crimp on weights that can fly off at speeds, or he just did it on the cheapo balancing machine, and didn't take the time to do it on the high speed balancing machine.

[goobee]

The first 2 times, they used stick on weights. The third time, they used the crimp ones on the inside of the wheels. Going with 215 tires defeats the whole purpose of doing the upgrade IMO. I'd be willing to go to 225-50-17 if it will take care of the vibration issues. The rolling diameter is pretty close at 225 or 235.

.39% difference on the 235's and 1.15% difference on the 225's.

http://goobee.info/pics/comparison.jpg

They only seem to have high speed balance machines in their shops.

[goobee]

Finally got pics:

http://goobee.info/pics/camry/angle.jpg

http://goobee.info/pics/camry/side2.jpg

Next move is a tint job. :D

[knightmare]

I can't see why those tires would not perform well, they look good/proportioned for the car.

[goobee]

The ones pictured above are the replacement ones and they do ride OK. The 225 tires don't follow grooves in the road as easily as the 235's so I happy in that regard too.

[Prey521]

I'd drop it a couple of inches to get rid of that wheel gap. :D

Just kidding, btw, nice choice in car, Camry's are great. I considered one for my wife, but since this time I told her that I'd let her pick her own car, since I've picked out the last 2 for her LOL. So she went with an Infiniti M35x, much to my disapproval. She used the AWD story and we get a lot of snow up where we live and it's very mountainous and that why wouldn't I want my kids in a car that can handle the snow without a problem....I bought it :(

[xekushnr]

They are just trying to sell you more tires. The tire width has nothing to do with the vibrations. Its the wheel balance or the suspension. Yes I'm aware that it's a new car, but the suspension could still be out of spec. If you can feel the vibration through the steering wheel, its a front tire, steering or suspension problem. If it feels like its more in the center or rear, then its a problem in the back. Are the wheels new or used? A bent rim could cause the problem. It's more than likely the tires though.

There is absolutely nothing difficult about balancing tires, but your tire techs could be completely inept. The tires could just be bad though. All tires have to be balanced because they all have sides with more rubber than others. Sometimes the "chunk" is too big and it cant be balanced properly. Rims are the same though, so usually you can just unbead the tire, rotate it a bit, rebead, inflate and balance. The tire could also be out of round, or have varying stiffness in the rubber around the wheel. You will have to go back and have them do something though. Are the tires wearing normally?

[goobee]

Actually, replacement tires/wheels package rides fine now. Not sure what the issue was but it didn't cost me any more money and I got a better set of wheels out of the deal.

JBrazen: I agree, it probably could stand a small drop but I can't justify the expense.

[Rainbow]

You probably just had a bad set of tires. 99.99999% of the time a vibration at a certain speed is a tire balancing problem.
Could also be out of round but that you would feel all the time, more pronounced at higher speeds.