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

fullthrottle52 · 12-18-2011, 04:32 PM

I posted here a few weeks ago about a continuing problem I am having with new tires. Back in August I put a new set of Hankook V12's on my box. I had them balanced 3 times and still had vibration in the steering wheel. The last time I had them balanced it was a road force balance. I purchased the tires from Discount Tire on line. I got some advice by a local race mechanic that puts tires on all kinds of race cars including Porsche. He recommended that I get an all season tire because they would not get flat spots from sitting and would run out just fine on my car. With his recommendation I traded my Hancook V12's for Yokahama ADVAN S 4'S. Very nice Ultra High perfromance all season tire.

So, here is the issue. I had the new tires mounted and installed by a discount tire local install center. They were road force balance with me watching. All well within specs. Also checked the alignment and it too was within specs. Rims were very straight. The tires still vibrate, shaking the steering wheel. It happens every morning when I leave for work and is very pronounced at 35 to 40 mph. There is no noticible shake or vibration at 25 to 30 mph. It continues to get worse as I gain speed until the tires warm up and then they only vibrate over 70 mph. If I let the car set for a few minutes or an hour it runs out pretty well until I get to over 70 mph but the vibration is till there at 60 mph but almost gone. No shake at 35 to 40 once warmed up. It only happens when it sets overnight. It is in an unheated garage on a cement floor.

Questions are, does anyone have any idea if anything mechanical would cause this condition. My local mechanic want to look at the rear axle. He say's it could cause a vibration similar to a tire balance problem if it was going bad. I think it could be a motor mount. Temperature does not seem to be a factor because I had the same problem in August as I have now in December. Any other ideas what could cause this issue? If I run the car up to 80 mph it does seem to get worse and would not want to drive there for any length of time. Another thing I have noticed is that when I let off the gas at 80 mph and just let the car slow down, the vibration is much less noticable when it gets to 65 or 70 mph. When I give it gas and get back up to 70 or 75 it comes back again.

It is not fun driving my Box under these conditions. Any help would be appreciated.

By the way I have a 2000 base with 55,000 miles.

Johnny Danger · 12-18-2011, 05:03 PM

Are you using the oem wheels ?

Topless · 12-18-2011, 05:10 PM

By process of elimination, it was not the tires. "A morning vibration" very difficult to diagnose over the net. Get your car in to a qualified local Porsche mechanic and have him drive the car 1st thing am to replicate the symptoms. An experienced shop will make your car right in no time.

WhipE350 · 12-18-2011, 06:05 PM

This might sound silly but to eliminate tire flat spotting as the possible issue put the car on jacks overnight (say a Friday night) drop it sat morning and take it for a drive.

BYprodriver · 12-18-2011, 05:05 PM

The soft tread compound of a Ultra highperformance tire is the main facter of cold weather flat spotting so I don't know if you made much progress with the tire change. The tread design is the main factor of a all-season tire & more cuts in the tread design= more noise & potential for ride disturbance especiall if they wear unevenly. If your wheel & tire have more than 2oz of weight for balancing you have yet to acheive optimum balance. Your easiest 1 step solution is to take your car to someone that does tire balancing with the tires mounted on the car

Bala · 12-18-2011, 05:08 PM

Had the same issue with my Infiniti FX35 when I replaced good years with Yokos. It developed a flat spot when sitting overnight or over the weekend. Symptoms were exactly what you described. Had many wheel balancing and alignments done. Dealer checked the tie rods etc. Ran it for few k miles and broke the tie rod. Long story short It messed up the car so much I bought new set of good years. But, the damage was already done. Ended selling the car and tire are still in my garage.

Call the seller/manufacturer and trace the batch. Maybe faulty batch. I was also told that it could be that the tires are not rated for low temp and that causes them to develop temporary flat spot. I'd hear a muffled thump-thmup which went away when warmed up. But, gave my steering a good shake.

fullthrottle52 · 12-18-2011, 06:36 PM

Johnny,

Yes they are stock wheels, 18's.

DenverSteve · 12-18-2011, 06:51 PM

You've tried several tires, had them properly balanced and still have the problem. It's not your tires. Don't worry about "flat spots". I've driven 4 Porsches over the years with 2 being Boxsters and I've NEVER had a problem like you describe and I work out of town 3-4 weeks at a time. I get home, remove the dust from the car, drive off and everything's perfect.

Like stated above you need to take your car to someone who can diagnose this in person, not on the forum. You've got an issue - not tire related. You have a problem that resolves its symptoms when it warms up. So leave it somewhere overnight - with a qualified indie or dealer mechanic and see where it goes. Good luck.

healthservices · 12-18-2011, 07:17 PM

I wonder if it could be a bad shock issue. Is there someone with a know good set of wheels you swap on?

