Still having tire problems - Page 2 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

wvboxst3r · 12-19-2011, 06:42 AM

You have said that the tires have been rebalanced several times? Were they wrong the second time, third time?

I had a truck that had a bad tire- it would shift weight/ balance. The shop could balance tire and I would drive it 10 miles or so and vibration would start go back in and tire would be off at least a 1/2 ounce. They swapped tire out and fixed problem.

Have your wheels checked with out taking of wieghts to see if they have changed.

Flavor 987S · 12-19-2011, 08:25 AM

What are your cold tire pressures?

RandallNeighbour · 12-19-2011, 12:14 PM

If you want to rule out a warped wheel, bring you front two tires/rims to a Wheel America shop or other quality wheel repair place and ask them to tell you if the wheels are spinning true. This may cost you some money, but it sure will help you know what is not the problem.

BTW, Discount tire and most mechanic shops cannot or will not do runout tests on wheels for you, and if asked Discount Tire will tell you they didn't see any warping visually (which may be true, but isn't what you need. You need a proper measurement taken on the wheel rim, inside and out, to see if it's oh-so-slightly warped). Even a slightly warped wheel on our cars will cause vibration.

The reason I know all this is that I fought wheel balancing for a bunch of years on my car until I bought new rims and discovered that I had wasted many hours and dollars attempting to rebalance tires and wheels that were warped.

fullthrottle52 · 12-19-2011, 03:08 PM

Tire pressures are 29 front and 34 back. I did not have this vibration issue with the tires that came on the car when I purchased it in May this year. They ran out very smooth. They were Michelin Pilot Sports. They were just completly worn out on the inside back tires and needed to be replaced. I don't know what other information I can give you at this point that I didn't give in my first post. My true thoughtls are it is mechanical because it is the exact same vibration I got with both set of tires I installed. NO improvement or not a lot worse either. I am told it is not the wheels because they were done on a new road force balancer and it would pick up any wobble or high spots and allert you. The only thing that still haunts me is the coincidence that it started when I changed tires. Of course this all happens when the snow is about to fly in Kentucky and I was going to put the box up for the rest of the winter. Would like to get it taken care of before letting it set.

fullthrottle52 · 12-31-2011, 10:08 AM

Problems continue.
My INDY put on a set of bridgestone potenza's (times and tires) on my car and i took it for a test drive. It ran out very smooth. So, I went out today at a very reputable tire store and had them put on a set of Michelin Pilot sports. Took the car for a test drive and the shake again starts at about 69 mph and continues as speed is gained. At about 80 mph you can feel the whole car shake. At 73 mph it is only noticeable in the steering wheel. The manager from the tire store when with me and witnessed the issue. They rebalanced the tires again and possibly made it even worse. My INDY checked the tie rods and everything seems to be very tight. The tire store said that they can not see any wobble in the rims or that would be the obvious problem. I had no vibration in the front before I started this whole ordeal back in August. I am at a loss for solutions. I just thought I would look to anybody here that may have had similar problems before I take it to the stealership and have them diagnose it.

Thanks for any help anyone could give at this point.

P.S. My INDY says that this is the only time he has run into this. Of course it only happens to me.

97 Boxster · 12-31-2011, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullthrottle52

Problems continue.
My INDY put on a set of bridgestone potenza's (times and tires) on my car and i took it for a test drive. It ran out very smooth. So, I went out today at a very reputable tire store and had them put on a set of Michelin Pilot sports. Took the car for a test drive and the shake again starts at about 69 mph and continues as speed is gained. At about 80 mph you can feel the whole car shake. At 73 mph it is only noticeable in the steering wheel. The manager from the tire store when with me and witnessed the issue. They rebalanced the tires again and possibly made it even worse. My INDY checked the tie rods and everything seems to be very tight. The tire store said that they can not see any wobble in the rims or that would be the obvious problem. I had no vibration in the front before I started this whole ordeal back in August. I am at a loss for solutions. I just thought I would look to anybody here that may have had similar problems before I take it to the stealership and have them diagnose it.

Thanks for any help anyone could give at this point.

P.S. My INDY says that this is the only time he has run into this. Of course it only happens to me.

FT

What you describe is just what I currently have and issue with. Mine is at the same speeds too. I would love a solution to this. I have also been told to change my motor mount and that this would help. Have you done this? Lets see if we can solve this together. Mine starts at exactly 68 and gets worse the faster I go. Happy New Year!

fullthrottle52 · 12-31-2011, 10:20 AM

97 Boxster,

I have not replaced the motor mount. I suggested it to my Indy and he said I would know if it were a motor mount. It would clunk when I shifted. I still think it could be that but I am no mechanic. I have the tire store looking for solutions also so if I get it resolved I will let you know. Please do the same.
Thanks,

BYprodriver · 12-31-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullthrottle52

Problems continue.
My INDY put on a set of bridgestone potenza's (times and tires) on my car and i took it for a test drive. It ran out very smooth. So, I went out today at a very reputable tire store and had them put on a set of Michelin Pilot sports. Took the car for a test drive and the shake again starts at about 69 mph and continues as speed is gained. At about 80 mph you can feel the whole car shake. At 73 mph it is only noticeable in the steering wheel. The manager from the tire store when with me and witnessed the issue. They rebalanced the tires again and possibly made it even worse. My INDY checked the tie rods and everything seems to be very tight. The tire store said that they can not see any wobble in the rims or that would be the obvious problem. I had no vibration in the front before I started this whole ordeal back in August. I am at a loss for solutions. I just thought I would look to anybody here that may have had similar problems before I take it to the stealership and have them diagnose it.

