Need tire help

[bixa525]

I own a 2001 Hyundai Elantra which I bought new with Toyo Proxes F-Z4 205/45/ZR16 tires and sport wheels. After about a year of owning the car I have a constant shimmy in the steering at 60mph. I have taken the car back to the dealer several times and each time they balance the tires which basically hasn't helped at all. Last time I talked to them they told me the Toyo's would soon need replaced and that I might want to think about going back to stock wheels and tires at that time, at my cost. I am really po'd about this because they put these wheels and tires on the car brand new and they are basically telling me that they shouldn't have been put on this type of car and that is why I am getting the vibration. I really don't want to spend the money for new tires and wheels so can you tell me if there is a better alternative in replacing the Toyo's that are on the car now or is it better to just dump these wheels and tires and go back to stock? It really ticks me off because the wheels and tires are what drew me to the car to begin with, also the upgraded sport interior which has nothing to do with the tire problem. Any advice would be much appreciated...Thanks!

[Cy@tirerack]

If you have clear records showing that you have had this shimmy problem since day one, then I would have one of our local installers mount and balance your new tires with a Hunter mount and balance machine mount your new tires.

Then if our local installer finds an out of round or bent wheel, then I would ask your dealer to replace that wheel. If you're financing the car directly throught Hyundai, you have a little leverage if things don't go well.

If you've already tried to isolate the problem my moving the front tires to the back and this did not help there may be an issue with the car itself.

[bixa525]

How do I find a local installer? AAlso this problem started about 6 months after I purchased the car. I have rotated the tires several times in the past two years and it still shimmys. When you say it could be other problems with the car can you tell me exactly what you mean? I am worried that there could be a safety issue here that I am unaware of. Thanks for your help.

[CapriRacer]

Did the onset of the vibration coincide with some event?

If it was a tire rotation, it is possible that you have a bad wheel, or you've lost the hub centric ring in your wheels. The hubcentric ring centers the wheels on the hub rather than on the lug bolts, which assures the wheel is cented to the wheel bearing.

I just had a series of gyrations with these rings and can attest to the fact the without the ring, the wheel will be off center.

If the dealership lost the ring (and they know it), it may explain why they are hot to get you out of the wheels. It may also be that they aren't familiar with the rings. Both myself and the vehicle dealer I dealt with didn't know about the rings and it took both of us a few tries to get it right.

But it is possible that you have an alignment problem. Too much caster for example.

Also might be a something else. Try doing a few diagnostics: When does it occur? When doesn't it occur? Speed? Certain roads? Turning?Answers to those questions will help pin down what may be wrong and how to fix it.

Hope this helps.

[Cy@tirerack]

You can find local installlers by going to the below link:


http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=DY2&...ller/index.jsp

[partyhardryan16]

try getting an allignment

[Dsilver]

Word.