Yes drive shafts can give you a issue similar to wheel balance but because your shafts are in the rear I don't see it affecting the steering wheel.

drive shafts tend to vibrate during acceleration and tend to go away when speed is maintained

BYprodriver · 12-19-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

You've tried several tires, had them properly balanced and still have the problem. It's not your tires. Don't worry about "flat spots". I've driven 4 Porsches over the years with 2 being Boxsters and I've NEVER had a problem like you describe and I work out of town 3-4 weeks at a time. I get home, remove the dust from the car, drive off and everything's perfect.

Like stated above you need to take your car to someone who can diagnose this in person, not on the forum. You've got an issue - not tire related. You have a problem that resolves its symptoms when it warms up. So leave it somewhere overnight - with a qualified indie or dealer mechanic and see where it goes. Good luck.

Actually I believe the problem started when he put hankook tires on his car & nothing else was changed. If that is correct I can troubleshoot his car via this forum.

healthservices · 12-19-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Actually I believe the problem started when he put hankook tires on his car & nothing else was changed. If that is correct I can troubleshoot his car via this forum.

We are assuming he is giving us all the pertinent info, this is not always the case with all people on all posts.

I cannot count how many times I've diagnose problems with false or missing info over the phone or email, because the tech did not think it was pertinent to the problem.

BYprodriver · 12-19-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by healthservices

We are assuming he is giving us all the pertinent info, this is not always the case with all people on all posts.

I cannot count how many times I've diagnose problems with false or missing info over the phone or email, because the tech did not think it was pertinent to the problem.

His original post was detailed enough for such a simple issue but I believe he is listening too much to otherwise qualified mechanics. When I was in charge of maintenance for PCNA's press fleet cars I had to school the service advisor at the local Porsce dealership. Way to many old-wives-tales still alive about tires.

MileHighBoxster · 12-31-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Actually I believe the problem started when he put hankook tires on his car & nothing else was changed. If that is correct I can troubleshoot his car via this forum.

Well then put your expertise where his problem is. If you can troubleshoot his problem, don't spew it, do it. What are you waiting for, he's been waiting for weeks on you? When you open the door, it's time to put up or....... He's had it balanced several times, and he's changed his tires at least 4 times with no result. I see from your previous posts on this thread, you have NOT solved his problem.

BYprodriver · 12-31-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileHighBoxster

Well then put your expertise where his problem is. If you can troubleshoot his problem, don't spew it, do it. What are you waiting for, he's been waiting for weeks on you? When you open the door, it's time to put up or....... He's had it balanced several times, and he's changed his tires at least 4 times with no result. Solve this oh self-admitted expert. It's beyond, me as it is to all here so far.

By my math he has been waiting 44 min. plus the additional delay you are causing. I'm so sorry I was on a lunch break.

MileHighBoxster · 12-31-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Actually I believe the problem started when he put hankook tires on his car & nothing else was changed. If that is correct I can troubleshoot his car via this forum.

Hmmm. You posted the above on 12/19 - what's the problem?

My suggestion would normally be, if your entire problem started with a simple tire install, to go back to the place that did the initial work and have them replace your tires and balance your car. If they created the problem, they should fix it. If it was perfect prior to the install, the install is the problem. However, I see from your first post, weeks ago, that you bought the tires and then had them installed by someone else. I would always buy the tires locally, and have them installed in the same shop so that if there was a problem, they could take care of it for you.

MileHighBoxster · 01-06-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Actually I believe the problem started when he put hankook tires on his car & nothing else was changed. If that is correct I can troubleshoot his car via this forum.

Good thing he took care of this. I guess he couldn't wait for your troubleshoot.:dance:

DenverSteve · 01-06-2012, 05:39 PM

Glad you found the wheel problem. The shops should have been able to figure this out weeks ago. You can get some really good wheel deals on Ebay, and maybe from a local wheel shop near you. Get on to smooth sailing.

BYprodriver · 01-07-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileHighBoxster

Good thing he took care of this. I guess he couldn't wait for your troubleshoot.:dance:

All I can do is ask the right questions, if the questions are not answered the troubleshooting process stalls.

I can help you too: were you breastfed as a child? :troll:

kabel · 12-18-2011, 07:20 PM

I feel your pain. I am going through almost the exact issue, thought I cannot actually tell if the vibration is coming form the front of the rear. Tires have been balance three times, No obvious mechanical faults have been found, axels, a-arms, wheel hubs… motor and trans mounts were replaced last year. I put the car up on jack stands today to look it over myself nothing looks out of sorts. I did notice some oil like substance in the front right wheel area that could be from the per steering rack, beginning to wonder if the per steering rack cold cause a vibration…

fullthrottle52 · 12-19-2011, 04:22 AM

The slow speed vibration does seem to manifest itself from the rear of the car. Especially drivers side rear. My indi is going to try and see if he can find a set of wheels and tires to try on the car to eiliminate the tires all together, or prove it IS a tire issue. He will also check everything over at that time and see if there is anything else causing the issue. It is very annoying.