General Information

Tire or wheel-induced vibrations can be caused by two factors: imbalance or runout. Low speed vibrations, those at less than 64 km/h (40 mph), are usually runout related. Highway speed vibrations, those above 64 km/h (40 mph), can be caused by either imbalance or runout.

Before doing any work, road test the vehicle, and make a careful visual inspection for:
^ Obvious tire and wheel runout.
^ Obvious drive axle runout.
^ Improper inflation pressure.
^ Wrong trim height.
^ Bent wheels.
^ Debris buildup on tire or wheel.
^ Loose or missing wheel weights or wheel nuts.
^ Irregular or excessive tire wear.
^ Improper tire bead seating on rim.
^ Tire damage, such as tread distortions, separations, or bulges from impact damage. Slight sidewall indentations are normal.

After doing the visual inspections, do the procedure in the "Vibration Diagnosis" chart. Before removing a tire and wheel from the vehicle, mark the stud bolt nearest the valve stem position for reference. Also, mark the vehicle position on each tire removed (i.e., right front, left rear, etc.).