Thanks for any help anyone could give at this point.

P.S. My INDY says that this is the only time he has run into this. Of course it only happens to me.

Were the Bridgestones on your wheels? & what size?

What size are your PS2s? & what wheels are they on?

BYprodriver · 12-31-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Were the Bridgestones on your wheels? & what size?

What size are your PS2s? & what wheels are they on?

Have you test driven the new PS2s on a nice smooth road? Doing so will eliminate some variables?

RandallNeighbour · 12-31-2011, 10:44 AM

You're not alone. I've got the same freakin' issue, and I've had it since I bought my car.

Bugs the hell out of me too. I finally just gave up on it being the wheels, tires, wheel bearings, tie rods, or control arms... because all of them are brand new now!

I'm going to do the front motor mount change out and see if that fixes anything. At least it might stop the shaking from the rear end, which will be a blessing.

fullthrottle52 · 12-31-2011, 01:43 PM

ByPro,
I have 18 in rims. Stock rims. The Bridgestone were 17 in wheels and tires off a 2001 Boxster. If I would not have swapped them out I would say it is mechanical but after driving those wheels and tires I have to say it is associated with one or the other. I am currently looking to find a local 986 boxster that would be willing to try a swap and drive. That would tell me alot. Just had the boxster out again to go to the store and pretty smooth up to 50 or 55 mph. Once I get to 60 and above it starts and gets progressively worse with speed. When I get to 75 the whole car is shaking.

Not fun to drive at highway speeds where you spend a lot of time.

Johnny Danger · 12-31-2011, 02:09 PM

What type of balancing did they do ?

fullthrottle52 · 12-31-2011, 02:19 PM

Johnny,

The latest balance on the Michelins was a regular balance maching. The previous tires were balanced at a different company with a road force balance machine. The reading from the road force balance machine were all within specs. The rims showed no wobble or high spots.
That is the difficult part to narrow down.

Johnny Danger · 01-01-2012, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullthrottle52

Johnny,

The latest balance on the Michelins was a regular balance maching. The previous tires were balanced at a different company with a road force balance machine. The reading from the road force balance machine were all within specs. The rims showed no wobble or high spots.
That is the difficult part to narrow down.

What were the actual specs ?

kabel · 01-02-2012, 04:48 PM

I think my (vibration) issue is related to the power steering system... car sat for almost two weeks in the garage, started it up today and wow! A horrible sound was coming from behind and the front, worse when I turned the wheel. Pulled the car out and sure enough there was a big oil stain on the cardboard I set down. Got to get it to a mechanic... don't think I want to drive it making all that noise, embarrassing!

wvboxst3r · 01-04-2012, 03:48 AM

I am with Johnny here, as earlier post, wheels changed- shake started, wheels. I fought for two weeks after a wheel change several years ago, had to try three different tires to find one. Have a NTB or etc... balance your tires at high and low speed, drive it about ten miles and retest- I am willing to bet one tire will need weights moved or added. This tire will be your problem change it and fix it.

Ghostrider 310 · 01-04-2012, 04:17 AM

Agree with both previous assessments, the "out of round" JD speaks of is why I like Michelin tires. Sure they clip you for what they are worth but they are seldom if ever very far away from true balance. Look at every Porsche you come across with pilot sports and note the small amount of applied weights.

fullthrottle52 · 01-05-2012, 04:17 AM

Xvboxst3 - I never changed the wheels. I only changed tires. Still have original 18 in wheels that have always been on the car. The only time i changed wheels is when I tried a set off another car. They were 17's and had different tires on them but they did run out pretty smooth at all speeds.
I am now going to go back tomorrow and have the tires looked at where I bought them. They want to check one more time for out of round tire or balance off again. After that i don't know where I go with this. I certainly can't drive it like it is. I have invested so much time and money at this point I am considering selling the car.

Thank you for everyone's help.

Johnny Danger · 01-05-2012, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullthrottle52

Xvboxst3 - I never changed the wheels. I only changed tires. Still have original 18 in wheels that have always been on the car. The only time i changed wheels is when I tried a set off another car. They were 17's and had different tires on them but they did run out pretty smooth at all speeds.
I am now going to go back tomorrow and have the tires looked at where I bought them. They want to check one more time for out of round tire or balance off again. After that i don't know where I go with this. I certainly can't drive it like it is. I have invested so much time and money at this point I am considering selling the car.

Thank you for everyone's help.

I feel your frustration . A few years back I went through something similar with my boxster that almost caused me to launch it over a cliff . In any case, as a last step in the process of elimination, is it possible for you to road test another set of oem 18 inch wheels and tires ?

Ghostrider 310 · 01-05-2012, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

I feel your frustration . A few years back I went through something similar with my boxster that almost caused me to launch it over a cliff . In any case, as a last step in the process of elimination, is it possible for you to road test another set of oem 18 inch wheels and tires ?

Should have bought a spyder with the vibration resistant option code X414.

If the car was error free before the tires it's hard not to indite them no matter what the balancer says. I had a set of goodyears once that vibrated as soon as they went on. I was given the same information as you "it's not the tires". As soon as the car received a fresh set of tires the problem stopped.